Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1916-08-08
Stories of the War
A Mothers soIicitude for Her Son.

Turn to '"The Mothers Case when
war falls out, never better put-world
| not yet tuned 10 point of barring war,
! that depends on women after this one
| than by delightful French woman,
| Madame EdOuard Drumont, wife of
| famous editor La Libre Parole. Her
diary unwinds the mothers heart:
July, 1914-T have just spent a week
| in Paris, waiting for my son, who has
! been doing his three weeks training on
| the frontier at Belfort. I am Mortified
| at the runOrs of war which are in the
! air. Not that I Shrink from pain, for
| both my father and brothers were SOL
! diers, but I am so afraid that
my son will not have time to finish
! his military training before the crisis
| comes, and that I shall not see him
| again before the war. This idea preys
| on me day and night
| And yet they that this war. which
| everyone loathes, is inevitable! Are
! butchery, frightfuIness, pillage and de-
| struction inevitable?
| was on the balcony about 2 o'clock
| when a car stopped in front OF the
| house. A sapper got out of it. I ut
| tered a, cry Of jubilation-it was Paul!
| He came up and threw himself into my
| arms. remained riveted to the spot,
speeChelss and in tears.
| "On, mother, mother, I did so want
| to see you before the great upheavaI.
! What luclII Well, I've seen you, and
| now am ready to so when the bugle
! calls
could not speak. I was choking. I
| looked at this dear, big, handsome boy,
! who is my only child, my whole life,
whom I must give to France, must sac
| riftCe perhaps to the inexOrable laws of
| war. I felt my heart rise in revolt. I
| did not say anything, however, for he
| would have scolded me, and it would
| have distressed him.
|
| out yesterday. The sight of the
! excitement in the villages, the women
| in tears, standing speIlbOund before
! the trfCclor notices, the modified men
| trUdging off with their knapsacks and
| any sort of uniform, and young fell
| lows singing the 'fNIarseillaise'' upset
! me terribly. The torture has
! begun. Already we are without
papers and news.
! Now that the quiet Of evening is
| falling, am thinking more than ever
| of you, my darling child. What are
! YOU DOING Perhaps you are asleep.
! What strength of mind and self con-
| troll one needs to hide ones feelings
! from other people! The people are
| stupid beyond WOrds-perfcct clOds. In
| q moment of crisis like this they say
! the most idiOtiC things, emphasize-it
/ is so like thenl-the danger in which
| the country finds itself, wonder if we
! shall DE beaten. and what will happen
! to prisoners in Germany, etc, etc. One
| feels inclined 10 throttle them or to
| stop ones ears so as not to hear. The
| final irony of misery is having to go
! on with ones everyday life.
have had letter from Paul telling
me that he has managed to get sent to
| Dion. He will certainly be safer there
| as he will be further away from the
! frontier, but I know what he is like
now that he has gone in for flying
| again, he will be wanting to distin-
/ gujsh himself, to do something or other
and then-and then-well, I have a diff
ferent reason for anxiety, that's all
A letter from Paul at Iast-so dra-
matte, so simple, SO brave! After read
! ing the charming letter I was more
| miserable than ever. I feel how very
rear him danger is, and my helpless
| ness increases my fear.
observation-disclosures days have gone
by without any news of Paul. Where
is he? What is he doing? This hor-
rible war has already lasted a month
and it is two months since I saw Paul
! How long shall 7 be without seeing
him? When 7 think of all the sorrows
this war is going to bring US 7 fee
overcome with sadness and depression
and yet how dare complain, even t.
| myself, when so many mothers are
already in mourning!
Why do we have children? So thai
| they should be torn from us by war OF
| should go of on their own accord anC
build their nests elsewhere. It is cruel
but it is the way of life; our childreI
| only belong to us as long as they nee6
US. One must not conceal from one
| self that a mothers love is in no way
| reciproca1-it is merely a Sift. There
is nothing left for us but the value OF
| our sacrifice.
Love, courage equaTing mothers
| love, ceaseless fear, the lot Of mothers
| Of Europe today Europe fighting tC
destroy danger of further fear, agonies
/ Co. -