Mohave County miner and our mineral wealth., 1918-11-09
WITH OUR SOLDIERS AND SAILORS
FRANCE AS SEEN
 BY A U. $. SAILOR

Charles MadduX gives an interest ing, breezy description of France and the French people in a recent letter
 Top of the morning to vel" It's bright and cheerful over here this morning, and Pm feeling likewise l think it's good time to write few lines. ,,
 Time drags pretty slow here in Pan- lilac, usually. The weather has been very wet lately but today has the prospect of beng of the Arizona var Iety.
 Last Saturday was a fine day, and, being lon liberty" sailor friend and 1 went on a bicycle hike. The roads in this country are fine and quite num- erous. We covered fifty kilometers, (about thirty-one miles) in a few hours. Took refreshments at the hunt ing lodge of an English woman (wid- ow to Frenchman and the mother of two sons now 'deadJ-who gave their lives for France.) We had nice lit tie chat, some wine, etc., and then were on our way.
 Along our route we saw many luci. ous blackberries and stopped occas- ionally to ''manger" some of them. The Trench do not eat blackberries. Mighty strange, but we tackles are glad they don't for as it is, while out 'promenadeing we can stop along the roadside and eat to our hearts con- tent. They-the French people-don't know what they're missing! There are, however, very few food substances which the French let go to waste. Frogs, snails, donkey flesh,-and now horse flesh, are some of the meats" they turn to account. How would you like a dish of donkey flesh with fancy name like 'saucisson de Lyn,' or would you prefer a burro with cac- tus trimmings and labeled "camou- flage de asb( s)bestos ?" So we'll do the people of this country like snails that they actually farm them. They are fed on green stuff, wine dregs and on bran soaked in wine,-thus they are given a special favor. Gay Paris con- sumes some fifty tons of ,snails per day! If this war should last another four years, wonder what we Ameri- cans will be eating?
 A few days ago l witnessed a French Funeral procession. This is another thing which they do in their own sweet way. It certainly was a strange sight to me. Everybody was walking except the hearse driver and the drivers of otherwise empty carri- ages which latter followed the balance of the procession. After the funeral was all over the people attending, would ride home in these vehicles. So l was told that even in Paris the peo- pie walk to funeral. Contrast this to; ourF"rapid transit" method. We'll, ouf.fiiends try to get us (not to say thaelirselves) out of misery quick, don't they ?~.,.,. : 20h, yes,-the procession! To con- tinue, the priest preceded the hearse, then came the chief mourner (parents in this case} then the men, then the wonren,N all following closely upon the hearse. P: Every Frenchman they pas sed isaluted the procession. This also is decidedly French custom. &&.,.. '9 Oh, well, we can't all be alike, and I reckon it's good thing we're not just so.' But its good thing that some race of people are more respect fuf of the dead, than are we Americ- ans. Only our near friends and rel atives concern us deeply. That re- minds me of a limerick I once read, which ran thus-wise: While attending a funeral, Mcbride Was asked who was dead and replied,
 I don't know he said, r
 ,'The man who is dead,
 just came along for ride! ( : Am now a gunner's mate, 3rd class (since July D. Please remember to ad- dress me exactly as below.
 Best Regards.
 Tell inquiring friends "hello" for me and tell them to write. Goodbye.
 Sincerely,
 Charles Maddux,
 G. M., 3 C., U. S. N,
 U. S. N. Air Station, Panillac. Care