Semi-weekly herald., 1915-05-10

tected from caving in by woven wire |
or woven sprigs and branches after
tht manner of basket work. There is
nothing careless about the work which |
seems to have been performed by
those who understood the business.
In the rear of Vicksburg during the |
American civil war zigzag trenches |
were introduced in an effort to make |
progress toward the enemy without
getting killed. The Vicksburg trenches
we're hurriedly made and were not
artistic and substantial, as is the case
with the trenches in this European
war.
Senlis Is a Wreck.
On our way north we were halted
three or four times by French soldiers
who were on guard. The authorities
do not grant many permits to auto
mobiles for some reason or other.
The guard carefully counted our par
ty and then examined the pass con-
tanning all the pictures of the party,
including the chauffeur. The number
of the car was given and the guard
carefully examined the same. In the
course of time we reached Senlis and
enjoyed tea and toast in the Hotel du
Grand Cert, which was the headquar-
tiers of General Won Kluck while his
German army passed through.
All the buildings around the hotel
were destroyed by the Germans ex-
cepting the hotel. The old town of
Senlis is sadly in need of rebuilding
it looks like section of Belgium.
TT ere was no battle at that point, and
the destruction of buildings was made
by incendiary bombs thrown into them
| by hand.
Where Mayor Was Shot.
In large pasture field near Senlis
there was evidently some fighting.
The invading army shot the mayor
and the body is buried in this par
ticular field. The charge against him
was that he had not prevented the
people from sniping German soldiers.
| He was set up and shot and was
buried where he fell. His grave is
Pre- perly marked and has small iron
fence around it.
The pathway through the plowed
field indicates that many people have
visited the mayors grave. The path
way led farther on, evidently reach
ing ether graves. In the town of Sem
lis we visited the beautiful cathedral
which has stood for centuries. We
| found religious services in progress
| There were probably one hundred and
| fifty women and children at their de-
votions, and excepting the two priests
one old and one young-there was
not Il man in the cathedral, and ev-
cry woman was dressed in black.
| Some of them, with special sorrows
no doubt. remained long upon their
knees. While the cathedral looks
time-worn from the outside, it is real
ly a beautiful piece of architecture
with the usual columns, shrines, al
Lars and statuary.
| An examination of the cathedral
from the outside gave evidence of the
craftsmanship of the Germans. l
counted seven places where bullets
from rather small cannon had hit the
cnpola around which the rocks were
swarniing in great numbers. Not far
from the cathedral is an unpretenti-
Gus old church which seems to be
connected with a municipal building.
1t is possible to take pictures of these
ruins il, Senlis, while it is not pos
sible to take pictures of ruins in Be-
gum.
No Able Men Visible.
Seemingly more than half the build
ings in Senlis are deserted. Many
store fronts are boarded up. At one
spot | saw a number of school chill
drcn gathered. We did not happen to
see any man of military age or con-
dition, At one place mile out of
oenlis scme important road improve
ment vas in progress.
The city itself seemed to be desert
eI. There seemed to be an air of
gloom oven the entire community. The
sual hustle of village life was not
ill evidence. l am told that through
out France the village schools are not
neg'ec'ed The youths are being
taught as usual. The teachers are
usually women or men who have been
wounded and come home.
The large field where there must
have leen fighting on account of the
grouni being covered with cartridges,
has been plowed up again since Won
kluck's army passed through, and
crops will soon be repanted.
Some of the ground over which the
armies rassed is covered with large
and tlnifty daffodils. Their beautiful
yellow color can be seen for a long
iistancc. We could not resist the
temptation to gather daffodils for
bouquets to take to our homes.
Guard Against Epidemic.
An american visitor has suggested
that when spring really opens the
tattle area in France will be visited
by disease and death on account of
impurities in the soil, in the water
and the air. But the long time resi-
dent Of France has no such fears. for
the reason that the French people
obey the orders of those in authority
implicitly. They boil the water when
they are told to do so.
When they are asked to put disin-
fectanis in cellars or anywhere else
they obey. In other words, the French
people are always exercising great
care, and especially so after the warn
ing may have been given from those
IN authority Therefore no epidem-
les may be expected to result from
h,& NV