El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-09-08
FRENCH WOMEN
SHOW BRAVERY
Send Men to Battle Without
Tears; Take Up the
Work at Home.


article was written by a French noble
woman. formerly an American, VINO
witnessed the mobilization OF troops
in Normandy:
-Mobilization in the French pro
vinces. where the admirable conoucl
Of the whole nation could best be
judged, was marked by many pictur-
esque scenes. The dominant note was
order. During this period we have
had an opportunity TO fully judge the
mathematical tendency Of the French
mind
The mobilization plans were laid
with the same care as those OF an OF
derby French garden. one clarion calA
united the whole nation in common
bond Every internal quesuoH Hds
forgotten. Men and women OF every
class stood ready TO race the collil---'-i
enemy.
wives and mothers Of reservisJs,
officers and soldiers, huiIleu 70 tAS
closets, unpacked uniforms Insl AetQ
long lain away, refItted the sulLs-al-
with as much calm and neInou as II
making ready for country 4aL- Dc
lore the houses women 5foupeu 70
gether, brushing q coat or cap eA-
changing views, but not one voice eN-
pressed a desire to keep the man from
doing his duty. The spirit Of sacrltice
wen Didn't Expect to Return.
'AIen settled their family aLIalrs
with care. On the street heard a
man say TO another I've just CLaA5St
my lease. You know, L go to Nerdun
(the frontier and most dangerous post
on account of the attack on Aelzis
and I shall not come back nave
put all in my wife's name, so she VIII
have no trouble
see me. am now sure he said, that
in a few hours We are gong TO mool!-
iZe- I am glad TO go, but my VIE IS
to have a baby in monln- she IS
alone and / must leave her without
money. May 1 count on YOU 10 help
If need be- But she is 50 clever she'll
get along
so quickly did every one get ready
for the mobilization that when on
Saturday at 4 o'clock the quaint town
drummer Of Dleppe appeared on the
public square and with roll OF drums
announced the call 70 war huge ma
jority Of tne reservists were already
on their way 10 the barracks
All Classes llingle.
1T was picturesque sight 10 see
men OF every class-rlch mems sons,
employees peasants, labOrers-every
class Of the population represented
climbing the hill, all carrying their
packages, laughing and singing as II
on the way TO 1ete-
soon after the winding procession
going UP the hill crossed another pro-
cessiC1 coming down These We're
the first arrivals who had uonned their
uniforms, passed before the major
cOmmaLdanu and were coming back 10
Dieppe TO join the camp installed in
one of the most luxurious casinos IN
the world, the Casino OF Dleppe- only
the night before the flower OF french
and cosmopolitan society had thrOnged
the halls, the gaming rooms, most or
the men knowing full well that the
morrow meant departure for the
front.
The rapidity with which the Casino
was Transformed into barracks was a
demonstration Of how thoroughly the
war office had studied the utilization
OF every resource IN the country FOR
war preparation
Parting With Horses.
"Of all the interesting sights none
than The bringing into Dieppe by sheir
peasant owners Of their horses req
uisiuOned by the government Tor the
army, their names plated and tied
with tricOlOred ribbons and coats shin
ing like satin A group Of officers
stood al the entrance of the barracks
and as each horse was presented II
was rapidly examined handed over
TO the military blacksmith newly
shOd and led TO the army stab -esr
where the saddle or harness waiting
for it was adjusted. Then IL was re-
turned to camp ready to start for the
front
-The peasant owners either Joined
the army ranks themselves. IL they be
lOnEed TO the service, or, if too old or
in bad health, returned home on foot,
some OF them, many miles. to far dis
tant farms all without a nlurmur- The
government pays fair price for all
horses thus reQuisitiOned. but the loss
OF his horse is nevertheless a great
privation for the average owner.
Advantage over Germans.
The contingent of troops which left
Dieppe for the front represented
sturdy body Of Normans commanded
by a major who has fought in is
campaigns Here is one Of the great
advantages of the French army Off
GERS and men have seen active fight
ing in Indo-China, in Algeria, in
Tunis, in madagascar, in Morocco
where the majority Of German Off
GERS and men have yet 10 smell pow
der, maneuyers constituting their only
experience in warfare
The men of Normandy marched
through the streets on their way 10
war to the sounds Of stirring military
music under a shower of flowers
thrown by the women grouped along
the line Of march TO bid them fare
Zach soldier tried to catch a rose.
a marguerite or q leaf as he passed,
which he promptly fixed to his bayO-
net or thrust in his belt as a last
souvenir Of France
No SObbinE.
Not a discordant note marred the
departure. The calm courage Of the
WOmen-WlAeSs IlOLncESs sisters ana
sweethearts - was touching Tears
were bravely kept back. sObs smoth-
cred Some even found courage TO
banter and joke And thus they were
gOne-the soldiers. the men Of France.
Not an hour afterward the women
commenced 10 replace their husbands
in the shops. on the farms. in the Of
fices and in the cafes Ny butchers
wife served me a steak at the emil
nent risk of amputatinG her thumbs
"But I will grow more skilful," she
apolCgized, and so she has.
The bakers wife. with her two
children, has had a hard struggle with
the bread. but il is growing better
On the farms the women have been
heroines. The crops are being gath
cred in quite as well as If the men
were at work.
An Appeal to Women.
To the women of France. I'm a su-
perb appeal. Viviani. the premier. has
cOnfided the welfare Of the nations.
Reap and sow. he says. so that when
the men return they may find the
barn full, the fields ready. the crops
Lar t.