The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1918-11-12

HOW Y. NJ. c. A. HELPS
BOYS WHEN ON LEAVE
lied" Jenney writes from France De.
scribing Recreations Provided
For Men in the Service.

- 49, ~~' 49,
Dr. Rollin ID. Jenney has received
the following letter from his brother,
Edward who has been in the ambu-
lance service since soon after the
United States entered the war:
sure hope that you received the
postcards | sent while on permission
at Chambrey, city only few miles
from Aix-les Baines where | spent my
first leave. win endeayor to explain
in detail what an enjoyable time had
there, for, while postcards convey
something of an idea of the scenes
they depict they lack the descriptive
interest one is able to convey in a
| letter.
| The Y. NJ. C. A. outfit at Chambray,
though not so large as the one at AK
| les-Bains, was nevertheless good
enough for me. Every afternoon free
lemonade and real layer chocolate
cake we're served, while in the even
ing we could see real American "mov-
ies". Sometimes as an extra attract
ion opera singers entertained us with
song or two Later in the evening
ice cream was served and you can bet
nearly made myself sick on the stuff.
One OF the most interesting trips
out OF Chambray was one that took
me away up into the very heart of the
Alps. For about two and a half hours
rode on the train. Then | took an
auto bus that went up and up for llfty
six kilometers (35 miles, along a
winding. road that took in some Of the
most beautiful scenery in the world
Great cliffs rose from ones very side
and the mountains seemed to fairly
roll against each other, their snow.
capped tops standing plainly forth
against the cloudless sky We passed
many crosses placed high upon peaks
and outstanding prominent rocks The
superstitious mountain folk believe
that they keep away or afford protec.
tion against the heavy winds that of.
ten raise Cain with their sturdy
homes away up there alone in the
| hills
Finally reaching the end Of our ride
/ in small mountain village that boast
ed an excellent summer resort in the
form OF a big but coy hotel. some OF
! the party appeared TO be satisfied. For
me. however, 1t was not enough
wanted to so on up even higher in
the ice and snow and for another
hour and half | climbed or rather
crawled up some OF the steepest
slopes ever hope to be fool enough to
attempt Arriving at the top I came
out upon a great field OF ice and snow
with deep crevasses some twenty feet
down. II was only a small glacier,
but II was a novel experience for me.
I AS for the view. il was fairly astodnd.
ing. The mountains stretched away
4 for miles and miles forming many val
leys in which could be seen lakes and
streams. Directly to the right cata
ract of icy water leaped and tumbled
over the rocks, ice and cliffs.
When | arrived at the top was out
of breath and wet with perspiration
but wheIf | left 1t was cool enough
in fact darn cool and had funny
i little feeling OF pressure in my ears no
doubt due to the altitude OF the
mountains The return trip. though,
was the real hair raiser. Geel but
that fool Frenchman could drive n car
We went around some turns on two
wheels and you have to travel some to
do that stunt with big sightseeing
bur.
The remainder Of my leave was
passed in an effort to get myself in
first.cass condition once more.
played tennis both morning and after.
noon. We met some fine French girls
at the courts All of them spoke Eng
lish. One of them invited me to her
home for tea and you can bet that J
didn't refuse, though | must say that
found myself rather rusty on man.
ners. She lived in wonderful old
style mansion and her father and
mother are certainly fine people. Her
father passed me some Algerian cigar.
cites, but If YOU had ever smoked one
of the things you will understand why
hesitated to accept | tried to beat
him to it by presenting my own pack
age OF smokes, but he was too quick
for me. wanted to smoke but
didn't want to tackle one of those AL
gerians. AT the same time | realized
that to refuse would be impolite.
finally chose to be impolite and frank
ly told him that ! preferred my own
brand of cigarettes. His eyes shifted
little in amusement and the next in
stant he had a box OF Coronas. real
Havana, under my nose. My look OF
surprise as | took one brought smile
to his handsome face. | will be darned
If know how he ever found them
, over here.
Returning to Paris, | managed to
graft two days and three nights which
, enabled me to see quite bit OF the
, city and to solve the puzzle of the
subway system, so that on my next
visit | will not be compelled to use
g. the expensive taxis in getting about
| stopped at the field service clut
) which is very comfortable and like
! wise reasonable in its charges
[ -