Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1918-08-22

house escaped for the tune being. But later on
1t was burned by other Germans. When | found
this woman she was working IS hours each day
washing for the soldiers. l asked her why she
worked so hard and she told me that II was
because she had nothing left to her In the vide
world, and the only way to keep hersen from
heartbreak was to be always occupied.
The conditions under which most of these peo'
ME have been living are horrifying. Their
houses are heaps Of ruins. You can hardly De-
l!eye the systematic way In which the Germans
proceeded to destroy their dwellings. \ oomp
was thrown into every house along the hhe oi
march. The furniture was all broken up or
burned, fruit trees were cut down. and the "ei's
polluted. Yet, when the Invading tide was swept
back these villagers came back ut once 10 the'r
former homes. This devotion OF the French peas
ant to his little home is something which Ameri"
ems can hardly appreciate. He loves 1t ardent
ty. II il almost a Ijart Of him.; he cannot bear 10
leave 1t.
During the time when they were struggling
TO rebuild their shattered homes. these peasants
had to live In cellars and dugouts. VI course
these places were most unhealthy ana NOT nj 10
remain In. l once went down into a cellar IN
which an old couple was living. The ROOF OK the
cellar was so low that when ! was seated on a
little plank talking to the old people ! had to
stoop. The floor was entirely mud. and the water
seemed In through the walls and trickled down
in tiny streamlets. In the corner was the straw
bed which had been furnished the old couple
seven months before. It was indescrtbably hitny
and 10 damp that one could twist It and wiring
water out Of It. Yet the chief desire OF the OLD
woman was for a plate to eat of. The Germans
Ind DESTROYED their crockery and household
utensils and they had only one old metal skillet.
in which they cooked and from which they ate.
In one village l saw a mother who had gone
back to live In q little shelter which sne had
built for herself In the corner formed by the only
two remaining walls Of her dwelling. Over the
ton Of this place she placed planks. One moe
was OMEN to the weather. The cold. raw weather
made Il difficult to exist IN such Y place. my
self have lived IN q little wooden building near
the front, similar to the barracks In which the
soldiers live, and I know the cruel winter wealth
or Of these parts Of France.
The hardship has been greatest on the littlf
children, Oh, the poor children! They no longer
play. They have forgotten all their games. They
do not know what II means to rum and laugh ant
be- gay. Az they walk along the streets you vii
nee them start suddenly and look over theii
shoulders In a frightened way. 80 great mai
been the terror insttled Into them by the Ger
mans.
An of,cer told me Of seeing two little chi!drei
standing usainst a wall In the town Of Mnss%n
IN the north Of France, one day In August. l9l4
Across the road was a burning house. Wnen -
French officer asked them why they were walun
10 patiently, they replied that q German "a
shut their father and mother up In that nous
and Ind told them to walt there until they cam
back to fetch thon,.