The Coconino sun., 1918-10-18

the grapes VIII all pc ripe ana then | the big job begins gathering them and making wine, which the French l people live on. l believe if you was | to take all the eatables out of this country that these people would live on their wine just the same, because they sure like it, believe me. will sure be glad to get out of this coun- try, back to Arizona, where we have something outside of grapes to laak at. We are about two miles from a town or village named Saint Emilon, and mother, it is certainly wonder ful place. The whole town is built underground. We were over there Sunday and it was the best sight l have seen since leaving the U. s. There is church over there built un- der hill and it is certainly wonder full. The stairways are carved out in the rock walls. You enter from the side of the hill, going through two big doors which are about fifteen feet high. The ground now occupied by St. Emilion used to be occupied by the Romans. Just think, when you go over St. Emilion you are treading the same ground that the soldiers of Ed WdEu HI anu IhC 1N NaihPSu on. This town was settled up by man by the name of Emilion who died in the year 767, and to his companions and followers is ascribed the hollowing out of the grottoes, caves and under ground church. Long ago, soon after his death, another man began building up dwellings and soon England and France were fighting for this town. There is a wall which l should judge to be fifty or sixty feet high standing along the road. We pass it every day. It is not very long. It has large win dows in it and has several statues on it which are certainly beautiful. It was damaged whole lot in the wars of the revolution but still is certainly wonderful. This wall must be about sixteen hundred years old, so you can imagine how well it is built.
 There were large gates to the en- trance of this town which do not exist now. They have crumbled down, but you can still see some of the gates. They must be awful old from what we could gather from the French guide. There is an old drawbridge, the only one left that we could find, and it is near Cardinals palace. The church which is built underground is called the Collegiate church. Before so ma ny wars this church was collegiate, or in other words, a private chapel for the rich people. This church has the most romantic arches that a person ever looked at. One side of the church was at one time loaded with statues but they were ruined in one of the wars. On the right side of one of the arches is the most wonderful picture of the Holy Virgin. In another aisle one will notice little altar with ivory doors. There is a cloister in this church that covers the whole southern side of the church. The steeple of the church has been blown over by storms and things but was always built up again by the people. The steeple it. self rests on some big pillars of the church. There are three large vaults in the church. The pillars are carved out of the solid rock, one best carved work being that of a man struggling between good and evil; also on the vaults are two angels with outspread wings which are also carved. After leaving the vaults you come to a house. have forgotten the name, wherein the remains were thrown which were dug up while digging overhead for some old burial grounds: Around this hole is. the statue or three men rising from the dead. could write you all day and never come near telling you what saw on my visit over to this town. One thing else, though, is spring that l saw where the girls or those wishing to get married would go and drop pins into it. If the pins crossed they could marry any one whom they wished. 1 will have to cut out writing about this or l will never finish. To- day as I was writing you this letter I received three from home, and It sure made me feel good. The pictures came over o. K. and also the message from the kids who were out to the party. IT, i wrote about week ago to MT. M, J, Riordan. He wrote me since came over. I would like to have been to the party but we can have lots or them when 1 get back. Duty before pleasure.
 Well, mother dear, it won't be long until I get back and we can have great time. Tell Mrs. J. that l am going to write her tomorrow as 1t IS about retreat time. When do you think Tom will go? Gene Campbell is holding some job, cook, isn't he
 We'll, dear, l must close to all of you this time. Will write Lenore ai- so tomorrow.
 Your loving son,
 IRvEN. Corp. Irven Francis,
 Co. A, 53 A. T. c. A. C..
 Ammunition Train, American B. F. Via New York. P. S.-Many smile passed on the pictures, Sis.