El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-07-03
Nv HELEN CLAY PRICK.

With me-with all Of us-is the in
spirati0n Of the refugee train Memory
Of the sight Of it influences everyone
who has been over 10 wish to 80 back
again Twice a day such a train ar
rives in Evlan. bringing company OF
500 refugees, old men, broken women
children old before their time, and al
ways on the platform as the train
pulls in, are three buglers-
The poor, broken people Tile out or
the train crying -Vive la France, and
with tears streaming down their faces.
SO great is their JOY at being once
again in their own country.
Refugees Welcomed.
The 5uglers lead the way, the crowd
follows, the townspeople turn out 20
cheer them and together they all
march 10 the Casino, where the refu-
gees are welcomed by the mayor
On sunday and Monday only one
convoy arrives. but the program is al
ways the same the buglers are al the
station and the mayor gives a hearty
welcome twice each day Who but the
French could do this? Who else could
understand that 10 each returning
Erenchman and E'renchwOman, the
cordially Of such a welcome, 10 some
degree, throws into the background
the weary months OF bondage under
German rule?
10 French people are allowed TO re-
turn directly into France from Occu-
pied territory. First, they are taken
TO Belgium for two months, so that
anything they may know OF German
defences may be OF no importance 10
the French government from Belgium
they are sent 90 Switzerland and then
they are sent across the border 10
Evian. There the minister Of the in
terror directs them 20 their destiua-
tion.
our work consisted Of helping these
as
their homes All who were able we're
urged 20 do farming. When we visited
them in our motor truck we always
took garden implements and seeds
with us. for every scrap Of land must
be cultivated
Children Pathetic.
The children Of thar district are so
pathetic. They all show the effects
Of mal-uutritiou. and they seem 10
have left their childhood Tar behind
them.
Very soon the Red Cross is 10 open
a home for 80 or 30 little girls who are
suffering from mal-uutrltlon at Cha
nay. in the Ain, which is a little vile
lage overlooking the Rhone valley.
The ages Of the children VIII range
from four 20 A.
IL is hard to realize how greatly the
children have suffered. one little
girl, when told It was again meal time,
exclaimed "Oh. I'm not hungry;
had something TO eat yesterday
The women who are nor strong
enough to work in the fields are en-
couraged 20 knit The French gov
eminent furnishes the wool and pays
a frame for socks and IS confines for
gloves. IL is not very much money.
but IL helps.
One Of the important things which
the Red Cross is doing is its distribu-
ton Of furniture Il sells a great deal
Of furniture at two-thirds the cost. on
the instalment plan, and 90 those una
bic 10 buy. it lends 20 the commune
according 20 a certain system
How Red Cross Helps.
Hepartrles, on their arrival in the
little villages. are i'm many instances
housed in large environments or uu-
used buildings. Sometimes as many
as 800 are crowded together. The Red
Cross has been successful in persuad-
ing the French officials 20 place these
people in Individual lodgings which
the Red Cross helps TO furnish.
Pathetic little stories are told Of
many Of these repartries- For instance,
one poor. old man landed in a little
village only to find that he had been
separated from his old wife She had
his sack Of clothes and he had hers
Through the medium Of the Red
Cross. the wife was located and when
we made our second visit TO him we
found him at the railway station four
hours before the train was due. clad in
new suit furnished by the Red Cross
and eagerly awaiting the arrival OF
his wife.
The French people are so grateful 10
America and what she has done for
them; they are profoundly grateful
and since the American commission
has had 20 give W the feeding OF
those in northern France and Belgium
the people say they have not Jared SO
we'll