The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-08-23
M'DEWTT NOWON
ANOTHER SECTOR;
TELLS OF COUNTRY
Sends Home A Souvenir That
Was Made Two Miles
From Front

ne lO1lOW1HB leIteT DCCH iC-
ceived from Harold McDevitt, who is
now serving in France:
My Dear Parents:
In my last letter told you that we
were about to leave the sector which
we have been holding. The thing
anticipated came true and we now
find ourselves on another part of the
front. Our trip was made by two
types of locomotion, first by foot, or
as one comrade expresses 1t, THE
hob-nailed express" and second lin
tunate enough to draw one of the
latter and in spite of the unusual
method of travel, | had one of the
most interesting trips of my life.
We came through an interesting
part of the ountry and my place on
the fiat car gave me an unprecedent-
ed opportunity. to see the country. We
passed through the beautiful hills Of
the still more interesting mountains
which we could see in the distance.
We were back from the front far
enough we could see little to remind
us of war save the women working In
the fields. The country was dotted
with villages, all of them having the
suggestion of quietness and. content
edness about them. But how their
appearance belied the feelings Of
their occupants, and then to think
that but for the greed of the beast
beyond the Rhine the hearts of the
peasants might be as peaceful and
contented as were the cattle grazing
on the hillside.
had another experience new tC
me. We were speeding along on a
double track side by side with train
load of Italian soldiers. There We
were, from sections of the world &c
far apart, yet now hastening toward
, the same place with common cause
A little later we passed not insig
, niiicant detachment of the French
army. Within recent period, l have
|, with men from England. Canada In
dia. France and even China. These
, Chinese are working for the British
, government on some roads over which
we passed some time ago. II thi.
war does nothing else, It will do mucl
, toward bringing about an understand
, ing between races and will go far
q am sure, TO remove prejudice o
course. we come more closly In con
tact with the French have II,
doubt concerning the great good com
Ing out of the exchange OF ideas be
tween the French and Americans, bu
] cannot go into detail about my idea
along these lines. ! must first toucl
upon Impressions and these will, II
: the very nature OF things, change a
. ] go along-not In their essentials bu
, In minor details.
= Observing little things on the sid
does no harm and makes possibl
many happy hour which would M
= doubtedly wear heavy otherwise
When ! get back | am going to tur
. this little experience into practica
V good or know the reason why
! am sending. either In this lette
. or in a separate envelope. littl
" souvenir from France. The Frenc
are famous for their fancy work.
took a liking to the pattern of thi
81 handkerchief. was offered $3.50 70
II It, but that was no temptation. | &c
T. woman to make II where we wer
y located couple of weeks ago.
D. watched It's progress from day to da.
~ II may interest you to know IT wa
N made less than two miles back OF tn
N first line trenches and In town con
Or pletely surrounded by our big gun
Id only about a half dozen families {
W. the former inhabitants remaining. tn
10 Germans having once occupied III
e. town and the people were compelle
b. to cook for the German officers. The