The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-12-27
SOON RECEIVERS
FROM SMELLING
AFTER BormARDsrENr RESIDENTS
or AERAs REAPPEAR AND
RESUME WORK.
Santa Claus And Christmas Spirit Evil
dent All over War zone-sPeace
Through Victory The slogan

ARRAs. on the French Front. Dec. &c
Hundreds OF big shells tore the air
over Arras all Friday afternoon. The
echoes OF these were the last compli-
ments OF the season and they had no
sooner died away than the life Of Arras
began TO show itself through -re-opened
cellar doors and windows In preparation
Tor the usual Christmas Eve festivi-
ties.
The people of the Artois region rise
above their Affections due to the war
and the spirit OF Arras survives among
the heaps OF ruin.
1T would be really a shame n we had
not gotten used TO Il during all these
months" said a woman selling postal
cards and stationary by a candle light
on the first floor OF n building three parts
open to the sky. What we've got to do
the woman continued. lis TO hold out for
final victory and lasting peace"
After the usual systematic shening
died down. rifle shots and the rattle OF
machine guns was all that broke the
stiffness OF death that prevailed over the
city.
Santa Claus and Christmas spirit. not
wtthstanding the war. were In evidence
%ne1ywnsre aniong me Artois battle
Christmas eve They were in tho
trsenches and shelters with the simple
soldiers; In the temporary barracks
where the traditional Christmas eve the
alter was replaced by an improyised con-
cert and vaudeville that almost ri
OF peace.
Simple Folk Songs.
Several miles up the deep. wide ditch.
with twelve inches OF chalky mud at its
bottom. just far enough from the Ger
man line to permit tranquil sleep. sol
dicrs entertained each other with sim
pie folk songs OF their home regions and
examined parcels from home and talked
OF victory One soldier FanA "A 1ff1p
note from home. which said:
This year Il is I who play father.
This year 1 broke open my savings bank
'front.'"
The soldier did not explain who the
writer was, but his thick. coarse beard
failed 10 hide a touching smile with
which he accepted the reversal OF the
Christmas roles.
They're singing over there" said a
soldier Just back from the first line
trench. They've got an orchestra. and
not sound very gay"
Meanwhi the impromptu concert in
the trenches went on in tones that were
light, gay and confident. The same
phrase was heard in ali the toasts given
here. IL was peace through victory"
A little farther from the trenches in
n bombarded barn covered by an i'm
provished roof. the midnight watch was
preceded by a concert in which the SOL
diers who toked the military on the
hNakt IN peace AltltSs reversed the order
OF things and with the greatest zest car
featured the civilian behind the zone oc-
cupied by the armies.
Exchanged Places.
All along the roads In the region two
lines passed in different directions.
Some with picks, shovels and rifle. We're
going to take their turn In the trenches,
while others were going back TO the old
village church 20 swell the congregation
Officers. including generals. cOlonels.
captains and leutenants. with a sprink-
ling OF civilians and many women were
in attendance.
At the quarters the soldiers. near the
trenches. everything in the attitude OF
the service brought out the same note:
Peace through victory" A chaplain
with the red ribbon OF the legion OF
honor on his surplice. who had lost sew
eral brothers and has four more in the
army. all Of whom have been cited in
orders Of the day and he himself twice
cited for heroic conducted. preached on
Peace Through Victory"
A stretcher bearer. with a military
medal and a g~ranadier with a war cross
on his breast. sang a Christmas anthem
10 the accompaniment OF the modest old
organ played by a simple soldier with
such a master hand that the strains were
quite as inspiring as the best cathedral
music. The last notes peace on earth
good viii toward men," died away a. the
congregation was filing out Of the Uttls
church. while I'm the distance the boom
Ing OF cannot recalled not his Christ
mas"