Mount Vernon signal. (Mt. Vernon, Ky.) 18??-current, 1918-08-16

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July 3rd and 4lh and meant tc
write you yesterday but wa
pretty busy. l mailed you a
letter from Paris July 4th which
you have already possibly re
ceived but did not tell you any
thing of the great celebration in
honor of our Independence Day.
You will no doubt read about it
in the papers. but will enjoy my
telling you about 1t more OF
course it was the luckiest thing
in the world for me that | could
be in Paris at that time went
on the end and all day of the grid
people were decorating every
where. There must have been
millions of Americans and French
flags and no where one without
the other, and by night the great
city was bedecked in all the
beauty that flowers and the
Grand Old Stars and Stripes
could produce Late ir the al
ternoon was on one of the main
streets and heard a band coming.
1t was leading a regiment Of
French Infantry, just back from
The fighting line for the purpose
of marching in the pardade thd
next day. They we're a great
sight, with their steel helmets,
fully equipped and their rifles
aid bayonets glistening in the
sun. They were just from the
heat of battle, many of them with
uniforms worn and dirty, faces
besmirched and unshaven, but
you forgot all that as they swung
down the street with a smile and
a song, and with Il wild flower of
some kind from a rose on down,
stuck in the barrel of his rifle.
You only remembered that they
we're heroes, every one. That
night / attended the meeting at
he Soldiers and Sailors Club.
which was addressed by Marshall
Ioffre, the Hero of the Great
Battle of the Marine. besides
everal other interesting fea
lures including the singing of
The National Anthems of Great
Britain, the United States and
France. by singeus representing
he three nations. There were
several pictures of this meeting
aiken and If yon chance to see
me of them you can possibly find
he in it. The morning of the
Fourth dawned cloudy and with
very appearance of rain. l was
IN the streets before eight
,'clock and they were already
crowded. The French Govern
nent having declared a holiday.
I'll stores were closed and the
people were on the streets enjoy
ny the day as only the French
AN enjoy a iete day. Everybody
happy, with nothing to do but
over themselves and everybody
Use with American flags and
lowers and be happy. The
greatest event OF the day of
course was the remaining of the
me of the principle streets, Rue
lu Pre- sident Wilson and Mr.,
Howard Il. Taylor of Berea Col.
ege had managed to get us two
invitations for seats to witness
he dedication, which was held in
he Place d lena around the great
statue of Washington on his
horse. There Were amptheatres
in half circles on either
side of the monument with just
room for the troops to march
between and we We're located
ust 10 the right and a little in
'front.' of the statue. The speak
srs stand and seats for all the
officials were just across from
as SO we got good view of
verifying that was done as iwell
Is the parade As far as we
'ould see as we went TO the cele-
1ration along the line which had
1een announced for the parade.
have never seen so many PEG
Die, and everybody happy. You
,Ould uhardly believe that these
people have been engaged for
our years in Il death struggle
o their national existence, but
hey seem 10 see in this glorious
Iag Of ours a sure sign Of victory !