The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-27
Letter From Mrs. Nina L.
Duryea Gives Graphic
Pictures.
HELPED HARVEST CROPS
Pitiful Scenes as Sons, Hus-
bands and Fathers Hurried
to the Front.

The following letter gives an interest
Ing insight into conditions in France in
the early days of the war. 1t was writ
ten by Mrs. Nina l.. Duryea. daughter
in-iaw OF the late Gen Hiram Duryea,
10 her brother, George Stuart Smith Of
IS Broadway:
HOTEL WINDSOR, DrNARp. FRANCE.
August 3, 1914.
DEAR BROTHER We have been moved
out of the villa 90 tho hotel, so just
address us as above.
Such state of things! This Is tho
last lettor you may receive from us for
twenty-on days as after tomorrow no
trains or boats will leave or arrive here
Tor that time, unless orders are rcscndcd.
All routes are used for transportation
OF troops. though the Mayor says that
rs he has notified the authorities that
many foreigners are here mails may be
carried In "A week or
War Is here with a vengeance even
way out in this corner OF France. Gro
ceries are already scarce. All food
shops are closed and guarded by SOL
diers, save for one hour each morning.
when one person at time Is admitted
to obtain 80 many ounces or pounds ~
neccssarics. Yesterday we all had to 60
70 the Mayors to be photographed and
Identified before 6 + NJ or be arrested 40
spies. How that sounds! Like melo-
drama, but It's all quite true. To-mor-
row we women. having Joined the Red
Cross, scrape lint, &c, and Chester, with
all the men and boys, goes to the fields
TO cut grain and dig potatoes. as no
men are left to gather crops. which we
Will need tho worst way soon.
All banks are closed. The Casino
doesn't even pretend TO take entrance
fees. az no one can pageant buy any
thing at all, even sugar for my tea, as
there is no change TO he had.
The last boat to England went to-
night people sleeping on the deck N
drenching rain. The John Gulfords.
sam Auchiuclosss wife. Lieut.. Bet;inrs
wife and chlldreu--he has gone to the
war-Mts homeroy Florence Key. Miss
Fairch!ld and loads OF others. including
dear little Mrs. Rowland Pell and her
children. arc bottled up here perhaps for
months. But We are all jolly together.
Nine. Dury has given me d salon and
all the women mock here. and as
brought photos and bibelots from Paris
Il Is cosey and gay.
All the Horses Taken.
Only four walters remain. The bus
| horses were taken. and all cab horses, so
people walked to the station, trunks in
hand carts DAlbert Lakes's splendid
coach horses. behind which ! drove on
/ MS opN on Nue 4 dTls COdCnlng parade,
went last night They cost 5000 francs
each. and all he will ever get is 40
! francs at the end OF the war. IL there is
| money to pay.
Miss Fairchild. as she has French
/ residence. Will have her automobile taken
any day, and Florence's chauffeur has
| gone 10 the war
Gladys. Nine. de strale dEkna's
daughter, was married hurriedly at night
/ N Geneva and went with her husband
Count d Apponyi, to Budapest
Our luncheons and dinners have been
cut down TO half FOR fear that In a month
we wouldn't have enough to eat But
/ hsh and eggs can always be had and the
Mayor Will divide grain Wen all get
| beautiful thin figures
| Prices soar already. before much has
really begun. EGGS are 10 cents each.
/ only pain ordinHire tservants breadD is
. ootainab,e. and yesterday Berthe scurried
the town for little for our tea and came
/ back empty handed.
No one gives teas" any more, as there
is no tea to give, unless one pays solid
! chunks OF gold for II, and even then there
| isn't much to be had Matches soar and
we Will have to make them before long
Daisy Bcttini. who fed from Parts yes
I tcrday with old Mrs. Cachard, who hasn't
/ been from Paris for twenty years told
/ sad tales. No electricity there, and the
/ clay. fermentng with excitement In total
/ darkness. seemed terrible The subway
Is forbidden for persons only merchandise
and the working people are losing their
/ iobs for lack Of facility to reach them.
No waters IN hotels. no cabs no tram
drivers. no bus drivers. Women ara
/ driving a few cabs ana ask anything.
B Last night we went To the station to see
the train go n terrible sight. Such part
'ngs. with soldiers singing and crying a
Berlin women crying and clnging and
/ frightened children, feeling that some
thing was wrong but understanding moth.
ing
The Tocsin of War.
But tho most dramatic moment was
( Saturday. A dozen OF ny women smartly
eowned, were at Lady Ponsonhv's for ten
1 on her beautiful terrace overlooking the
bay. Such peace and beauty and ordered
luxury Suddenly the cathedral bell near
by doomed ont We ali INSTRUMENTATION.
! and then the bells OF St Servan and St
Malo answered the tocsln OF war We
were all on our feet, alert stralning our
| ears. and In a moment clinCing to one
| another in tears. For many OF us had
! warm friends 20 whom those bells mea nj
death--parting forever from ives. moth
| ers and lHtle children You can't fancy
what n m6ment Il was We knew that all
over France other bells were sounding
the tocsin and millions OF people were
roaliz!nR that terrible horrors we're in
store Then buFles sounded and running
feet M men few To arms 10 march away
They had expected II FOR two days. but
when Il came Il seemed too dreadful 10
be- true. I'll never forget u.
But don't fret for us. We are safe ana
| snug as possible. far from the danger
the troops 40 singing ms they march under