Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-11
SOLDIER WRITES
'OFFRANCE'S COURAGE
r.,rery of People Shows Ma
lion Cannot Fall, Says
w. F. Collins
,urR1cANs WELCOMED
,,,.,r ssy Good Morning Even
O'D a. r Happens to Be After
noon or Night

.,,rit of the French people, as
~, one of the United states
W. aover there" who has written 10
we "A smployer in this country Is any
DIS y. ~, that country can never DC
crlei.'' The description of ne III tliat
healeh hut unconqucreu ha'loll, al
VII. nv 2. soldier W. i. Col,ln,'
vrirsn rta,,v y 2 glimpse Of the herolsm Whlcn
rNes wv IT5rysnchman is displaying touaN'
Hs AZ French have drunk ct tho cru
III w ,orro,,.. IL H. not evident from
rpie .,snner or actions, NotllnE ]"
then ,srd of their lOssea from them
tvI s,niIine face, a determined man.
WIZ = eparkling eye they carry on
nd arr aE.assion much useG by the Eng
hn At5,ore and now adopted by the
lsn sOiI,S They never ask what tho
Ahy,l,''f ~ The war ia gcins TO he. Ot
result u ,s$ certain. SO there is only one
thai NV T., ,heir ninds--'When VIII II
quesu0I ,,,ust confess that It is a quea-
tno' -, ,,auy Of us would like an
ton vihch Ha"'
Eered. .,.rort s,,0ortnr in tbo
rio neople seem to have plenty
hHu and TO wear and the shops arc
sas s,,od with merchandise of all kinds.
nnosa Nul This is due in part TO the
! sGat tbis is a. great agricultural
hN Tho land differs from ours at
e0un''s mat II seems to have a much
po'n' n,Itiyated or refined appearance
nio'' eunpose. to the centuries of toll
us,,b have been devoted TO IT,
beautiful scenery
,rs. scenery rs certainly beautiful
etsrd on the omiuenCe on which
n q. ANN is situated and look oft | eau
wv Great rolling fields, all cultivated,
~, not atrsv stone or twig TO mar
~. annear9nce Hero and there
ur" ,.,r ar canal winds through the fertile
liz, and the white dusty road climb
,.- ',, AVER the distant hills looks like q.
Is .S,or Of silver in the sunlight. Neat
rSi,a stone farmhouses, with red tiled
..ats Itg anpear al intervals, and the whole
,n.ctarle Is one Of thrift and beauty.
The villages are study III them"
,,,,ss Built centuries ago, they serve
n remind one of medieval times, with
,h,Ir Stone houses and narrow, winding
streets. In many places the stone Is
covered with moss, but tho buildings are
a solid as when built and will stand
ior centuries to come.
'One thing which cannot fail to make
deep impression on the Americans Is
NJ beauty Of the churches. All built of
stone, with beautiful statuary tapestry
and paintings, they are marvels of ar
etectire and beauty and speak most
sIoouently of the genius and effort re
oured for their construction centuries
igo,
Every Church Has organ
Even in the smallest the same type
ef architecture prevails--huge stone pill
lars and arches of the Gothic type, and
each has its own organ, even though Gas
4 sometimes the case in the remote
fnra districts) the church may have
SEATING capacity of a mere handful Of
Sorshipers.
Before coming over l had heard from
various sources of the moral dangers
10 which the American soldiers would
De subject here. My stay of sew
esal weeks IN this town, as well as my
hayels through various cities of France,
however, has convinced me Of the utter
sbsurdity Of these statements. The
members of the American eNpeditionary
forces eeem to evidence by their man
her that they realize the seriousness
Of the purpose for which they have
come Liquor is taboo and the danger of
eyil from other sources is virtually neg
llgible
From the moment he lands on French
Or other Allied soil the American sol
eier Is made TO feel not only that he
Is welcome, but that his generous offer
% come over here and aid in the crush
NC Of militaristiC autoCraCy places him
9mewhat in tho light Of a savior of
lhee people
Welcomed by Children
The little children, running to meet
% as We walk along the streets, say
good morning in perfect English,
hnough II may be afternoon or eve
ing, and then take our hands aud
kak along with us in silence, ap-
nrently considering it high honor to
y permitted to do so. ON all sides
YES Americaines' is heard and we are
ueated with the utmost Cordiality,
NE brothers working for a common
0use."
Speaking Of the abundance of mud
over here," the writer says:
There is mud everywhere, on all
hoes OF US and sometimes even we
Pash II as high as our heads, for il
ass IN great velvety sheets. like a mix
s OF glue and powdered whito