The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-12-19
Y. N. c. A. WORKER
TELLS OF FRANCE
INTERESTING RECITAL OF Pc
CULIAR INSTANCES DURING
THE RECENT WAR

WITH THE AMERICAN ARM
IN FRANCE.-One of the most in
teresting places in the recapture(
town of St. Mihiel is the Hospice
which for years and years has been {
home for orphans. During the Ger
man occupation it was used by the
enemy as a hospital. The first Am
erican to visit the Hospice after its
deliverance was Eugene A. Balls OF
Rolling Bay, Washington.
Mr.. Balls, who is in France as q
secretary with the Foyer du Soldat
Y. M. C. A., followed President Poin-
caire and General Pershing into the
town and shared in the welcome that
the inhabitants, freed from a condl-
ton worse than slavery, gave to their
distinguished visitors Wandering by
chance into the Hospice he met the
head sister; and of his visit he writes
thus interestingly:
I'VE knew some time ago that for
tune would turn our way" the sister
said to me, her eyes glistening with
tears of happiness.
''And how was that?" l asked.
Because about two months ago a
wounded French negro was brought
into our hospital and on seeing him
all the sisters exclaimed:
Good! Good! There will surely be
good news soon!"
l did not understand until she ex-
planned to me that in France a negro
in your house brings good luck.
"And so it came" she added, when
you dear Americans delivered u.s."
The hospital was decorated beauti-
fully with the tri-color.
| expressed surprise at the decora-
tions and wanted to know about them.
'Ah, it is simple enough to ex-
plain" said the sister, smiling. CIV
cry time | suspected another requisi-
ton was to be made upon US / had
German soldier transfer the flags and
Little did he ever dream that he was
storing away for us the decorations
that were TO celebrate the French and
American entry into the town..
And sometimes had to sew my
decorations in the bed pads. Some
how the bocqes never cut open the
bed pads to see what was in them
So for four years l waited, concealing
our decorations for the glad day that
was to announce the return of our
troops. Oh, no, I never thought the !
lcar oild come with them. |
But I am happy that they have"
Oh WEI. are nat your French !
troops would come back?" l asked.
Never did l doubt for a moment
hat our town would he French again." !
he said proudly.
She smiled and asked:
You have seen the French soldiers
hat have sheltered here during the
tay of the Germans ?"
My heart beat a little faster.
in the negative. She started
oward her room; I followed; and
here, on the mantlepiece stood. three
oils dressed as poilus
They are my poilus that | have
idden from the boche," she said, her
yes twinkling. "Are they not
eauties ?"
Taking me to another room, she :
1owed me great lot of German he'll
let's, bayonets, knives, packs and
uns.s
"They are yours she said, "Take
II you want"
ard fence wasn't near for | would ,
ave thrown every one of my neigh }
ors fine souvenir =
X
aiming to open Foyer" concludes
r. Balls, ~ gave a ride to a little :
ri of eight years. l thought she S
as having a splendid time and / was
lite surprised when she said that
e must get out and go home.
ked her why. :
"It is only 6 O'clock l said look :
3 at my watch. n
Il must be at home before o'clock :
- she said with shudder, "or the =
che will shoot me and burn our
use down. :
And Icouldn't make her understand S
at the boches-the dirty boches, as
e kept muttering-were long, long :
y from St. Mihiel and that never
ain would they enter the town that :
~ had defiled and desolated and n
rlfied during their four years of
:upation.