The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1918-10-11

gu 20 the arch across the street. few feet away,
through which they would soon pass with the
American and French flags intertwined and the
nsotto IN Dig scrawly letters, "Soyes les Bienvenus
She explained that / was an American. They
seemed 10 understand, and their faces lighted up.
Tor this was in early june and even these pitiful
ones, VINO had been where little news had reached
Sfhem for nearly four years. knew that the Ameri-
cans were In France In good numbers now and
we're their allies.
So the group ceased to shrink from my camera
"A woman even thrust her child forward and
Hoothed its hair so that it would look well In the
picture. But just 1 was about to snap the
shutter, another woman In the group, standing q
little back, looked at me with an expression that
vas full of condemnation, full of appeal as she
said: YES, my friends, let stand up straight,
20 that he can get good photograph of misery"
Then she laughed bitterly, and I-well did not
take the picture
AT this moment the rest of the convoy began to
come out of the station, led by the Chasseurs lit
tie band. With them came Red Cross men and
nurses, carrying or helping those who could not
walk into the waiting camions and ambulances.
put up my camera and hurried ahead to reach
the casino whittier the procession was bound be-
fore their arrival there. Someone struck up ia
Marseillaise,' some woman with a high, shrill
voice. As climbed upon the front seat of an
ambulance and we started to pass the crowd
thought for moment that was now going to
See going to hear what / had come up from Paris
fOr-the glad burst of enthusiasm of happiness
from these people now that they fully realized
that they We're In France among their own, free
from the German yoke, which had lain on their
necks since 1914. But our ambulance went by
the procession there no other voices raised
no join that of the singing woman and after few
bars She too stopped singing and the procession
vent on. silent, shutting, except for some small
boys. town boys, who trudged ahead of the Chas-
seurs. still playing their tune on drum and bugle
reached the casino ahead of the procession
and waited at the door for them to come down the
Rue du Casino. The narrow, steep street was
crowded along its sidewalks with townspeopIe
and from windows was flung the tricolor, while the
American flag waved here and there, too. As the
procession came around the head of the street the
people hailed 1t with cheers and the waving of
Tags. The Chasseurs played more loudly-now
IL was @viye. PArmeen they were footing. few
OF the children raised their heads and looked with
glad eyes on the enthusiastic natives who were
trying so hard to cheer them home An old man
I'm the procession Strengthened I'D and shouted
--FfEe lie General Joffre." But otherwise there
were no cheers, thrills of happiness nor INV
rting but just that downbent attitude, that shut
ning walk. that dazed, whipped cowed express
sion. 1t was, as the woman at the station Ind
4zaid, misery. For EVAN is the clearing house Of
misery these days.
1t was not so at first, the American Red Cross
doctor told me, and SO the subprefect of the de-
partment of the HauteSavoie also assured me
esssSYhich is why we make such great effort to
49, n them as they come In nowadays" he said
M wv are crushed these people; they are IKE
q Va men and women, and the children, even the
EiEtle ones, ire scarcely alive to the situation
Free from Germany more? They cannot he
fieve if-there Is scarcely enough strength left In
sheir poor minds and bodies for them to be able
70 understand"
.Yes." added the Red Cross doctor. pointing out
4 girl of eighteen or nineteen who passed; look
xf the expression on the face of that girl" l
booked, caught here eye as she turned In my d.