Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-07-23
French Women and War
, springfield Republican.

-------- Springfield Republican. ----------
vivid picture Of and tribute to the women Of
France IL given IN n letter from Raymond Sabou-
rsud the great specialist. to Springfield physician
II s written under date Of Paris June 20, as fol-
lows:
zone result OF the war has been the disappearance
from the streets OF certain types Of and women,
nand Paris today has taken the aspect that Paris
ians used TO qualify provincial Everyone goes
about his business there manifestations OF neither
Joy sorrow the general impression given is that
there duties TO he done, and that the people
doing them. There no balls, receptions; the
aers little patronzed, vanity and worldness have
disappeared. the old relations no longer exist; what
dinners there OF family intimates, and 20
such each brings and each contributes his news,
his opinions his hopes OF the future. The men,
skilled with their fingers. only talk listen;
the in addition TO these abilities def in
needlework, and crochet, making articles for
soldiers prisoners Those who have sons at the
front work for them. those who without sons
have constituted themselves godmothers to orphan
soldiers from lists furnished for that purpose. And
the great Joy OF such reunions IL the reading of
diary which some woman has got from husband
at the front.
Il was at such reunion the other evening and
listened to the reading OF tho diary of a friend,
Major g.. II contained forty pages. closely writ
ten. without punctuation soiled and difficult TO read
But what evening II vast The simple story of a
doctor sent from Paris to Mans and thence to Char
tres: from ChartresNto Rheims. the Mouse and TO
Belgium and then the and painful retreat back
to the Marine; up again and advance, without chance
rcpOSe, TO arrive exhausted IN the Argonne sent
TO the with his ambulance for rest they had
just day when the order came TO again 20 for
ward. and for twelve days he was present at con-
tnuous fighting at Albert and Lassigny. Just
thing the diary did not say, namely that he had been
mentioned In the order OF the day and dec
GRATED for decision and energy. His wife OF
the party, a mother of three children; maybe she
skipped thread during the reading but her hands
never stopped
ara like 10 tell you a few more examples OF FEM
mime fortitude you. dear friend. who know the
French women-at least you know some Of them
the true French that the casual stranger
never knows for though have not the gynaceum
OF the ancents have exclusiveness. seclusve-
of family almost equal to theirs; to the
stranger In general to the stranger OF every coun-
try the real French woman lie an unknown creature.
and hence has arisen the native yet grotesque belief
accepted that the French type OF woman is tho
found in pleasure resorts. We suffer. as the
Greeks suffered for two other reasons the one be-
cause, Hike theirs, women are fair, and to the
traveller the supposed TO be the othcr
because, like them. artistic and to the ignor-
ant OF all lands the artistic is vouptuous
Another OF party that evening, Mad
S. has two sons at the front; one, Bernard,
belonging TO a regiment of 5000. OF whom but seven
teen are left. A short while ago with the cunning
OF redskn she penetrated the lines up to the heights
Of Abbovie. determined 70 see her Bernard before
he, too might Join his comrades. She told us her
own Odyssey; how she got past the lines TO be
later sent back. another attempt and arrested and
finally with the help OF several shrewd peasants
ruined highways. she reached her Destination
ana as she tou ~ all WOODEN sIOChdnAb Nndt Sne
knitted grew apace.
AT another such gathering Of friends there was
among us a Mademoiselle B.. young
whose father and brother are fighting the vosges
she almost blew in us from Rheims. for one can't
telegraph from Rheims what story she had to tell
Leaving the Mediterranean the outbreak of the
offer her services to her friend. the superin
tendent OF the Rheims hospital, she witnessed the
grief OF tho German invasion. and the Joy, OF the
French return after the Marne. She lived among
wounded during 100 Gays OF ccaseess bonnbardment
at Christmas time set up Christmas trees in the
cathedral cellars for orphan children tell you, my
friend. American womanhood couldn't show
anything beat this radiant young creature.
alert vigorous who had spent the winter almost
outdoors for there wasnta pane OF glass left IN her
windows As contrasting experiences she told OF a
shell that fell empty bed, scattering rain of
pillow feathers tho court but elasl the next one
killed six poor wounded devils nearby. AS showing
that French gaty can rise above every gloom. she
said that favore practical Joke to initiate, by
screech whistle the noise OF arriving she'll and
then laugh at the prudent colleague who threw him.
/ self ON his stomach And. my friend. there is no
laugh more justified more true than his who does
his duty in dread SURROUNDINGS She gave my chill
| dren a bag OF shrapnel balls which, she said the
children OF Rheims use as marbles
"I had at the ST. Louis recently another type a
French Protestant. stern and purtanicai. who wore
enormous spectaees. and never Travelled without a
| Bible under her Her wrist had been broken
and piece OF her carried away. but she wouldn't
await complete restitution to hurry back TO the
| aged lady from Versailles OF those old aristo-
Gratis infinite distinction, bringing daughter who
had broken down under the strain OF ambulance
work. interrogation / found she had six sons
under the flaga seventh being still too young, but
intending TO Join three months hence. or the six
one was killed at Chareroi; two disappeared durins
those dreadful days OF retreat which you remember
lasted from August % to So is being nursed Of
home dreadful aceratlon Of the thigh the othei
two being well and In the heat OF things at Alsace
And she told her story very quietly neither boast
fully nor in despair. without tears without melo
drama-just simply. Alas' could tell you or couple
| more patients victims OF brutality or worse. bu
! what's the of relating horrors? / know
| OF fashionable women who spend their nights IN th'
station Asnleres. serving soup or coffee to tbs
passing wounded: and OF one In particular. who
| among the wounded found her own husband teketeC
to a distant hospital. and who she must let pas
while she braveiy waited the next e0ners
MY dear friend. help being proud OF " ae'
who fill such roles? and calmly, uneomplainingh
and with constancy3 And their herosm isn't imite'
20 war aArNlcn. wont know our hospital. all mn