The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-05-08
VISITORS TO VEROUN
ARE COMPELLED TO
TAKE PRECAUTIONS
Must Approach stealthily, Clad in
Steel Helmet and Carrying Gas
mask and Waterproof Bag No
body Above Surface Of Ground.


BY associated Press.
Verduu. France. May S.-The Wis
tor to Nurdun must approach stealth
ny. clad In steel helmet ~ ciyiH YIN
carefully his gas mask In It's later.
proof bag. Thus fortified nnd attn
~. eye w%atchful FOR any IN
mcnt or activity by m distant GER
man batteries, hc muy walk and climb
among the ruins on follow the debris
cluttered bank ct the lovely Mcusc.
broad, green, calm, and Indifferent To
solicitude such as 10 has not known
FOR q thousand years.
The ain drips through the she'll
torn root VI the cathedral. puiping the
hcolr.scores and the missals tossed
with the fallen masonry pou the
floors, making mud OF tne affairs dust,
rutting the canvas of the fallen pie
lures. rendering all things squaiid.
Close 10y Is the theatcr. with its
brocaded galleries trimming over
with wteckagc. nauting raEs. and re-
Nealing through the uncurtained stage
all the shabby mysteries Of It's mech
auism. all in wild confusion.
Visitors are rare In Ncrdun, but the
town holds u TO them cmphatically
the freedom Of the city. every door
and window open u no human eye
ia watch. Along the river bank are
the little restaurants and cafes. the
nuprs strewn with cups aud -auccrs
glasses ranged on the counters. the
1pon lcdgers ON the cashiers desks
inviting the inspection Of the curious.
Il has been many months since the
cutomors sat around these u%pturnCd
tai es ur out on the terrace ana
watched the green Meuse slide below
the bridges on sunny afternoons.
The little humble shops along the
side streets are more pathetic than
the big clubhouse or the pitted ware
houses with their shattered windows.
The shops are wide open. with their
scales stili ON counter. their knives
and sugar scoops all ready for Dusi-
messy. The tailor shops displayed pIc'
lures OF the modes for summer 1914,
hopelessly out of date.
Ncrdun H. only a little town. Just
struggling out uf N~iilagchuod into dig
nifty a. an Incorporated city Ten or
twelve thousand was It's peace-tinc
population. II looks no different THAI
a peaceful American city. for the cit
adcl III the least conspicuous OF Yer
duu's features ana IN" town deceit
miIy seems lud'tonsity, open Co Is-
sault and Outrage like r. seaside wat
criug place.
From one Of the buildings ON the
hin. above tho narrow winding streets
OF tho upper town one may look down
on :Rc wurst-shollCd central parts, an
pounded .ato shapcIessuos, the finest
street onlltcrJtvd wurkshIp, ware
huusrs and tenement all reduced 10
,rlmhlcbriCk ana mortar of yellow
ish hue. outside this devastated area.
the rest uf Nvrdun stands with O spec
cIous look Of being hale and hdhitthlc
only with the Jagged outlines 81 O.
broken gable showing here ana there
Trumcars used To- run down the Ave-
nue. de ll Care from the railway sta
ton, cabs Piled for hire, tolN iouuged
in tho afternoon ON the Promenade
de "a Diguo. 40 life is In amy of
these places now save the rat that
,bu,aks and burrows in the ruins
when another shell comes With It's
rummutiou. tor Ncrduu i- sim the OBJ
I,rt uf the Grrmans' daily hate.
There Is uohod, above the surface
81 the ground IN Ncrduu. but the sub
tcIraucau furtrcssvs beneath the cit
ad,I. deep down under mountain
rock, are still animate with men. sol
dicrs who are keeping up the d"ios-
i've that months ~ German activity
failed go break.