The herald., 1918-07-25

lErA II
France often is referred 10
in the dispatches as the Battle OF Pic
ardy," although as a political subdi-
vision the province OF Picardy no long
er exists. Since the division into de-
Tartmelts was made, Picariy was cut
up into the departments Of the Sosnme,
Pas-de-CaIais, Aisne and Disc. II the
ancient days when il existed as one OF
the great historic PROVINCES Of France.
its boundaries extended from HSiIaut
and ArtOis OF the nOr-h and from
Champagne on the east 20 the province
OF NormSndy and the English channel
on the west, with q maritime frontier
running from the mouth OF the Al 70
the cliffs OF CauI. and il included with
in its boundaries the whole OF the basin
Of the Sonme river and s great part
OF that Of the Disc
C1ter the Romans K was Inhabited
by the MOrini. the Ambiani. the NerO-
mandui, the Beloved and the Sues
stones. whose names are still preserved
In the modern cries OF AE.iels. Yer
was a battle-ground in Caesars day and
the Romans built military roads
through the province and erected de-
fensive citadels along the banks OF the
SOmme.
Ii was in Picardy. tos. that the first
nucleation OF France IS nation took
place. under the Meroyingian kings IN
the fifth century. The history Of an
Gent France says Miche,et. had its
sources In Picardy." Here Clovis made
bis first capital at scissors and Charlie
magne founded his at NOyOl- Famous
battles were fought within its borders
long before the first Prussian set foot
upon its soil. CreCy, where Edward
the Black Prince won his spurs and
AgincOurt where Henry V OF England.
with his bowmen- wrought such havoc
with the French srmy-the bowmen
whose spirits were said 70 have rem
dered miraculous assistance 10 the al
lies ST the Battle OF the Marne.
Land Of Beautiful Landscapes
A land Of beautiful landscapes is the
land OF Picardy-or was before the de-
wasting Hun ploved up its fair fields.
tore Up its roads and laid low its for
ests and its famous avenues OF aspens
and poplars-as Picturesque PicardyT
IL was known 10 poets and artists and
writers and travellers David Murray.
the famous Scottish landscape painter.
gave its pastoral beauties 10 the world
In almost three score OF his canvaseS
Many Of COrOts finest landscapes are
laid in the valley OF the Disc or SOmme-
Ruskin and Robert Louis Stevenson
have glori5ed il in art and literature
But today il IS q scene OF ruin. ravage
and desOlation- Many OF its age-old
towns have been made level with the
plain. some Of its historic cathedrals
and chateauI are heaps of ruins and
great craters Of shell holes mark the
face OF the land As Lord Byron said
Of Greece. IT'S Picardy. but living
Picar1y no more
And low again the guns Of the Huns
have been laundering in the heart Of
Picardy and 81 the gates OF its ancient
capital. Amiens, the beautiful, the
~Venice OF Picardy,- home OF rare art
treasures and city Of the cathedral
which has been named by the PicardS
themselves the Cathedral OF the Beau
tiful God" and by art lovers the Par
theson Of Gothic architecture.
The cathedral Of AIniens is one OF
the largest churches In the world. be
ing surpassed in the magnitude OF fits
construction only by ST. Peters at
Rome. St Sophia's at Canstantiaople
and the cathedral OF Cologne Into its
Sculptured stones and statues have
been wrought By its builders almost 8
complete biblical history. both Of the |
Old and New TeStaments. RuSkin calls |
the cathedral -the Bible Of AmienS.-
and in his lecture under that title he |
has given an Interpretation OF lis thor- 1
sands Of sculptured figures and OF its
sermons in stones
Tie cathedral was built chiefly BE-