Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-04-03
tBy5E. II. Toetesin, s,ans correspoSid
ehts0f Grand FnTEs Hcfaldl Z

The major. (who back home was
~ district court Ijudge) met the
Aergeanta.fwho. back home was n
newspaper ms and. had helped elect
the judged ut was their first meeting
in uniform and on this side OF the
ocean. There were hundreds OF
things to talk over. Both knew thingss
from home. Then there was a cap
tain, who back homo was q banker;
and q lieutenant, who was atsscollege
Eclas6mate and . corporal.
The judge suggested a party away
from, the ken of things military and
the sergeant made the arrartsements.
Il was one Of the most bizarre affairs
ever held In France. A major, afcap-
tain. adieutenant, a sergeant, a khak
straight flush. which is an unusual
hand. For you see>in thesinilltaEy SET
land men shall MOI be intimate. Stall
this was between old friends.
Z wonder whether you can picture
the kind Of a place ~ had az q ban
IQuet hall. But first let me describe
this town. 1t is old. as old as civiliza-
ltion in this part of France and ite
population may be estimated from 76o
Ito 1900, you never can tell.
f. Some old Franc OF the middle ages
Iprobahly laid out the village and
there lis evidence. that he was in his
|cups. or, had had too intimate knowl-
,edSesof the drege OF the wassail bowl,
lor! whatever it may have been that
itney called the cup that cheers. for
lthose in that old song they run up
Ihill and down" and the corners are
many and the turns surprising. Five
main stems stragkle out from a CEN
trail square. 1t. Is called q square by
lcourtGsy because that is what 1t most
reAer1bles rs compared to an Ameri-
lean towns properties.
This square boasts a fountain with
"a basin thirty feet acr6ss which, III
1.-The early days of the American oce'l
Ipancy and BECAUSE Of the var had
become thu. last resting place Of 8
dead, cat. ashes from an hundred
collection Of a winter.
The buildings are of stone for the
Inlost part. in~terbcaf,ed in he ole
Norman fashion, A few Of the more
p~retentious structures have Il facina
bf terra Gotta. All show the marks
OF age. And all ere equipped with
heavy shutters which are put up each
evening when dusk begins to give
warming Of the night and darkness
V0Glllf -"1Ill SAof boSSADAS .ASsS
lpiane visitation. The shutters are. te
conceal the light. Stores and houses
are piled in together in an indistrim'
ihate manne while too.s one finds
livery barns and stables and garage:
all facing the street intefthirgled.
On one OF these narrow alley-ttke
highways the fronts Of h buildingt
are solidiy connected. One comes t
Ia big. arched door and enters the out.
around the old fashioned hayrack and
~smothering an exclamation as in the
Ihalf light you nearly step on4a rabbit
you come to a narrow staircase at the
rear Of the court Of a stable. Straight
ahead Is i stable. a rabbit warren
chicken coop. root cellar. and a small
struggling garden where d few greens
and garlic may be srow-n in the feeple
spot of sunlight.
Lover this stable. A knock and the
door Is opened.
Bon Jour NJ. -AmericAine' you ar
greeted. -. s
"Bon jour mademoiselle."
And the Fluctuations over you par
ley, she and Mamma Carlut in theil
polyslot French-Engllsh and sou II
tyour slightly worse .EnElish-French
But you make cher Understand tina,
fM~adenio:seiie oarlut prepare at &
to'ciock. q dinner. for which YOU viii
bring ,the ingredients ,"Oh opi. yes
our. happee to serve&M. Americaine
but monsieur must bring bread too
they say.
Then down to Madame Hairychin
That is what the boys call her a
least, she is a butcher and Il good one
and o persuade her to se.iyou SOM
meat. veal steak. 9
"Co1nb;en j. veau ahd-a-lot-morc,
ing to exhibit your ignorance of thu
French system how weights ant
measures hold out Is francs.
The half dozen French women wait
ing. market basket on arm, for you
business to be! concluded laugh ant
litter good %naturedly and you ,catcl
mention of lie petit Americaine" ant
YOU know you have made "a Eau,
pas" Of some kind. Madame Hairy.
aston "shinE and astounding growth o
whiskers where a man would raise 1
goatse, weighs and weighs and cut
and cuts, and finally delivers %yo,
about six pounds of meat.
The major, the captain, the leu
tenant. the corporal and YOU meet b,
appointments You merely said "Fol
low me. E1r.n and very bT1skly lead tn,
way until you come to the big doc
which opens admits the party ant
closes out all outside influences sucl
las army etiquette. - "
Earle. you said this was an fun
usual place." says the major.
"vrhat's all right, Jim. just wait i'm
til you climb upstairs and see thu
family and ALL" YOU hurl back at thu
judge. a. 10y .'
You are greeted at the head Of tn.
stairs in the tiny hallway by, MADAME
ICarlut.' "Oh--IA! Messiers plus "a
less!sshe exc.aims. ~ 81.
But hospitality will not brook youa
Elekving rand looming later. The part,
is ushered into: the n room which
1seryes rs parlor. livinE-room, kitchen
bedroom for mamma and per-
daughter and son Zach have a room
Overlooking the street, chairs arr
IL - = 49,. ~ 2 H->.