The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1918-12-21

oo SNO oSot TIC 1h'hhNA' AhiA0o1 bhO
yelling people, the soldiers stood stiff, at at
%tention, hands raised in the military salute,
bells throughout the city in all church steeples
and public edifces continually sounded, whis-
ties blew, the cannon of victorys were firing
the whole thing united in a great hymn of
victory.
Here it was that I saw, what to me, is the
most beautiful expression of French love and
admiration for the part played by the Ameri-
cans that 1 have seen in all my wonderful ex-
periences in France. I stood not far away from
an old French gentleman of distinguished appear
ance. He had long white hair and a white
beard; his shoulders stopped; he wore a black
frock coat and black tie; on his head was a
black felt hat; with one hand he rested his
weight on a cane; the other hand held the
arms of a woman, no doubt his daughter. On
the other side stood a young girl whom l
guessed to be his granddaughter. At the first
notes of La Marseillaise his hand went quickly
to his hat which he raised from his head. The
day was damp, foggy and chilly. The lifting
of his hat revealed a bald head. The two lad
les protested that he would take a cold and be
ill. A debate took place finally resulting in the
old gentleman putting his hat on and keeping
1T on throughout the playing of the French Ma
tional Anthem. Well did l know how rebellious
his heart was under these circumstances, not to
remain uncovered during his national hymn.
A few moments later the band suddenly start
ed the Star Spangled Banner. Off came the
hat! The debate was renewed with an energy
and persistence not evident the first time. But
the old gentleman gained his point Nothing
could make him keep his hat on and he stood
through the whole playing of our National An
them with his hat in his hand and as erect as
the age of his dear old body would permit him
to stand. He was not accompanied by any
Americans, nor was there any reason for him
to make a display. The group was but one
of a vast crowd. l don't know whether anyone
else noticed it. 1t was a tribute from the
heart, pure and sincere. The simplicity of it
all and the beauty of the reason which under
lay it completely overcame me. My first I'M
pulse was to go up and speak, but my heart
would not have let me speak in English, much
less French, but I shook his hand, said nothing,
turned my back and was quickly lost in the
crowd with tears rolling fast. I thought of our
dead and wounded boys, many of whom I knew
as happy, care-free youngsters in Camp cover
there"-and of the people at homeland of the
France-his France-they had savedi
AS the evening drew on crowds from the
countryside came into the city under the call
of the Mayor of Tours. He had issued a procla-
nation announcing that the Armistice was sign
ed and that the magnificent victory must be fit
tingly celebrated in honor of Frances heroic
soldiers and in honor of the Allies. He ex-
pressed confidence that the citizens, in their
manifestations, would maintain a dignity and
calm which would truly reveal the serenity
and gentility of the French character in this
grand and this wonderful hour. He fixed the
celebration for the evening at $50 O'Clock with
Nominations and with the French and Ameri-
can bands.
About 500 o'clock I went with much Difficult
ty, accompanied by my roommate, through the
crowded streets to the Public Square to the
Rue Avis, to pay my respects to Monsieur and
Madame Ciaudville, who have been more than
generous to me during the short three weeks
have been in Tours. Then, after a quiet little
talk in which I congratulated them on the de-
liveranec of France and paid a tribute to the
bravery of the French soldiers, living and dead,
who really won the war, for they held the Ger
mans until the Americans could come, | left
with my friend and we had dinner. After din
ner. with still greater difficulty, we pressed
through the crowds and waited. just in front
of the Public Buildings for the commencement
Of the official demonstration, which was to take
place in front of LHotel de Vile and the Pala1s
de Justice, which fronts on the great Central
| Square in Tours. We went out to the Place,
both fountains were going gayly and the Public
BUILDINGS were all lighted UP. They were
sneuding the little coal they had to make the
night complete with the brilliance of their pub
lie lights.
We all stood together for a while and watch
ed the coming of our Marine Band and the
French Band. We could not get near because
of the great crowd. American and french
flags p~redominated, but occasionally we would
see other flags. Promptly on the hour appoint
ed the French Band played La Marseillaise,
then the American Band played the Star span
gled Banner, then the trumpets blew and the
procession, headed by Ge~ndarmes, on morse
back, moved up the Rue National ana 10 tne
bridge crossing the Loire River, named in hon
or of President Wilson. The people were yell
ing, the bands playing: there were all kinds OF
! soldiers in all kinds of uniforms, all kinds OF
civilians in all kinds of clothes, all KINDS OF
women in all kinds of hats and clothes-an
| kinds of people making all kinds of noises
At this point we left some soldiers we had
been talking to and got in the midst of the
French soldiers. Poilus, American prlvates'
American officers, French officers; civilians,
men, women and children, in a great process
sion down the narrow, little streets. At one
place there was a break in the crowd. l TOOK
a French Lieutenant and a French private by
the arm and yelled, "Come on, Frenchie, let's
rum. And they ran with me until | almost
dropped with loss of breath. We shook hands
and then went on. At another place a ring
was formed with all the different soldiers and
they danced round and round in a circle. The
crowds surged and moved and surged, the mar
row streets at many places so jammed that II
required no effort to stand up for the people
around you kept you from falling. Finally the
crowd arrived again in the Place and there the
Star Spangled Banner and the Marseillaise and
other national and patriotic pieces were play
ed Suddenly. the Marine Band PLAYED the
dearly loved piece which I had not heard since
7 left home. With great dash and spirit they
! played DIXIE. 1t was received with as
9NN