The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-08-10
ARTICLE XVI.
By Rheta Chldo DorT.

Should YOU happen tn In In laris or
in am other French city in The carly
spring you will witness an amusing ana
AZ ,hr same time an inspiring sight; the
carnival Of IN" military class "t the
year brfnr" going, into training camps.
France has lived next door to bur
gar nation for nearly half century.
Ever since AlSacr Lorraine was stolen
from her in 1871 Franc" has kr"'rn ms
and she has therefore retained m SSS-
ten ri compulsory military service
Every year. "n tn" lAth OF april AZ
ahc bodied young Frcnrhmcn who have
reached tho age az twenty 80 up thr n
two years military training. Just be-
fore tn. war the term vas lrT %ih"ntd 10
three Year, Their term cu-lrl"tcd they
arc placed in the los. ready at any
t.n,c to be mnhili=r., AMI u fight.
The world we'll remrmhrr:i hnw in late
July. 1914. the tnCSin sounded all over
France, calling from field and factory.
counting room and office tho glorious
citizen army that rushed out against TIL"
Ia rba rian invasion. turned 1t Mt the
Marine and saved tho life of civilization.
believe that after this war some form
Of compulsory military service will be
enacted in this country. Let us rather
call IL required military service. since
in = democracy such service is agreed
upon as Il wise policy and Is not forced
! on the people without their consent. III"
American form might we'll be something
like that of France.
Celebrate Going.
Proof that military service there is not
in the least oppressive is the Eaycty
with which the young cadets greet their
term of training. 1t has long been thc
custom for the years class 10 make n
! carnival Of it's going. beginning two or
three weeks before the date set for
! their ercampmnnt groups Of these lads.
Enthusiastically arrayrd and decorated.
would parade through thu streets sing
ipG their favorite ch"ruScS, making a
great deaf Of noise between songs. and
shouting and chatting tho passcrs-by.
No youth considered himself properly
dressed without huge boutoniere, some
times Of flowers. hut nftcnrr n paper
| mhnst rrsity as big rs Il cabbage. Some
| times lad appeared with button hole
| bouquet If vegetables. Anything for :.
| joke. Thus dressed. furnished with :,
! Suatar or an arrnrdnn. tho bunch" as
! our slang would call them. Jared forth
In have a last good TN" hcfUr" going
under discipline. For the tim" being
! they owned the town. and nobody com
planned nf their Noise IL their prankS.
Keep Up Custom.
| had seen this before tho war but
| was unprcnarcd to SEQ tho custom re-
tanned. Yet this April in Paris. in linr-
!~raux. and several other cities saw
1.-the sam" singing groups. tho same nh-
| surTl decorations. tho sam" fun-makinG.
| The class of 1915 was younger than
| the class Of 1914. but it was every bit
rs eNuhcrant. Four years of war and
dissolution. of sickcnIng anxiety and
! cruel bereavement. w"rr p"wrrlcss 10
denreSs the spirit Of young France.
Early on tho morning of April Is
tstartnd on II journey from tho Orleans
! station. and there. GillinE the place with
laughing and excited conversation. /
saw about hundred of the class OF
/ 1915 leave for their Cantonmcnt.
Their mothers and fathers and sweet
| hearts wore there seeing them OFF. just
as wo have boon s""ing our boys oil
70 training camps this years. Hut these
tTrrnrh fathers and mothers hhr" sur
fcrrd bitter losses. Hardly Il family
I'm Franc" tina; has not known h"r"ar"'
| mrnt Most uf tn" women ! saw Ulil'
! Arril morning wnr" deep mourning.
Keep Brave Faces.
| Even though they wrpt IN thr''
hearts. they sent their boys away WITT
laurh,rr and brave cheer. With han
for i'm. words on their lips. their hcnrt:
were saying: 20 France. loved mother
Lake one moro of my sons. Like those