Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1918-08-29

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July Is, 1918
Dear Mother: Although 1t is near
ly bed time and getting real dark,
III try to start a letter to you, wheth-
er / am able to finish 1t tonight or
not.
I'm a little late writing this week,
anyhow, on account of celebration
yesterday to commemorate the
French independence day which you
PEOPLE doubtlessly celebrated, also.
Well, we went to ChateourouX to
participate in the parade and the
general good time, arriving in the
town via motor trucks about 8 a. m.
rhe streets look very like the streets
at home on the Fourth, only not
quite so much decoration, and, of
course, they really look vastly differ
Cnt. The ceremony took the form
of decorating French heroes with
war medals. | was rather surprised
and impressed with 1t, too. In a
shaded square beside beautiful old
cathedral the people gathered in all
their gayest. On two sides of the
square we we're drawn up, the French
troops and the Boy Scouts and other
boy military organizations on the op-
pos!te side. We were lined up four
llatoons deep, while on the remain
ing side were the veterans of 1870,
4 great concourse of French officers
and a patriotic group of widows and
orphans Of the present war,
One of the American regiments
furnished an excellent band, and the
French had group of the finest
buglers ! ever heard. A funny little
old general with whiskers and an
appearance very much like Charlie
Henry took charge of the ceremony.
First a group of resplendent French
officers were decorated with one or
more of the much-prized war medals.
Each officer was called out separate
ly, and the general lay the flat of
his sword on the one shoulder, then
on the other, pronouncing some
phrase that sounded to us like Pour
the coffee in the boiler" after which
the medal was pinned on very
proud breast, whereupon the general
kissed each man on each cheek. We
could not refrain from a silent laugh |
at that, although on second thought
1t was beautiful and impressive.
After the officers there were IS
decorated in the samh man
nor except that the sword and Hiss
ing exercises were left out
Meanwhile we stood at present
arms, some job. The parade then
formed and marched around the
-quare in platoon front, then in col
umns of squads through the street
10 the various barracks where we
were guests of the French troops FOR
the day.
The dinner was quite an affair for
us, beginning with soup that did not
look at all good, but tasted very we'll
by fish and lettuce salad
hat was the real stuff. Then beer
aas served, followed by roast horse
meat, French fried potatoes and cof-
ice. 1t was all good, and there was
quantities of 1t.
The afternoon we were free to go
bout town till p. m. There wasn't
\ great deal to see except the build
ng and parks. There is q beautiful
nonument of the veterans of 1870,
md one Of General Bertrand land
ng on st. Helene in 1921. The To-
hedral ~ rather beauty and there
ire two or three other churches only
me of which is dintinctly pictur-
'sque. saw some fine little marble
statues in stone, but nothing else
much of interest. The crowds, how.
yer, were real interesting. {
Just heard Guy is very sick and I