The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-03-01
through what had until recently been

Of the twelfth century outlined them
selves against the setting sun. I stood
alone some TIME, gazing at this example
of wanton destruction, and wondered
why this had all come upon these peo-
pie. On looking through the Quilted
windows one could see but pile of
stones where roof and walls had fallen,
destroying even the itues Of where the
altar had stood. On joining the others
we wandered through this stricken
town, picking our way as best we could
through streets that are now but
mounds of brick and mortar.
The officer in charge Of the party led
us to the house of the mayor, for my
purpose in going on this trip was to
inquire of the different local officials
the best way to help when the time for
e-home-making arrives. It seemed alb
surd to discuss reconstruction with
shells still whizzing over our heads, but
the French do not sit with bowed heads
in the midst of this catastrophe. Their
spirit is marvellous. The moment bonn
harding ceases they rise again, go in
search of their dear ones (for even lit
tie children are not spared by this de-
mon enemy and prepare to erect tenn
porary structure that will shelter those
who are saved.
On finding the mayor of the village,
he showed us the ruins of his own home,
and added that he was sorry he could
not welcome us properly, his wife was
Ill and lying in cellar. We followed
him down some shattered stone steps
into q dark cellar where the poor wo-
man lay on mattress. She was suf-
fering from shock after a persistent
bombardment that had scattered most
of the inhabitants, and heaven alone
knows where they are now-if living.
The room was in almost total darkness
but glow from a tiny stove in one
corner revealed little girl of about
seven years / tried to make friends
with her and to explain that we were
friends who had come long, long way
to help her, and that after my letter
to little girls in the United States,
they would send her new dollies. The
child seemed stunned, and even little
gifts pressed into her hands elected
no sign of emotion. A crash was
heard but we could see nothing until the
glow from the fire showed, in the
midst of pipe, stove and scattered
Goals, one of the officers who had been
cropping around and fallen over the
stove. Everyone rushed to the rescue;
he was extricated and the miserable
little stove again put on its feet. The
poor invalid tried to rise from her bed
to save the child, but we had snatched
the tiny one from danger If one had
seen this in a comic paper it would
have had its amusing points, but with
In this hldeous pretext for home, the
grandmother almost at death $ door,
the tiny little girl stunned to dumb
ness and the remembrance of that
beautiful Gothic church lying in ruins
Few hundred feet away, left with
heavy heart and determination to
help these people and begin our civil
ian work in this very village if posi-
BILE.
Only three children remain in that
place today, but those three must be our
inspiration, and after this when Won
are sorting your children s things. and
even your own, send them to us, and
we will thus commence our civilian
work where our purpose is to help such
people in re-establishing their little
homes. Clothes that are soiled or foo
worn are of no use, besides it is dis
couraging when you are down and out
to get something that is on its last
legs
we must not, however, let this civil
ian work take one minute or one ar
tlcle from the present duty we have
In hand. What you are now doing for
the wounded man is of paramount i'm
portance. To get these brave men
back to health and into the trenches
to fight for their children and their
homes is the task we must stick to I'M
til the last gun is fired. The part the
American woman is playing has had
a very fine moral effect. The comfort
! bag which has reached thousands of
men who scarcely knew that the
United States took even passing inter
est in this great struggle, now realize
that there are women in almost every
state OF the sister republic who are
working daily for them and sending
them this token of sympathy.
L cannot tell you what this message
has done and how many incorrect i'm
| pressions have been cleared away by
your spontaneous generosity. The at
titude of the United States in regard
to many of the horrors which are even
now existing will never be understood,
| but there is now no question as to the
| friendliness Of the individual Ameri-
can. And just such thoughtful little
attentions as warm blankets, socks,
shirts and comfort bags always, al