Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-12-18
From a "Petite An1ericaine',
(From The New York Times.)

(trom The New York Times.)
1T is n Americana who from dis
tant Italy writes to you to ask a little
space in your great paper for the in
closed SKETCH" begins a letter in per-
feet French which reaches The Times
from San Reno, Italy. 1T is a very
long time, twelve years now" the let
ter goes on, that we, three sisters.
with and my aunt, have been
in Italy. Our education has been en-
tirely French, but in spite of all that
we remain Americans and proud
Americans. We have been brought
up with the Ladies of the Sacred
Heart, and it is at the Pensionnat that
L have composed this sketch. 49,.
1T was on the occasion of a fete
and each pupil vas to write a conpo-
sition. having complete liberty in the
choice of subject. I, an American,
that of my country. 1t was just at the
time of the silent and secret departure
of our soldiers for France, and.
moved by a poem. The Gray Ships
which I had read in your paper, I
composed the piece which follows and
received a prize. 1t was read before
the assembled school, and after the
reading a little French girl came to
me and kissed the flag I carried.
Perhaps You. will find my request
very bold. for. it is,- indeed, a very lit
tie thing and very simple. But please
look upon it. with indulgence and ac-
cept it as an expression of the adj
miration of n petite Americaine for
her great country and of her close
union with it in its suffering and
sacrifice in spite of the leagues and
leagues which separate them"
The letter is signed FRANCHISE WISE
man MacMurrough. And here is. a
translation of the little prize essay
which is called 1.-THE Secret of the
Night"
I'm a night without a noon,
wrapped in shadows, some gray ships
are departing for distant shores. The
vast ocean opens for them it's pillows;
and over this moving plain the
majestic cortege advances These are
the combat. s~tealthfully, silently, like
thieves in the night. The shores are.
deserted and the gray gulls resting
here and there on the water are the
only witnesses of this departure, their
hoarse cries are the only song Of fare
we'll and the mournful beating of
their wings the only applause.
In thousands of breasts hearts are
beating with emotion, eyes, where at
times a tear shines, plunge their gaze
into the darkness seeking a last
glimpse of tho land Of liberty-their
country which perhaps they shall
never see again. - =
Many days pass and suddenly a
cry rises from the ships: Land!
Land! In the distance they at last
see France. A great echo answers
them, acclaims them, halls them,
salutes them, and bids them welcome,
and France opens wide her arms to
the valiant soldiers. 1t is a century
and a half since a similar scene took
place beyond the Atlantic. The fuers
de lys flew for a long time at the side
OF the stars until the hour Of victory
and OF liberty sounded. And now aft
er so many years, like the receding
wave. which always returns. this
b~enefaction receives it's reward. The
debt Of other times is paid today, for
America sends you, Q France, the
flower Of her flowers. and with them
the message Of her gratitude. s'%s
"Sombre ships which pass in silence
toward the land Of France, you nay
be proud. for you bear the choice
jewels of the New World and you bear
them to France. We do not ask Of
you that you bring back to us our
sons, their blood must purchase the
victory. We do not ask Of you to re-
turn before the breezes Of power and
conquest, we do not seek them, for we
shall come from the war rich only in
the bodies of our dead Bring us
back a victory worthy Of the sacrifice.
May our flag. if needs be torn and
covered with blood, be always on the
path of honor and Of glory May its