The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-08-23

mixed machine gunel and artillery
barrage-from a. safe place.
France looks simple at, first; al
most said superficial. But as you
come to know more of French peo-
pie, history and institutions, you dis
Germ beneath the pleasure loving,
easy going surface, more and more
you imagine the old towns with an
tique architecture, yet sumptuous
homes. pretty parks, wide streets,
cosmopolitan population, Quaint GUS
toms, strange speech soldiers from
all quarters Of the compass; q war
cloud hanging over 1t all and dark
and night descending with the sun;
artillery booming close by and hos
tile planes hanging over. l think
the courage Of the French Is, sublime.
After four years Of horrible war,
they are still hopeful determined
and optimistic. The patience. with
which they bear hardship and pri-
walton is remarkable; for ,notwith-
standing there is little real distress,
there fs, as you will appreciate, much
hardship and that is depressing as
a steady four-year DIET. n..
l may not go into details for I am
under the obligation to keep within
censorship rules, but the Courage
with which the men go forth to die
and the beautiful devotion with
which the women take UP the mems
burdens makes one wonder. l be-
lieve our own America will be better
for her chastisement and we believe,
we know that with our brave allies
we shall win and confidently look
forward to a regenerated world that
has been the dream of the seers and
philosophers through all the ages.
The price humanity will pay must
be great, but doubtless the benefit
Will be commensurate with the cost.
Is it not well for prosperous, COM
Portable America to be forced, to Sc
rlous thought and unselfish endeav-
or? We can't sail forever along, the
smooth sea of time enjoying luxury
and ease without, becoming soft. ,a.
1t would do you good to see the
long lines OF rugged, road-soiled
Yanks getting into condition and
going forward. But YOU will not be
surprised to, know that, every man
and officer is really anxious to get
into the fray. The older heads go
into the greedy NAV, of Mars with
serious mten, but the youngsters go
eagerly and smiling. Our boys are
making good and they are ell alike.
You know our brave allies have set
a fast pace. and every young ,Ameri-
can seems to. want to show that he Is
fit to represent the country of which.
We are so proud. Don't suppose we
fail to notice that you are all going
on short .Tations, curtai1ing pleas
ure, buying bonds and subscribing
to eleemosynary enterprises until it
hurts. That is what we call stand
ing behind us and it is the talk of
the P!Unrxy P10oiI q Of
activities at home and we really
know more of what is being ac-
complished there than here; for
news" doesn't circulate over here
with unrestricted liberty as it does
at home. Mail is well handled and is
more sought than food. 1t would
make you smile to see the BOYS
in line for mess carrying
a meat can, cover, cup, etc, in one
hand and trying to control the pages
Of letter in the other, as they, ap-
proach the field range step by step
reading the last letters from home
as they go, Probably the dispatch
and receipt Of letters isn't a military
right, but 1t is a most stimulating
privilege. It is very kind to suggest
that we needn't answer as so many
friends do, and shows a keen appre-
citation of the situation NaSg are up
against. NIL
Harvest is about half finished and
the tiny farms yield surprising
crops. The crops are harvested with
sickles or cradles and bound, by
hand, after which the cleaners go
over the fields and gather the stray
heads Nothing is wasted by %he
thrifty French. We are learning
many interesting and useful things
Is than fhnNy
benefit by the sojourn of the Amer
leans in their midst. OF, course,
there are crops that will not be har-
vested, butt am getting UP against
the line. 81
l used to have a notion that the
French were not rugged but when
you see the husky poilus and the
red checked active children, it makes
you think the race virile enough.
Our reception was most cordial and
their treatment OF us has been SPLEEN
did. The villages are antique and
queer looking but the cities are beau
.iful and must, be most attractive in
peace times. The whole country is
to the eye and the gen
eral mode Of life makes you want to
i've You will readily understand
that am surmising' n1uch--like the
scientist who constructs an animal
Or reptile of antedeluvian timas from
the exhumed skeleton-for we don't
nave liberty to 20 and come, nor is
France after four years Of war, quite
ike the peace France, but there are
some infallible signs and not all Is
changed. Chateau and hut, monu
nent and arch, column and cathedral
each suggests some incident Of
history or theme OF literatureS and
all S11rn1TGsH1 ie +hn MI
peasant life, so interesting in art;
10 disappointing lin reality.
We see frequently old battlefields
whose sites are marked by bronze
shafts and columns. and wonder what
Hannibal : or Caesar would have
thought OF a battalion of modern
artillery of machine guns; column
oe huge trucks or a patrol Of air
raft. ,..
Shall we be as great as our oppor-
unity and our duty-it makes one
wish ito. be really capable ana do
zig things in the great cause. How
aver, the chess board would not be
complete without the pawns, and IL
oyally and theoretically according
o their. several abilities, we shall
core. 4
There are so many good friends
cannot mention names, but I will
hank you to give my very best re-
rards to any who may be kind EN-
ugh to inquire of me. If ] don't |
ret back, just carve in the granite |
or me, lie done his damnedest"
nut prefer to come back and inter-
st you with tales of incidents that |
lever happened.
Whenever / hear the bugler blow
all to quarters in the twilight, / am |
eminded of, 1.-THE curfew tolls the |
rneII of parting day. and that is |
he hour just now. The boys are
seeking their quarters and I must |
ret some rest for tomorrow, for each
brings it's full quota OF
luties. This short candle flame as
n l....E n