The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-09-11
BACK FROM WAR CENTER.
Mrs. Helen X. Edwards of Burlington
Relates Experiences.

Relates Experiences.
Mrs. Helen X. Edwards of Burlington
arrived home Thursday from two
months trip abroad, during which she
visited London and Paris. Mrs. Edwards
was in the latter city when war was
declared and relates some interesting in
cidents of scenes and conditions subse-
ouent to the memorable Saturday, Aug.
/ She left New York on the Olympic
July III and after pleasant stay in
London during which she purchased fash
ion dress models, she went over to Paris
ON the same business, reaching that city
two weeks before war was declared.
Nrs Edwards succeeded in making her
purchases during the period before the
war but how to get them out of the
country was puzzle. She finally solved
the difficulty by buying two straw hamp-
ers. lining them with oil cloth and pack
ing the models in these, carrying them
from place to place herself, the goods
from London having been sent over by
express earlier.
Mrs. Edwards and friend from Kan
sas City, Miss Curry, secured quarters at
Hotel Lotti, which was converted into
a Red Cross hospital upon the opening
of the war, all the guests leaving, with
the exception of Mrs. Edwards and Miss
Curry, who, had they desired, could read
ilv have been accommodated by friends
in Paris.
There was a grand exodus of Amer
leans Immediately after wer was de-
clared, checks were not good for week
and the train service was entirely given
over TO the transportation of troops.
The two ladies were kindly treated
and Mrs. Edwards in speaking of this
dwelt upon the hospitable attitude Of
the French people TO Americans in
France. They left Paris Aug. IL and
had an exciting experience in reaching
Bologne. French ports were all closed
and believing that the Olympic would
not sail. they engaged steerage passage
on the St. Paul They passed through
Amiens, which town is now occupied by
the Germans and reached Bologne in 10
hours, three hour journey in normal
times.
Twenty FIVE thousand Americans were
in Paris and nearly all in panic to
get away. Mrs. Edwards had hard
time securing passports. She waited
six and half hours hanging TO stair
rail in the American consuls Office, amid
struggling mass of excited human be-
ings before she secured the necessary
papers. and it took three days of the
most strenuous efforts before permits to
leave the country could be obtained OF
the prefect of police. Mrs. Edwards sat
on a box in the street from a. m. until
$3.50 p M, waiting for a chance to get
into the building and then had to go
home and come the succeeding day. She
was sustained by coffee and grapes,
provided by a street boy.
I'm Bologne Mrs. Edwards saw English
artillery pass her windows for six hours,
the men all happy and cheerful. In
striking contrast were the French, who
were quiet, sober and serious minded,
They didn't want to 20 TO war, but they
went with courage and determination to
win. saws Mrs Edwards.
The police in Paris found a wireless
machine in service in the eAstoria, Par
il hotel managed by German, who was
promptly taken out and shot rpon its
being discovered.
Both American ladies were aroused
one night by the police, who were search
ing every hotel in the city for possible
wireless apparatus.
Arriving in London the ladies found
that their steamer Olympic was to sail
after all and they exchanged their tick.
cts for that boat. The trip across was
made in six DAYS. The name of the
steamer had been obliterated, lights put
out and port holes painted black. There
were 500 first. class passengers aboard.
Vernon Castle and his wife were on
board.