Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1915-01-09
FRENCH SOLDIER IS
FUNNY CREATURE
On All Occasions He Refuses to Hav.
Hts Love Of the Beautiful
Quenched.
BY WILLIAM PHILIP SIM,rs

with the French Army at the
f'ront, Nov. 2S. (By mail to New
York; The French soldier is be,ond
doubt the most persistently gay and
1t the same time inherently artistic
creature IN tho world Even here
under the snow and the rain, in the
shsh and mud, with death stalking
only one lap behind with occasional
overtakings, he refuses to have eth
OF his gaity or his love for the beau
tiful quenched.
Today / visited several camps Of
train MISUNDERSTANDING and am
mun1tion supply corps-just behind
the firing line. Evidently the soldiers
believe they are there for the winter
for they have built themselves "per-
manent" houses and have set up
housekeeping in the most comfortable
OF ways. French officers call these
settlements, "vilages negres" or me
gro villages" on account Of their re-
semblings, at first glance, the native
the soldiers villages are more artis.
Tie. much cleaner and more attrac
tive.
One 1 visited near Saint-Minehould
was typcila. 1t was located in 4
wheat field and French wheatfielda
in this region have habit, when wet
by rain or snow, Of trying to escape
by clinging to ones feet. But the
soldiers have occupied their leisure
hours in hauling sand and building
sidewalks throughout the village
which was, In consequence sort OF
"spotless town"
The houses are built Of saplings and
tatched with straw, not helter skel-
ter and any old way, but neatly and
in patterns, so that the finished struc-
ture resembles very pretty, If tiny,
French villa, with dormers and CAB
les and turrets and spires. Many
Of the little houses have windows OF
glass through where these came from
goodness only knows-probably from
the ruins Of neighboring villages.
In front Of most Of the villas are
French gardens. Little fir and cedar
trees, or other small growth Of ever
green variety, have been transplant
ed, and the walks Of these gardens
are laid out In patterns and bordered
just as walks In city parks are, only
here pieces OF tree-branches take the
place Of the interlacing iron borders
OF more conventional parks.
But it is inside that the inhabitants
sbow the most ingenuity. Beds are
of all varieties but l am sure that
the worst was more comfortable than
those one usually finds in an Ameri
can small-town hotel. In principle
most OF them we're alike. Four posts
were driven into the ground with sap
hngs to represent the sides Of the bed.
Across these, one against another,
SD aller saplings are laid. these chos
en- for their springiness. Over these,
IN soft hay, OF thickness to insure
az much comfort as an ordinary mat
tress affords. and lastly the regulation
blankets, sleeping bags and such otn'
er covering as the soldier may be able
TO procurs.
In the middle Of the room there 's
unusually a table made OF saplings
and stch plans as the builder nave
found; upon this they eat and 40
their correspondence. Over one such
table found hanging lamc th'ng'
lanterns are usually used. hbo'- the
valls are shelves and pegs For olac,
ing and hanging things
brighten the rooms and some Of these
homes possess libraries some