The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-06-11
American Boys Find
France a Big School
of Ancient History
Castles Chateaux and Cahedrals Constant Sources OF En-
joyment to Men-Many Young Americans Are Now
Speaking French Well Enough to Get Along
A Sol DIER'S MOTHER IN FRANCE
By RHETA CE1LDE DORR.
ARTICLE VII.

"Th"rc's an awfuIly pretty S'rl IN a
cat. the fellows up our way ratr"niZc,
and Sh.. doesn't know any English.
l.: - not only the French language
shat "Gr suIdi"es are learning. but
French history a. we'll. The part Of
central Franc" occupied hy our army
~ 4 Si"rIrd :rCaSur. house ar history.
NJ part l.! France ~ moro French Ii
lhnuuds in caSti"S "tiatcauN. museums
pointed :"w.rS. dungeon cells and tor
;u:r chImh"rS. ancient churches ana
crU:nhl!HG :Iiy walls Even the farms.
CENTURIES old. som" "f them. SHOW the
remains a past drtrnSes.
To or boys. fresh from tho now
prairI.S u: Iowa and Dakota. or the stu
virgin forests ~ oregon and Washing
ton. this HuSt they are surrounded by
lS The most romantic and wonderful
thing that ever cam" into their lives.
They can hardly hriiev" II is real.
Even IL those soldiers who come from
tho Older sections OF the United States
Tia. sight is thrilling. Ii the gardens
lot tho Luxembourg Palace. i'll Paris.
hu:lt by Henry ot Navarro Tor his sec
unt wife Marie dc Mrdict. stands Il
stately ui;I-hl" fountain. moSS-grown
and mellow with time. TIL. date cut
in the marble - !S-".
| had this pointed out 20 me by a
soldier from Massachusetts. Think
Of it," h. exclaimed. The very year
, when our oldest ariStocracy. the lil-
grim fathers. We're cutting down trees
Cor their urSt log hutS and their rude
S;nciadrS. these French pcnpl" We're
making beautiful thinks Like tina, foun-
tain.
; Throng Cathedrals.
Iii ihn, they building
beautiful things. Down in the southern
! most part of our territory III France
! stands III" ruins Of n magnificent castle.
! ,h,. one whore Edward The ElaCk Prince
! took rrfuS. when h. WAS being pursued
| by that French king with whom nc wills
! conteStln:, the crown 1T France in thlr-
teen hundred and something. With two
! Young naval officers I explored the place
! one warm spring day. ana "" were at
! tuaily awcI by thu achievement OF those
! builders of ollen days.
The castle was not nuly strong. It was
, noble and fine in al! it's masses. I:
makes you proud Of your Norman anc"S'
tors" said one OF the American officers
NirginIan.
/ You cannot go int" ono "f IN" old
Gothic churc! ~ or cathrdraiS IN Sunda!
or week days without meeting American
soldiers hats in hand. gazing silently a.
twelfth century Mad"unaS and saints oil
tonlbS al mcdiacvni bishops. Tho mira
acln and charm OF Gothic architecture Is
| not all that draws our hoys 20 the ole
! churches. Thu sense Of time and antlq
} uily possesses them. II is something
entirely new and wonderful TO them tc
realize that the world went on. that poo
pie lived and loved and thought ah"u!
themselves as modern and up 20 date
centuries before Columbus discovered
/ America.
| In Il certain French city. whore
lma,e friends with many American sol
dicrs a group Of university professors
i arr making it their business 10 escort
iour soldiers over the place. giving them
historical talks. This is Very old
! city. one in which the Romans had 4
considerable occupation The ruins OF