Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-11-12
WOMAN DROVE WAR JtTNEY
Duty OF Mile. Antonia Ceyctte Was to
Meet incoming "roiLus"-Convalea
cent Soldiers Given Outtnrs.

women have distinguished them
selves in SO many fields of activity.
during the European war that il ia
never surprising to hear Of a new de-
partnre as witness the case Of Mile.
Antonio Ceyettc. who has returned IN
baltimore from summer in France.
Asked what she had been doing In thu
last few months. she replied: .'Driyinr
Il private motor omnibus" Mile.
Ceyette is teacher of French at the
Girls Latin School and was formerly
at Mile. Lafevrc's School
You know" she said. "in the first
place. il was the gift of two Balti-
moreans. Miss Louise Dawson and her
brother. Edgar X. Dawson In
Ardeche. where ] live. the country is
mountainous and. owing to the de-
mands OF the army horses arc not to be
had, and there is no means OF COM
municaton. My business was to meet
the Poilus returning for their six
days"
Their six days." she was asked
Yes. every soldier has six days
leave once In three months to visit his
family. Every day l met the incoming
trains and took the Poilus' to their
homes. On one occasion only one man
got off the train. l greeted him as
usual. Hey. there; do you want ride
home" oh. yes. madame. but l cannot
afford to pay you. l have only few
francs left and I have promised the
Kids treat
Needless to say. he got the ride,
and the kids their treat. Between
trains ! took parties of crippled chill
dren and conralescent soldiers for lit
tie outings. and il is impossible for
me 10 tell you the wonderful descrip-
lions they gave me of their own ex-
periences on the battle field. did
this work for several months and
ha or nP In, o-ie
Il saw many dangerously wounded
men. but never heard a complaint or
murmur. There was q young Breton
of twenty-three, the eldest and the
only brother I'm family OF five. who
had left his fishing smnck to enlist.
Are you seriously wounded?' I. asked
him. Yes. madame. one leg gone
above the knee. the other below. And
he smiled serenely as II he had
been telling ME comm onplace.
while in Paris I saw the aviator
who on February % dropped the first
bombs on the German lines at Verdun.
In one of his lights the aeroplane
caught fire and he was horribly
burned. There was not hair left on
his head. and his face. except around
protected by his goggles. was like a
withercd. wrinkied apple-and he was
only twcntytwo. In talking to him
one thought only Of the hero and for-
got the Mucous disagreement or the
man"
Mile. Ceyette was asked IL the alb
scnce OF men was very noticeable In
the large French cities.
II should think So" she replied. Elm
the railway stations you see women
ticket sellers and collectors. women
baggage agents and conductors In
bordeaux the niotormeu and street car
conductors are women. IN neat black
uniforms and caps, with red bands OH
their sleeves. The women are won
derful. and in France il is often said
that it is they who are lighting this
war.
1t Was frequently my duty to tell
the parents OF the death of {. son. and
in most cases 1t was the father who
needed the most consoiing The ~om-
Ell left 1T home manage marvelousiy
on what they can earn themselves mud
the allowance OF - cents Il day for
themselves and 10 cents additional
FOR each child which they receive from
the government.
Mile. Cayttc then showed her treas
ures-ringS MADE by the soldiers In
the trenches. bracelets and medals.
The medals" shc said remind me
IF remark n soldier made to M.
which shows better than anything
have said the spiri; OF the French
people. lie had received a 'Medaills do
Gucrrs.' and he kept II In his shir.
pocket. why do you hiac your medat?'
! asked him, 4 AN not hiding II,
madame-I hate to wear Il before my
comrades because al OF US should
have had II. We al fought tho .saple'
Certainly. when the soldiers talk Iiiso
that no one can say that France has
degeneratcd." and Mademoisellc:s black
eyes flashed fre.--Baltimorc Sun.