Norwich bulletin., 1917-05-10
LOCAL CHAPTER GETS
 LETTER FROM PARIS


 Mrs. Hugh Reid Griffin Says French
 Buildings Are Ablaze With Old
 Glory.
 Mrs. Robert W. Perkins, president. of the local chapter of Red Cross, has re- eeived an interesting letter from Mrs Hugh Reid Griffin. an official at the American Relief Clearing House. in Paris, where the Norwich Red Cross have sent many boxes. Mrs. Griffin IS from Connecticut but has lived m England and Paris for many years. Mrs. Griffin writes as follows:
 Dear Mrs. Perkins of the Norwich . Chapter:
 The Stars and Stripes spell patriot ism in the French capital tonight. All day the buildings have been ablaZe with our colors; for the first time the Stars and Stripes are taking their proud3 place with the flags of the al- lies. It gives one a strange thrill a wave of great emotion-and it seems, that our country has at last come into it's best own, for the breathless word has crossed the Atlantic that we, are at war with the government of Ger that as that we have come out into the open with the allies to stand to- tgcther,' for the right and justice of civilization.
 I have hoped and hoped that a way might with honor have been found to keep out of the war, giving our help and strength and uplift in other ways and that we need not have been called upon to cast the manhood of America into this fearful carnage, but it was not to be. T am grateful beyond any thing I can express, that our coming in has been done in such dignihed, true and rnasterIy way.
 The presidents speech before con- gress 9has been hailed here as one of the greatest utterances ever given and I am sure the message from the pres 7nr1f 11re. know it Is appreciated. Already it has been voted that these two speeches together with that of Ribot, shall be read throughout the schools of France and President Wilson's message is to be posted in every commune in France.
 England will feel the same and will no doubt follow suit. as the message of King George and Lloyd George tes- tify. All this will be ancient history to you by the time this letter reaches you, on its censored way; it seems to me as though the souls of Washing ton and Lincoln are alive and mani fest in this hour. The presidents message has gone to the source of right-at least, so it seems today. God grant that in the near and the long future, 1t may seem the same. Our coming in must be a help in almost every way and let us all hope, one of the ways may be, in shortening the war. There are times when the war gets so on ones nerves that it seems we cannot stand it any longer for the strife grows more and more terrible.
 These last atrocities in the invaded villages, are fearfuli Tn a group of a few small villages, where 54.000 in habitants live. only 5000 remain. and there are old men and women, a few young children. and several hundreds of young women, about to become mothers-children of unknown Boches fathers-the young women having been sent by the enemy to Germany, f n GIT SniArtiAO struction has left the country destl- tute: wells destroyed, fruit trees slash ed beyond growth, everything taken the inhabitants left without food and each with only a single garment of clothing.
 This afternoon went to the Amer lean embassy to express by way of courtesy, our congratulations. Many were there, among whom was Mime. Ribot, wife of the premier of France, and all were thankful and ali were sure, that it was a war, but with two ways-tf1e right and the wrong-there can be no compromise: to attempt the continuance of a neutral" course, wcr.I have been impossible. It is Ella w eler Wilcox who says: "No virile man is neutral. right or wrong, his thoughts go forth assertiVe, unafraid to stand by his convictions. to do their part, in shaping issues to an end" Only in the light of the future, can we be sure, that this was the wisest | m On1ent Tor us, to come .1l1.s
 It is a great comfort today to feel | that a wise and right constructive pol 1 icy has been at work. I am so glad | President Wilson declared war with | the German government. for it implies | justice toward many German people in | America, and perhaps in Germany, | who are not to blame, or responsible | for Prussianism, and who may de- | plore it.
 The day war was declared the | A har of ed together it's members in special | session, that it might frame a message, to be sent to President Wilson my | husband, as vice president of the | sage, which was unanimously agreed | upon and at once sent; it read as fol- | lows: "The American Chamber of | Commerce in Paris, in view of the his- | toric and clear declaration, by the | president of the United States, before | Congress, desires to convey to the | president, it's sincere appreciation, en- | tnusiastic and patriotic congratula- l tion, and offer of service And these | fine men will stand ready, as will ev- | cry American man and woman, to ra1- l ly to whatever needs may arise, for | there is no disgusting. that we may | all have ahead of us great trials and | many griefs before the day of victory. | America will have its personal sacri- l fees, and through them will realize in | part, what heartbreaking suffering | there mas been III the OlO WOTlo. Amer ica's generosity in kind and in ser | vice has been wonderful. We are all | "in it" now, and I do plead that you in America, will continue to even more | abundantly. give. want you to give | to me. I have, so many to help and | there is SO much I am not able to do. | I have been especially busy helping people to get along. and earn 'who are not too proud to fight" but too | proud to ask. I find them out, they l come to me, and I help where I can, | and many times they are men and | women of our own nationality. All | this takes thought, resource, time and | strength, which I am glad to give. Money is necessary and money I must ask, for else I cannot help people to selp themselves, and they to help oth- CTS.
 Use 40 Per Cent. Formalln Solution.
 The Connecticut committee of food supply has issued the following state ment which will be of great inipoH-