Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1917-11-22

for three hours, and the town was get.
ting in on me. 1t was at 8 o'clock thai
l sided up to a group of English gun
ners sitting at a cafe. n offered to
buy them another round OF the pale.
stingy stringy beer of Italy. II they
would let me talk to them.
Thousht Writer . Spy.
They thought / was a German spy:
but l didn't care. l tried to explain my
Red Cross uniform: but 1t was obvious
that they didn't believe me. But they
ed, and let me talk, which was really
what 1 wanted to do. So l gave them
all the stories Of blood and carnage I
had picked up In France. And 1 got this
one in trade. The Tomnlies were treat
ing the American soldiers somewhere
the French, "A bit flat, don't o
think?' asked the American slipping his
pot. "Oh, WE'LL" answered the Tommy,
may be so. It's been waiting for you
three years." which 1 think is a fairly
good n AS the afternoon grew old
left the soldiers when they had drained
their pots and took up my weary way
to the cathedral.
1t was not a large cathedral, but 1t
was an interesting one. 1t is the only
cathedral l ever saw adorned by an
equestrian statue. Also 1T has a shrine
Of the Virgin where she performs mar
falls OF the miraculous escapes that
have come to those who have prayed to
the Virgin. On each side Of an altar to
the Virgin Is a panel Of pictures show
ing how the devou were ~saved-saved
from fire and flood. from shell and
bullet, from sickness and lightning, and
In another part Of the cathedral is a
great pile Of crutches, which the wor-
shippers had discarded. including wood
en- legs and arms. and in II few cases
restored reason Of those who a
prayed. So in these perilous times
with petitioners. Mothers ana wives and
fathers and children came struggling in
prayer for mercy to their loved ones.
1t is not in my creed to believe much
in the Virgin as a power to help with
shot and she'll and fire and %lightning's
blast or the pestilence that walketh.
Yet l had no ribald sheer FOR those dear
folk who came. They were locking for
help from something outside and be-
yond themselves, and 30 their hearts
and minds were for the moment Of
prayer, at least, diverted from things
Of this earth. And someway. as the
ages pass, as we think more seriously
and deeply OF things outside and beyond
ourselves in this earth, we slowly rise
as individuals and as q race.
Faith Of the italians.
And those who have minds that need
the Virgin as a symbol-need the Vir-
gin, and hats all there is to 1t. The
God l pray to probably would interest
them as little as the God they address
interests me. And doubtless my God
Is a "bloomin' idol made of mud" to
those whose hearts are cleaner and
purer h a mine. so 1t is not for me to
smile at the Virgin and her blessed
shrine.
That night 1 ate dinner at an Off
GERS mess in a chateau used by Napo-
leon. The chateau is furnished largely
as it was furnished in Napoleon's day
In q grand style. l should think as soon
OF undressing in an American county
court room as putting on pajamas and
ducking into bed in that public place
But the Inner was good; all the meals
In Italy We're good so far as that goes
AS a matter OF record. I may say thai
> enjoy the cooking of the Latin races
more than 1 do that Of the northern and
colder blooded peoples. l frankly like
garlic: I am fond Of olive Oil. stand
3 for every kind Of macaroni. spaghetti
ravoli and vermicelli that the broad
t empire Of Rome" can afford-even II
4 l do not like the Latin attitude toward
. In politics. taken as a whole. 1t ii
. sometimes complicated with man.
t slaughter. and often hinges on specia
privilege, and is generally fairly devi-
GUS. Latin politics. again speaking
broadly. differs from the politics Of thu
. 3 north, in this: There is always one
delegation In the Latin convention
which stands ready to come on the las
, ballot. With us. it is good politics t.
i get that delegation on the first ballot
J. The allies have Just tried the plan o.
coming on the last ballot. and 1t doesn'
seem to work out. Band wagon politics
never pays.
!. That is the lesson Of Udine.
Waiting at the Church.
From the Ladies' Home journal.
In a southern town the principal amuse
: Hnorfs az thu oolnrod n1,, Ia kion Ira Ia.