Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1917-08-08
WORD FROM THE FRONT.
Rev. Adams Formerly of Irasburg
Now In France.

Rev. c. A. Adams, who went from
Danville for ambulance service in
France, has been for time doing Y.
NJ. c. A. work, first on the coast not
far from Bordeaux and later at the
port of entry of our Annex forces.
Mr.. Adams was pastor of the Congre-
gational church at Irasburg for a
number of years before going to
France. OF conditions in general he
writes: "People at home have no
idea how great a sacrifice France had
20 pay the first two and a half years
of the war. England is now bearing
a great burden, greater than we in
America realize. She Is the strong
force over here now. Next year it
viii be up to us If the war continues"
In the parts of France where Mr..
Adams has been he describes fertile
country given up largely TO fruit
growing. THE most noticeable fea-
ture of the agricultural life is the alb
sence of men and the number of wom-
en-, especially old women, who are in
the fields. The young women run the
tram cars, work in the factories and
serve as porters in the stations. The
most impressive feature of trips
through the country is the almost
lagos. All the young men are at the
front, killed. wounded or prisoners,
with the result that many houses are
closed or have the appearance of
being. ! wonder if they are similar
to the Irish villages that Goldsmith
had in mind Many of the chateaux
around here are given over to hospi-
tai work. Some of the places are
really magnificent, wonderful scenery
and beautiful grounds. The task of
caring for the wounded is no small
matter. One finds these hospitals all
over France"
At his first location Mr.. Adams de-
scribes the funeral of an American
seaman accidentally drowned, who
was probably the first of our regular
forces to be buried in France during
the war. He says: "Many French
people turned out, including themayor
and all town officials. | had the COM
mitment service. Then letters of con-
dolence were read by the mayor and
chief of police. / understand the
young seaman was married the day
before he left America" With the
Annex forces Mr.. Adams describes the
two Y. M. c. A. camps which were
then running there with the men read
ing, writing, playing checkers and
running the photograph. While he
was there the number of secretaries
increased to twelve, with athletic, edu-
cational and religious work directors
and enough work for all from a. m.
to 10 pm. "There is so much to be
done yet to get organized and be in
shape to meet the needs of the men
arriving. One principal work is
changing American money into French
for them. OF course tobacco, gum,
chocolates, etc, 90 like hot cakes.
There is great demand for French
English dictionaries, writing material
and reading matter, and games come
in for their share of popularity. Soon
we will serve soft drinks and later on
tea, coffee and chocolate. Once the
men get into permanent quarters and
at the front we viii have splendidly
equipped institutions. Besides the
things already mentioned there will
be a moving picture machine, phono-
graphs, entertainments and lectures"
Later a Sunday service is described:
"a band gave US music, then we sang
well-Inown hymns and / had the rare
privilege of speaking to the men. 1t
was the biggest mems meeting | have
ever addressed but of course my meet
ings at home have been small. If the
Y NJ. G. A. can only get their equip
ment from New York they will be
able to do great things for the men,"
A newspaper clipping describes an en-
tertainment later in the same week.
'sAt the first entertainment given by
the Y. M. C. A. at an American army
sea base over 500 soldiers attended.
There was music, quartets, song
from Broadway and a patriotic speech
by Mr.. Adams, one of the secretaries
on "Why We Are Here"