Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-07-12
ENGLAND and FRANCE
Edaefield Soldier Writes Readable
Letter.
THEY DO NOT DRINK Water.
Very Much Pleased in the French
People a Glimpse at the Manners
and Customs of War Time.

very muCU Etodsoo !" tHc FFcHS"
People a Glimpse at the Manners
and Customs of War Time.
The following letter Is from James
o. Sheppard OF Edgefield. It Is taken
from the Edgefield Chronicle and re-
produced in the Yorkville Enquirer
because 1t contains 30 much interest
ing information about England and
France. 1t is one of the most enter
tanning letters we have seen from
"over there"
I'm England l saw some interesting
sights and had some great experienc-
is. II was there that we first learn
ed that it is hard to get bath on this
side of the water. In a city the size
of Greenville or Spartanburg we went
from hotel to hotel and were repeated
ly told, The bath is engaged indi-
eating that the hotel possessed only
one bath. II is the same in France.
in England 1 also saw a wonder
full old cathedral built centuries
ago. 1t is said that the kaiser boasts
that he will be crowned king Of Eng
land in this cathedral, as were the
kings of old. but there is no need to
worry on that score.
During my short stay in England
] rode over a road built by Julius
Caesar about IS B. c. They have
wonderful roads on this side Of the
water; l am sure our friend Newt
Broad&ater could get some good tips
on road building If he could inspect
some of the roads.
Tours is a city about twice the
size of Augusta; it is the center Of
the famous chateau district of France
and hence Is q resort for tourists.
Within q radius Of twenty to thirty
miles there are many old castles and
rortrcsses famous In history. At Blois,
about 81 miles from Tours is the
received in triumph. Visitors arc
shown the bed room Of Catherine de
Medeci, one of the most celebrated
women in French history. A secret
stairway connects the chamber with
well which was originally sixty feet
deep, but Is now only thirty feet deep,
the difference in depth being account
ed for by the fact that Catherine had
many enemies murdered and thrown
in the well; their bones have half
filled the well. At the Chateau D.
Amboise visitors are shown the bat
Elements where. during the religious
wars. the Protestants were hanged
by the score. In the gardens OF the
castle we were shown gate with a
small house built over 1t. Many a
knight met his death by being
struck over the head as he passed
through the gateway.
Tours Is built on fiat plain he
tween the rivers Loire and Cher. The
hills on each side of the valley have
been dug into-centuries past-and
the caves are now used as wine Gel
lars. In some instances people still
live in these "holes in the WALL,
Julius Caesar. the great Raman
general, said that "all of the ;gater
of Gaul is bad" so when he Invaded
this country he built an aquedyS to
lG0nxex-,EatsEs-fna ,aafsA Rga,
Though built about IS B. c., Eft Is
still standing, a monument to the
brick masons of the past.
"'rhe French people don't seem to
have as much home life as we have
in our country. After they finish
their work in the evening they 60 to
the various cafes and drink light
wines and beers and do their gossip
ing. The Americans can't understand
their rapid conversation, but II we
could translate what they are saying
no doubt we would hear Madame
Houille discussing with Madame Gau-
tron the relative merits o. Madame
DeBroussard's new hat. Women are
the same the world over.
"Many OF the cafes are interesting
places. particularly at this time. Here
you see the uniforms OF many nations.
Most of the cafes have music by ex-
cellcnt orchestras and some show
movies. They show quite a lot of
western pictures from our country
with wild Indians chasing cowboys: so
the French people think our main oc-
cupation is fighting the Indians. We
know some French girls who have
asked us If we have ever fought the
Indians. At this season of the year
they move the tables Of the cafes out
on the sidewalks which practically
blocks them, requiring pedestrians to
walk in the streets. There seems to
he no law preventing 1t and every
body trots along the street.
I'VE were told before the war that
France was n declining nation: II
she was. the war has revived her. The
spirit displayed by the people Is SIM
ply wonderful and ought to be q
good example to our people in Ameri-
ca Their story is one of sacrifice
and bravery. Everywhere you see
women taking the places Of the men,
in the cafes, street cars, In the sta
tions. Tonight as l write. a char
woman Is in the office scrubbing up
the floor. She is a young woman with
refined look, apparently we'll edu-
Gated. Doubtless before the war she
was in good circumstances; now she
has to do dirty work but she does 1t
cheerfully, she is doing her bit
"The Americans have been well re-
ceived by the French. They like us:
they invite us into their homes II
they are able to entertain and show
er courtesies upon us. They say they
like the American men because they
are so big and handsome and clean
looking, and then behind It ali they
appreciate the fact that we have come
to end the war for them, to strength
en- their tired armies which have
fought so gallantly for nearly four
years.
"Apropos the prohibition question.
you see little drunkenness In France:
they have very light wines and beers
which take the place Of whisky and
strong liquors. The people drink lit