The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-03-02
FRANCE THE MOST MARVELLOUS
Thing IS THE FRENCH WOMAN

~NN|oONNIN~S@~~SSSN-~~
Jacques return to his home-oh. of
course not to the sumpruous three
rooms. with gas. which he had so
we'll supported By his earnings as q
earpenter-but home, he viii f1d. In
the one bare room everything OF real
value which he left behind; happy
chillren and cheerful wife:
Marie and Thercse are more FOR
tunate than Jacques wife. for the
burden Of providing for their fam
lilies is not so difficult They secured
their husbands jobs.
The first tine re met them we
thcurht they were men. fSom their
caps ard their coats and their thic'l
boots. AID the fact that they were
pushing heavy street-clealcrS carts
through the slush.
They were laughing and joking
with each other. their broad faces red
with the tang of outdoor exercise;
and It was not until they stopped TO
e. US pass on the crossing. and an
sve=ed our friendly thanks with their
smiles-those wonderful smiles OF
the women of France-that We knew
them for women.
gut Marie and Thcrese arc thor
ougnIv feminine in their homes.
-hich arc neat as : pin. just as tne%
were before the var when these wo-
men had nothing TO do out Keep them
so.
Each home has mantel. which is
the place OF honor. for the Silded
shrine hangs above it. and each man
tel is given over to the portraits OF
brave soldiers. whom each brave ~o-
man mas. rein pushed to France; the
husband, the brothers. the cousins.
What depths OF Srief there may be
IN Marie and .Therese one can ONLY
guess from an occasional tragic IN
(! fection. an occasional misery in the
eyes: but Marie processes to be very
happy. for God has given her the
strength 10 do her husbands. rough
work. and so to be able TO care for
her two strong. healthy boys:
Nearly every woman in France has
tho thought IN mind that all those
men who are gone must be replaced.
Therese is sOmewhat wistfui at TINS
point. for Thercse has only girls; but
she DriEhteps when II is suggested
20 her that France needs a cortinua-
tion OF hey courageous women as wei
as of her gallant men.
Ana max Is IIiS SUI Nv ~ 49,
man in the bank. She had been mar
ried five years. she had comfortable
home. she was very happy.
The war broke out.
Her husband was one OF the flrst to
fsIl in defense of her and the other
women of his country: and she has
no children: She is glad of one thing,
however. IT,
sac has proved to have a particu-
lar talent for the position she oceu-
pies. a position which ordinarily only
an energetic younc man could MI;
ard that releases another soldier Tor
France. She smiles beautifully, this
woman in the bank.
We had some official business to
transact with another capable woman
il one OF the government bureau1.
she was a particularly pleasant
woman. who put herself out tremend-
ously 10 make everything convenient
for us. No time of trouble was too
CHESTER ELETEN-TWO ------ -.----
much. and. no matter how often It
was necessary to bother her. she met
us with cheerfulncss which was al
most gaety.
she vas always laughing, and you
would have imagined that she had
1T ore trouble in the world. that she
Esd not one serious thought
We became we'll acquainted With
her. She showed US a picture of her
three little children. Beautiful chill
Gren: she showed US a doll which
she was dressing. In her odd mo-
mczts. for one of them who was to
have a birthday soon. She was es-
peciaIly joyous about little silk
handbag she was knitting for the doll
Something was said just then con-
ceroipg the war. We have never seen
? more startling change in a counte-
nancc. y glaze dropped over the
sparkle OF her eyes, and they seemed
nun bly, STAYING at some far-on terri
bic thing; her face paled into grey.
her lips became blue. and her voice,
a voice ordinarily full OF Tivacity.
dropped to that dull even, coioriess
monotope in which all French tras-
edy is expressed.
She spoke rapidly and scarcely
atc-2 awhisper. Oh, the misery, the