The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1918-12-21

- 0O0NoOs liz VIM OLAy a ohO1t oiSIduC6 duU
after quite a little work he was enabled to
disentangle his from the meshes of
wire which fastened the gun and go on his
way, probably only to get into a worse mix-up
somewhere else.
Later in the evening a group of French and
Americans, led by an American who seemed to
be master of the situation, climbed on the
heights of the Jardin de Tuilleries, which was
lined with captured German aeroplanes with a
large black cross painted on each. They took
one of these planes, threw it down to the street
below and tore it to shreds, carrying away the
pieces as souvenirs, The only part left was
the engine which was too heavy for them to
carry away. Suddenly a number of French
would break into singing the Marseillaise. A
bunch of Americans would get into the crowd.
then they would start to march, the column
being added to as they went along, and there
would be a great procession singing the famous
hymn. On one of the wide boulevards some of
the boys stopped all traffic by forming several
lines across the street and then one fellow
starting out with a cornet played, TITS A Long
Way to Tipperary". Soon there were quite a
number dancing and mostly you could see
French and American soldiers dancing togeth.
er. In the Place de POpera, in front of the
great Opera House, a vast mass of people had
gathered. On the balcony about so feet over
head, was a frame of electric lights. Into this
frame the famous opera singers of France as
sembled to sing the Marseillaise. AS the notes
of the beautiful hymn penetrated the crowd
they Joined in the singing and there arose the
luutSt OulDulSl " l. IIlOl UluSlC IudI DTODdDly
has ever been heard. They sang the Star
Spangled Banner and other national hymns.
Shortly after this there took place what to
me was a very touching incident. There were
three ladies in deep mourning: their faces ex.
pressing the joy of France, but touched with a
sadness that went deeply to ones heart. The
Colonel and myself looked at them and he said:
Lets kiss them. | said in the best French I
could master, twill you kiss u.s.? They re-
sponded Immediately and the Colonel and !
EiCCpd nanh of tho fhrOn IN both Sides of tho
cheek, all of us laughing, and they then strolled
OF and were lost in the crowd. Later in the
evening which l got in bed l thought to myself,
There, truly, was a fine expression of the spirit
of a people who had suffered over four years
of war, lost over two millions of its best men,
and comes now to celebrate the victory which
they have won. l dare say that when they
kissed us they had in their minds and hearts
some fair life that had gone out in patriotic
honor on the great battle-fields-a personality
that they should never see again, but which in
its going out had added to the imperishable
glory which the world recognizes as part or
its common property, but which is distinctly
the glory of France. Here in Paris they were
honoring the dead in this beautiful hour-in
the French way. AS the American soldiers
know. the French Artillery in going into ac-
ton is the most magnificent thing you could
see. They fear nothing and care for nobody
they want only to get to the enemy! They
would dash along the roads up at the Verdun
Front regardless of anything. and that same
spirit was in the celebration this night.
participated in the riot of enthusiasm until
after 400 o'clock in the morning, when | could
not physically stand it longer, and left the
streets still moving with masses of exultant
peoples. | again lay in bed too excited to sleep
and thinking this time of the fugitive in exile
the Kaiser-justly separated from his pomp
and glory, with the blood of the nations of the
world on his head, spilled at his ommand l
thought too, of the poor people of Germany as
they must suffer under the spiritual and mental
4.o.. IS - -arrr1o1pnip n n dofnat. ctarvinO
discouraged, in revolution. God help them!
But God make them know and feel FULLY what
they have brought upon the world so that they
may understand, so that they may know, SO
that they may never dare to hope or wish ror
'the day. to come again.
I suppose these are strange times at home
too. but it is now the duty of our people to re-
strain themselves in doing things that quite
naturally they wish to do, but which they
ought not to do. We are most fortunate in
having leaders like President Wilson and the
other great leaders of our Allies. | don't be-
lieve that they will revel in their victory by
walking in the blood of the people already I'M
der their feet and crying for mercy. AS they
say: 1--WE are fighting for Humanity; not
against it,, and this is now the spirit required
to carry us through safely. We must now feed
Germany and help them and make them build
with us a future which will save the worlo
from a recurrence of the terrible conditions
which have been witnessed in these past four
wears. In a sense, I was at first sorry that we
did not go VIGOROUSLY fighting into German
territory, but had we done so | am not sure
that the spirit of revenge would not have caus.
ed our noble soldiers to forget themselves ana
go far beyond what may have been necessary
to achieve victory. AS the book now opens
the name of AMERICA is clean and all MS.
tory must say that never more unsel1shly ola
men die for the good of the world, that never
before had a great people entered a great war
with a surer purpose of right to accomplish,
and never before was it done in a fashion at
once so clean and grand.
On the following day the Colonel went into
conference with some of the representatives OF
Great Britain, France and America on what
should be done to bring food from abroad TO
take care of the peoples of Europe and to get
the material for the reconstruction of the DESC
lated countries-and I tagged along! Inc
problems are so great that one is baf1ed. AS
I write this letter no solution is in view, put
there is a confidence that the difficulties VIII
be met and the work of redemption carried TO
A sure triumph. Am I not the same lucky boy
to be situated where I can get a good survey
of such interesting things?
Affectionately to you, my dear mother,
and love to all:
Observation-Disclosures