The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1918-10-17

CAPT. BRIDGES
: SEEING FRANCE
TELLS SOMETHING OF THE WON.
DERS OF PARIS
r-@Ei -
HAS BEEN IN SPECIAL SCHOOL
And Is Slated for Promotion. Visits
Celebrated Places. Wonderful
Work Of the French Wom-
en- Engaged in War.


Here is another of the good letters
from Earl F. Bridges, telling about
France. After reading what he says
of Paris and its wonderful plants one
cannot avoid shudder at the thought
of the Hun setting foot in the me.
tropolis by force of Arms. When one
considers how near the enemy came
to accomplishing the ruin of this
great city the work of the French
and allies appears the more wonder.
full and miraculous for it was almost
miracle that barred the Teuton
fiends from Paris.
Somewhere, in France, Aug. 16, 1915
Dear Mother: write you this letter
from a room in hotel in one of the
most charming cities of France.
simply cannot describe the beauty OF
not only this place. but many Others
| have had IN opportunity to visit dur
ing the last month. | am on my way
stol the front, at last, and had to come
here, which is a headquarters city, tC
repack my baggage and find out
where my unit is as it is constantly
on the move lately | have been as
signed to headquarters, 4th Army
Corps. Don't know what the work will
be, except that it il Staff appoint
ment. Consider myself complimenteC
and lucky, although | did not get
to go back to the States Tell viii
hope his wish will come true, and that
is that | may get to kill at least one
Boche.
| went out with some other officers
last evening TO dance and did MOI
get to the hotel until late. So | haC
petite dejuiner (breakfast) IN my
room. 1t consisted of coffee in a lit
tie pot with pitcher of hot milk, ant
one small roll of French war bread
This is the typical French breakfast
about 1-3 coffee and % hot milk, mix
ed in a very large cup and bread-nC
butter, no sugar, and nothing else. Bur
Americans usually add an omelette.
like it very much.
The last time | was in Paris | say
General Pershing-passed me in TIL
street in his auto with four stars OF
the windshield. All general officer
have the proper number of stars show
ing on red background on the wind
shield, but there is only one man here
with four stars-Pershing.
Gets Promotion
| have been at a school where most
of the officers who were there ha(
been at the front for year or a little
less. ! know | shall find the work a.
the front more interesting than it was
in the S. o. S. (Service of Supplies)
After seven months in base port one
gets anxious to get up where things
are going on. But | made no applica
ton Was simply sent to the schoo
because the understanding was thai
all officers who went there would &c
back to the States with promotion.
had been recommended for promotion
before this came along. But at the
school, after it was nearly finished, il
was decided to send only about one
third of the number originally intend
ed to the States. So, as only about Is
the number of captains were sent,
had no hopes at all. Nearly all tbs
captains had been at the front with
troops, while | had not been up, nor
had | been in command of company
But / got place on the list ahead OF
many who had been up. Think that If
one reason | have received what
seems to be a very good assignment
Am sending you a Is centime piece
of paper. 1t is purely local, and not
good in any town except the one in
which it is issued Also am sending a
food ticket, the kind issued to soldiers
on leave from the front. They get IA
pounds per day.
Wonderful Places
have wished so often that you
could be here and see some of the
wonderful places. The money, time,
and talent that has been spent max.
ing France beautiful simply has to be
seen to be appreciated. And Paris is
absolutely the most beautiful city i'm
imaginable. The Bouleyards are wide,
rows of trees on each side, parkways
between sidewalks and pavements and
between sidewalks and buildings.
Much beautiful statuary. many flowers
etc. Buildings are built, not only for
utility, but also TO give expression TO
the artistic ideas of the builder.
Straight lines are rarely seen, and
much different, naturally from any
thing we have. At Napoleons' tomb the
French have done their utmost. They
have tried to make the most impress
lively beautiful place possible-and
have succeeded wonderfully. The glass
panels in the dome of the building in
which it is located are so constructed
that always. where the sun shines,
there is a golden light on the tomb it.
self, which is of onyx. | could not
get into the building itself. but saw 1t
through the barred door at the en-
trance, at a distance of perhaps fifty
Ieet. 1t is at the IDvalides Palace
where are gathered also, in a great