South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-28
Of AIalmaisOn


mitted to be present at war con
ference in France. Miss Mary Seller.
536 w. 111th ST.. New York city,
and cousin OF Mrs. Nellie Silver
thorne Of the Chudren's Aid society
of ST. Joseph county, tells of an
exciting day along the front to a
New York newspaper representa-
tive
over there Miss Seller is known
as one of the most talented young
American harpists. over there she
Is playing before great audiences Of
American boys, with a y NJ. G. A.
badge on her arm, and gas mask
at hand. ready for instant use. She
has gone so near the lighting line in
her tour of the American camps
that she looked on while a battery
Of Indiana boys fired on the boche.
Afraid? Not she Miss Seller
calls the bombing of the guns the
most glorious noise I ever heard"
Even the music of her beloved harp
doesn't come up 10 it. in her opin-
ion. though the boys who have
listened TO her play wouldn't
agree 20 that. Here is what she
says.
Has An Exciting Day.
I'm sitting on a sunny hillside
somewhere in France trying to
write letters under the most dis
tracing conditions. On one side Of
ne military funeral for some
American soldiers is in progress.
They've just finished playing the
Chopin funeral march, and the
p-, cession is winding down the
hill ON the next hillside some
big guns are booming at the boche,
ana / can see the black smoke ris-
irg from the forest where the guns
are concealed. The anti-aircraft
gun. are cracking every once i'm
while Altogether il is an exciting
day along the front
we asked the Paris office TO be
sent as near the front line trenches
AS women are allowed 10 20. We
got it, My experiences Of the last
four weeks are priceless I never
dreamed of playing for such audi
crCe The response YOU get simply
sweeps YOU off your feet And all
the time 7 feel that I'm gaining
more than I'm giving.
There are mcG over here who
have not seen an American girl for
over e. year All they ask is just
to stand around and look at YOU.
How they love TO tell you about
letters from home and 10 show YOU
their photograph albumsl About
thousand have told me that I look
exactly like their wives or sisters
or sweethesrts. The good humor
and Wit Of the soldiers is marvellous.
even i'm moments of great peril
Tonic TO the French.
OF thought that when I got this
near the front 7 would find a very
tense and dramatic atmosphere. Not
at an There is an air OF easy non
chalance about the way things are
done. and the men show wonderful
poise and confidence. The attitude
Of good cheer among the Americans
is a wonderful tonic to the tired
French
Perhaps the one outstanding
trait OF our boys is their curiosity.
During shell fire or an air raid. they
stand ont i'm the open TO watch the
fight and can hardly be induced to
take shelter They want TO see
everything
The girl who is travelling with
me is Grace kerns Of New York
city She is soprano soloist at
St Bartholomew s. and has one of
the most glorious voices have
ever heard. I have my little Irish
harp. with which ! play her &C
compartments. and harp solos.
Most of our programs we give out
| doors. because II is impossible TO
get the crowds inside Our audi
ences number from zoo 10 5000.
We give two programs a day. mo-
toring from our hotel or billet TO
| The various camps We usually
have luncheon and dinner each day
with the officers.
Girls Treated Royalty.
1.-THE fattering attentions that an
American cirl receives over here are
7 beyond words To say that we are
treated royalty would be putting il
muddy
4 while touring our last section
. We spent a very interesting evenine
with Gen. Edwards and his stan in
a magnificent old chateau which
had been turned into divisional
headquarters Here we dined viii