The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-09-27

AMIENS- LAON- RErMS The
country between Amiens and Retms,
within earshot OF the greater portion
OF tho fighting armies in France to-
dayi, Is populous and contains many
OF tho most prosperous Of the medi-
um-sized towns In France. Ten miles
east Of Amiens Ii Villers-Bretonneau
inhabitants, which was the scene OF
ono of the main engagements in tho
battle of Amisna. in which the French
northern army was routed by the
Germans In 1870. The route now
takes one. through. the fertile district
Of Santerre. Ham, with q popula-
ton of approximately $500, stands in
q marshy district, thirty-six miles
from Amiens. Its castle. now used as
barrack. has frequently been used
as state prison, and has held many
OF the most noted people Of France.
The list OF those inoarcevated there
includes Joan Of Arc, Louis Of Bour-
bon and Louis Napoleon. The lattors
after having been = prisoner for SIX
years. escaped In the disguise OF a
workman La Fere, sixteen miles
further on. captured by the Germans
In 1870. has one OF the oldest schools
OF artillery. IN the world. It was
founded in 1719. Laon. fifteen miles
beyond La Fere. situated on an Asc-
lated ridge, soma $50. 4Aet above Tho
surrounding plain, forms. with La
Fsre and Reims, q triangle of impor-
tant fortresses- Napoleon tried m
vain to dislodge Bluoher from the
town in 1914. Between 1Aon and
Reims the Aisne and the Suipps are
crossed.
PARIS-SOISSONS-R RE MS CHAR
LEVILLE-The route from Paris to
Charleville, by way of Scissors and
Reims takes one through territory
rich In historical and present-day in
terest. Six miles out from Paris Is
found lie Bourget. where the Ger
,. culinary struggles Of 1870. Twenty
miles further ON, In the park OF the
chateau of Ermenonville, Is the orig
inal tomb OF Jean jacques Rousseau,
whose remains were removed to the
pantheon at Paris In 1874. Creepy
en-valois, the ancient capital of q
district which belonged from the
! fourteenth century to younger
branch OF the royal family Of France.
and with a present-day population
of about 1000, lies sixteen miles to
the north. villers-Cotterets, with
about 5000 inhabitants, eight and
one half miles away. was the birth
place. of Alexandra Dumas the Ell
der. A little further on is Longpont,
which has ruined abbey dating
from the twelfth century Sixty-five
miles from Paris, Scissors, an ancient
town formerly fortified. with popu-
| lation of about $4,000, 10 reached.
Here Is the Abbaye Notre-Dame, now
used as bnrrack, founded originally
in $50. In 85S it contained no fewer
than 216 nuns. who possessed val
liable collection OF sacred relics. In
Guiding shoe and a girdle OF the
Madonna. The route from scissors
to Reims takes one up the valley OF
the Aisne and its tributary, the Veles.
Reims - one of the most interesting
cities Of France Christianity was
preached here in the fourth century.
About twenty miles out of Reims.
half way to Charleville, Is Rethel. an
industrial town. with about 1880 In
habitants, situated on hill to the
right OF the Aisne. Three miles fur
ther on Is Amagne, a railway junction
with a large sugar factory as Its prin-
cipal industry. A few miles on. the
road enters the wooded and noun
famous district OF the Ardepnes. and
the scenery increases In beauty. To
the right is Boulzicourt, with Its large
powder factory, and at Mohon. another
village are large workshops. Two
miles further on is Charleviile, an url-
interesting town, with about 10000
inhabitants, and nail making, type
founding and hardware goods facto-
ries.
ARGONNE-A rocky. forest clad
.1.f AvNn al AA
Of Lorraine, Germany and Cham
payne. France. 1t has q length Of
about sixty-three miles. an average
breadth OF nineteen miles, and an
average height of 1.f50 feet. There
are few roads in this district.
and 1t Is hard territory through which
to carry on military operations OF
large proportions. 1t lies between
the valley OF the Aisne on the west.
and the valley OF the Mouse on the
east. and Is one OF the natural bull
warks between Germany and France.
There are numerous forests, clothing
both the east and the west slopes Of
the plateau, the chief Of them being
that of Argonne, extending twenty
Ave miles between the Aire and the
Aisne.
ARDENNES--A department OF
France on the northeast frontier. with
an area of 2.02S square miles and q
population exceeding $4,000. Its
rivers are the Mouse and the Aisne.
Its agricultural products are wheat.
oats, rye, potatoes and many kinds
of forage. Ardennes Is to France
what the blue grass region OF Ken
lucky Ia to the United States--its
horses are known throughout the
country Flour mills. saw mills SUI
gar works. distillcries and leather
works are scaftsred oxar the deDart-