The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-12-21
EAST CALAIS
Cousin of Mrs. Guy Bancroft Writes Her
of Victory Celebration in Paris.

Cousin of Mrs Guy Bancroft Writes Her
Of Victory Celebration in Paris.
Mrs. Guy Bancroft is in receipt of the
following interesting letter written by a
cousin, John Wilson, in France. The
letter shows how the news of the signing
of the armistice was received by the peo-
pie in Paris. Young Wilson, whose home
is in Los Angeles, is nephew of John r.
Wilson of Barre.
Il am going to do my best to tell you
about the greatest day / ever spent in
my life. | will never be able to explain
or convey fully the feeling that is felt
over here. | was lucky enough to have a
pass to Paris for short period when the
news of the signing of the armstice ar
rived. There were hundreds of thousands
of soldiers, sailors and civilians in the
city for a grand celebration. 1t is not
over yet and will most likely last a
month. In the Place de la Concorde lit is
sort Of grand, big park, full of statues,
etc. there were hundreds and hundreds
of cannon, boche planes, machine guns,
tanks, captive sausage balloons, trench
mortars, aircraft guns, etc. They COW
cred blocks and blocks. Most of the
statues are covered with sandbags and
they make a pile say about 30 feet
square and about 30 feet high and all Of
them were covered thick with German
helmets. | cannot begin to explain the
size of the crowd Traffic was at a
standstill all day and until midnight, j
just barely got there when young lady
threw her arms around my neck and
lyiesa1 nd IN / lif llx
swamped by about 40 pretty girls.
threw up my hands and yelled 'kamerad'
and one girl grabbed my hat and divided
it as souvenirs, and another tied branch
of mistletoe around my neck and then
they all joined hands around me and
started to go around in a circle. Need
less to say, was going in circle too by
that time and | had time getting away.
Yes, / did try, too. Well, that same
thing happened at least hundred times
that afternoon and | lost my hat, over
coat and muffler in the scuffle. crawled
upon fence and counted 80 parades at
one time. This place is fairly open and
not many trees. An American could no
more than get his breath than he would
be surrounded and Rugged and kissed and
lifted up on shoulders and the girls would
sing a sort of cadence in only two words,
which were, Good fella, good fella,' All
this was for two soldiers only, the French
and American. There are Just two to the
French pepole, their own and the Amer
lean boys Then there would be bunch
of maybe hundred come skipping along,
all holding hands and singing 'desen-
ngeudii desenngeudji,' which means
make room or give way ] also got to
see Pershing, and his ear was swamped.
The yelIs, 'Vive Pershing' and 'Vive
France, were enough to make me deaf.
went down the Rue de la Italiane to
the opera and the streets we're so crowd
ed that | could have picked my feet off
the ground and would not have fallen.
Really, | would not have missed it for
anything and guess it was the grandest
demonstration the world has ever seen.
The city was covered with flags, and
about o'clock, when the lights went on
all of sudden, well, Just can't tell you
about the cheers that went up from the
crowd. In all that jam and push | saw
but one person get sore and that was
an English 'Tommie.' | will certainly
never forget that celebration"
Clyde Gilman, who enlisted from here
last February and went to Vancouver,
Wash, with the lumber unit, has received
an honorable discharge and returned
home on Tuesday. Everyone is more
than glad to welcome Clyde back.
Ralph WILDER of Woodbury., who has
lately returned from Camp Deyens, was
calling in the village on Monday
Caorfro CorIo.. - apondiu0 uayaral A "
in Montpelier on business.
Mrs. Eta Burnham is keeping house
for w G. Eastman.
D. D. Lamb was in Plainield on bust
ness on Tuesday.
Mrs. George Sanders and Mrs. George
f. Carley were in Marshfeld on Wednes
day.
Mr.. and Mrs. D. B. Dwinell were in
Montpelier Tuesday.
L. A. Remission is suffering with an
attack of asthma.
Harvey Burnham was in Montpelier on
business Thursday.
The meeting of the local Red Cross on
Thursday had so small an attendance
because of sickness that the business was
postponed one week. The afternoon was
spent in making comfort kits for the
Italian army.
Guy Bancroft was in North Calais on
Monday and Friday on business connect
ed with the Red Cross membership drive.
George Clough was in Montpelier on
Thursday.
W. j. Coates and wife were in Plain
field, the guests of Rev. A. w, Hewitt, on
Thursday.