The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-05-17
Mrs. Hackett, Formerly Of
M. Vernon, Writes From
Berne
TELLS OF CONDITIONS
IN NEUTRAL COUNTRY
Place Filled With Wrecks OF
Humanity, Result OF War;
Praises u. S. Troops

The following letter has been re-
ceived by Miss Martha T.. Irvine of
East Gambler street from Mrs Hack
EFT, who is now in Berne Switzerland.
Mrs. Hackett was formerly Of this
city. The letter follows:
u was Noah. ] believe, who sent ont
dove to scout for dry land when
there was such Il superabundance of
water and now II Is through food of
blood and most horrible carnage that
we must send out our letters as scouts
In search OF friends. Only about one
third Of the letters reach their desti.
nation, but we are thankful for any
communication with those we love go
FAR away and through so much an
guish and sOrrOw-we have no boats
on the lake now where there used to
be handsome salon steamers every
hour.
1t Is ia guerre" for fact. although
we are spared many of the horrors of
1t, we suffer from the reflex and the
nervous strain, the sympathy, the
sight OF this awful wreck of human
beings. lame, blind and mutilated be-
yond all vestige OF humanity and the
calls for help Is depressing beyond
words. All the hotels and hospitals
are filled with this wreckage.
In French Switzerland II Is the al.
lies; In German Switzerland it is the
Germans. The Hun officers are AFRO.
CANT and insolent even as interned
Yes. the poor Hun soldier wrecks are
10 be pitied as much for their ignOr-
ance. submission and sheeplike ser.
Witty as for their wounds and suffer.
ings,
Our Sammies In France are earn.
Ing the praise OF all officers OF the al.
lied troops, such dear brave boys
they are, and those coming from the
front say they know 10 fear or hest.
tancy; fight like tigers. knew they
would. and they will win the war, but
at such tremendous cost of blood
and treasure.
There are spies all around us and
what IL worse German-Americans who
are 30 German and personally know
several native born Americans who
are all for the BOche and the Hohen.
zollern devil. You may have seen In
the papers an account OF an American
natnralized Hun living AT the Palace
hotel In Cerretet; ! suppose originally
from the slums and become million
aire selling whiskey. But, any way
his passports were taken from him by
the American embassy at Berne, st
mat he, In no case. can leave Switzer
land as long M the war lasts but now
comes the crime Of the affair. He GOV,
bali for Miss Stowell. the daughter
OF the American minister to Berne
and she was the belle OF the occasion
In ali her glory, to the Indignation o.
all patriotic Americans here, and /,
the triumph OF the pro.Boches, both o
ths German-born American natural
fzed and Of the American. born and pa
liticat traitors. and that is the sham,
OF our United States
All sorts aud conditions OF men ar,
appointed To MI the diplomatic a
well as the consular chairs. The irs
consular agent appointed, Just as tn
war broke out, when IA good man 70
the post was 30 necessary, was den
list from GeOrgia. 80 deaf he coul
not hear anything and knew no lar
euage except very poor English. III
grammar and photography left muc
10 the imagination. After time h
became nnbearable and In his stea
now there IL very pompous ma
whom they call de Aneheushaten
kindergarten" but he speaks tn
three essential languages aud IL a d,
cided Improvement on the GeorgI
dentist.
Food is very short and we are RI
toned with everything. | pay on
franc for loaf of brend--f0r lIttl
h0nr. O little corn meal. potato fio,
and the rest IL dirt. Eggs are te
cents each, no butter TO be had Sine
am over so. ! am allowed doubl
ration Of milk-three pints. cann'
get conmeai or oatmeal, maizen