Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-07-11
!(By Frances Beullion Toplitz.)
(In New York Times.)

Ten days in Southern France-yes,
I have been here ten days and they
have been days of quick and deep i'm
pressions; Impressions that I do not
believe l shall easily lose. Back in
the station at Lyons, early on the
morning of the 10th. l saw the first
convoy Of ''evacues' coming down
from the north-the first for me. And
what a tired, weary, travel1stained
conglomeration of humanity they
were; the trains packed solidly; pas
senger cars. first. second. and third
class, and freight cars, some Of the
poor people standing through the
journey, others squatting or lying on
the straw-covered floors of the freight
cars. Old people, pathetically old,
and women and children. The young
men-one did not have. to ask where
they we're. The north-bound trains
told the tale. Splendid, rosy-cheeked
lads. with life all before them-men
of sober mien. men who knew how
to endure-grizzled officers, yes, and
many young ones.
I wondered how many Of the old
people. whose lives were at low ebb,
felt, as they watched the north-bound
trains. that they would be glad to ex-
change places, give up their few re-
naming days to save those splendid
young fellows whose days of useful
ness were all before them. Some of
the old people did not look as II they
They surely must die on the way
This cruel, ruthless u%prooting, this
sudden removal from their beloved
soil. their cherished "foyer'-it was
beyond human expectations that they
should survive this terrible wrench.
They did look SO hopelessly stunned.
If courage they had when they
trudged out of their native towns and
villages, the %hardships of the journey,
the uncertainty of destination, must
have crowded it all out. They were
going into a quiet, peaceful part of
France. as far away in the sense of
security as II they were going into
the heart of the Rockies. They were
leaving the horrors of war behind
them. the d%eafening roar Of cannon,
the destruction, desolation. mutilation,
death: they were leaving them all be-
hind to come into this lovely sunlight
ed valley of the Rhone. 1t must have
said to them: Here is a land OF
plenty" And yet they were leaving
their soil in which they had taken
root generations and generations age
in the lives of their forefathers. To
start life anew: No! They have nc
hope of starting life anew! Such are
the exigencies Of this cruel machine
made val
Among the young people, the wom-
en- and children. this wholesale up
roofing, tragic enough, did not seem
to have about it the element Of hope
lessness. There was novelty in the
change. although some were 'evacus'
for the second time. And there were
security and quiet for a time. They
chung to their possessions-a bundle
of clothes, a roll of bedding, a basket
or food. even a trunk, to retain which
they must have been at very great
palms,. and they waited patiently Sfol
their journeys end. You felt that
they would become adjusted in time
to their new environment. The WON
en- have their double responsibility OF
parenthood; their little people would
keep them too engrossed to have time
for vain regrets, and they are toe
brave! And the children, they always
adjust themselves quickly.
What a heavy task is that Of the
women. and they know it! They must
save France through their children
Their men have gone; some killed and
some missing or prisoners. The WON.
en- show in their steady, determined
eyes. in their devotion to their duty
that they know their part and will
do it. They will not forget and they
will not allow their children to for.
get. They have suffered too much.
And what may they hope to, find a,
their journeys end? These grea,
streams of people, "evacues'' from the
invaded districts Of the north. "rapa.
tries from across the frontier
refugees from everywhere where
there is danger-it is a heavy strair
on these towns and villages Of south.
ern France. They have not the
elasticity Of our home cities. with
their always shifting population