New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1916-11-21
The Women OF france
And Their Patriotism

Washington, D. c., Nov. 21.-One
of the most vivid and comprehensive
pictures of the sacrifices, the heroism
and the hopes of the women of France
which has come from war-stricken
Europe in many months is contained
in a communication to the National
Geographic society from Mrs. Har-
riet Chalmers Adams, the only Amer
lean woman who has been permitted
to visit the first-line trenches on the
French front since the great often
sive of the Entente Allies began along
the Somme last summer. Mrs. Adams,
who Is an author and lecturer or
note studied the women or france
with the appreciation and understand
ing of a trained observer who has won
distinction as an explorer in the An
des, in Central America, and in the
heart of Asia. She says:
lone of the universal mistakes
which the American people make IN
their estimate of the women or
France is the assumption that TINS
war has created a new and nobler
spirit among the mothers, the wives,
the sisters and sweethearts of the
men who are fighting for the saliva
ton of a nation. Even the briefest
would convince the most casual OBJ
server that such a spirit of self-sacri-,
fee and of complete devotion to
cause could not have been created or
born in the women of a nation In the
space of two years That spirit mas
been inherent in the French women
far beyond the PRESENT. goes PACK
to Joan of Arc. Repeatedly during
the last few months I have been mace
aware that it has been an active ana
vital force for years because in many
q base hospital I met young women or
gentle blood who were experienced
nurses, having served grueling now
tiate with the French forces in AL
geria and Morocco.
1.-The splendid fortitude, indomit-
able will, and tireless energy Of the
French women have always existed;
this great calamity has not developed
new characteristics, but has only
served to make known to the world
those great virtues of heart, hand, and
mind which are saving a people ana
that peoples civilization.
"Chiefly, perhaps, because of her
charming feminity, and her dainti-
ness in personal adornment, the Am
erican public has moderated the sta
posedly timid, this war has proved her
to be the very opposite. For eX-
ample, the 2O-year-old daughter of a
nob1ewoman in whose chateau I spent
| several days has been nursing the
! wounded for two years. When the
! war began and the trainloads of mu-
! tilated soldiers began to pass through
the station near the chateau this
young girl then only 18, who hatt
never had sight Of human blood,
arose each morning at $50. met the
trains and went through the cars
caring for the wounds of those who
had been placed hurriedly on board to
be taken to the base hospitals In the
: rear. This girl labored. and is still
laboring, from 10 to IA hours day
ameliOrating the suferingS of those
! who have given their all for her be-
] loved France And so are hundreds
| thousands Of other noble young wo-
! men serving the republic.
Some of the American war cor
; RESPONDENTS who have been permitted
to visit the munitions plants where
i thousands upon thousands of girls and
! women are 1aboring to keep the
| French artillery supplied with high
explosive shells and rapnel, have
deplored the fact that the nation is al
| lowing the potential mothers Of the
! future to sacrifice their strength and
| health in such tasks. I confess that L
| cannot share this regret. To me IL
seems eminently fair and appropriate
that these daughters OF France who or
necessity are prohibited from giving
their lives to the cause on the battle-
field itself should enjoy the privilege
of offering themselves WIDELY ana
without reserve to their sacred cause
n whatsoever capacity their oooles
nd their brains arc most effective for
nat far-off. divine event-the restor-
alton of France and the fruits OF q
reace that shall last for all time.
zone of the most amazing things
about Paris today is that it is city
of smiles. 1t is no longer Gay Paris,
but Cheerful Paris A student of
PSYCHOLOGY. however, who looks deep
into the smiling eyes Of the women
realizes 1nstinctively that one of the
obligations which each feels and rul-
fills is to make as happy as possible
the six DAYS furlough that the men
from the trenches are granted from
time to time.
"The Opera Comique and the Grand
Onera House are crowded each nlsht'
but that regulation which once re-
ouired all persons occupying the La
mons tiers of loges and the parqueI
chairs to be in evening dress ~ Us
err obtains at the opera. Inc liol lNoll
blue uniforms and the slnple - WIS
of dark material, most oftefi oi"oh'
are to be seen on every SIDE. Ailu olo
of the appealing customs OF the noul
is that every woman as she slts III tlie
theater holds the hand of her escort
son, husband brother, or sWeetheare
while from the eyes of the hancee
no less than from those OF the SILVER
haired mother there shines the hght
of maternal love, a love wh1ch "oulo
protect and comfort, not one Whlch