Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-29

DANES in my history book back in 'Eri1S s
tight bodices, wide skirts and wooGo4s
shoes The little girls were pocket editio0
Of their mothers and big sisters.
' A, csiorfuI Reception
=. The men were attired in velveteen cDttA
corduroy trousers and sabots The whcle
scene put me In mind Of grand opere I
mad once attended in Frisco.
The populace, so to speak. went Wild - y
we slipped through the locks our band play-
ing alternately the star Spaneled Bannefy
and the "Marseillaise." VII
Men ripped their gaudy scarfs from tle1r
waists and waved them franticaily vouso9
and girls fiuttered their handkerchief. ~
American and French flags were in evioeNqe
everywhere. 4.
:. We could easily gather by the acti6A4 - 4
these good people that we were the nlgxA
things they had looked upon for long titn a
There was something pathetic and chll4ieW
about their Joy. Many Of them sobbed l!ks
children. they felt so glad to see us Yansks.
and did not blame them when thouGht o.
what they had been through the last three
years. fyss
Sons, brothers and fathers from this ciey
had died by the thousand on the front line,
along with other loyal Frenchmen In the
coming Of the Americans these poor folnn-
saw hope and prospect Of turning Of the
tide against the invading boche.
slimpsed the depth Of their welcome, sWe
couldn't understand a single syllable Of the
Jargon they tossed to U.S. but we took Il TOR
granted that II was all complimentary and
consoled them with good old United States.
Take heart, you folks. for we're going 10
paste hell out Of the boches." yelled an artil-
leryman ,.s- IN
',"Uncle Sam is on the job now." cried an-
other Yank.
We docked that night. but were not alloved
Ia 90 aeIA n.,kA H. - a.
ternined that we should feel the welcome Of
France. even though we were penned up
aboard ship. They swamped us with baskets
Of fruit and bouquets of flowers. Soon the
old transport looked like florist shop. and
We consumed fruit until we were threatened
with collie
The Yankee spirit of exploration and ad-
venture got the best of some Of the boys that
night, and they slid down ropes to the dock.
Some Of them were grabbed by the marine
sentries and returned to the ship. but most Of
them penetrated into the city, returning be-
fore morning and bringing glowing reports ofr
the hospitality Of the French
Great place, this France" said one of tho
| night providers, little tlficilly upon his re-
| turn. Folks In this burg wouldn't let ND
| pay for blamed thing; never saw 50 much
wine in my life 1t must rain booze in these
parts"
The Landing
| We landed the following day. August ~,
1917. and shall never forget the event. a.
| this same port. the first detachment OF Cen
| eral Pershing's forces put in nearly. two
| months previous. on June. &c. 1917, and they
were received like a lot of gods. But the
| novelty of seeing Americans had not yet worn
| of, and the inhabitants Of the port gavssls
quite rousing reception as they did ths
irst arrivals ~. ,.s-~ ., s q
| 1t was a clear, beautiful morning ag ews,
| marched down the gangpanks. singing the
| "Marseillaise" with ardor that As4fIy
| prostrated Uncle Sammy" our chaplain,
with pride and joy. - Z.
| we'll say. those Trenches fairly mobtsd
Shouting "Vive fAmerique." they made
for us as II we were something good To- go
| The first thing knew. ymiddls-a0edi
| woman in peasant costume had swung hor
| arms around my neck and was kissing ne
| first OH one cheek and then another. A4y.
! body would have thought I was q lonGHleb4
| son. tried to pry her loose but she nd T.
grip like iron. and had to grin and hsaf11t
| until she let go. 49,. set
! But the thing was not over by any 'msaaC
| It now developed into matter OF -tAllE
turns. No sooner had the elderly wonf
i let 90 my neck, when another pair of aHN
hopped around my collar, and started III
run. but changed my mind when I sotl
| good look. +'~'-I
| And you would have changed your mi
too. II you had been in my place. The p1
tiest girl in France had annexed hersetf(I
| my neck. Myeyes told me that there could
| be a prettier girl in France than she9w
Her hair was as black as crows wtng;l
eyes were big and brown. and her rid 4
| pouted up at me invitingly. ..S.,
I am an American and do things In hur
! I gave her a smack that must have b.
| heard at the Battery In New York. -
| blushed and then kissed me on both chee
and let 20. And I am frank to say Iaw
sorry to see her go.
Frenchy- looking chap with a goatee and ,eye-
glasses He had his lips pursed up liks ~
Interrogation point and he was making ~
me, full steam up. blocked his approeen
with a twist Of my elbow. for l. suspected ~
Nothing doing, Frenchy." said. 'sovaf
where we como from. men don't kiss eaea
He He evidently didn't understand and sttise
to sneak in under my guard but Ahed1So
FIST warningly in his face. = n . y
Lay or" yelled. "or I'll soak you oIl&s'
He saw meant business and sDsndesse
OF course I knew it was the custous2 a
everybody in France to kiss. but ma6e W
my mind not to get used to- mon txlgtoAG
each other on the cheek VI. e
That night we slept in an open nSld -
our blankets. II was bully to feel ed3t1
ground once more and know that we wero
siose to the hghting zone 80.
We remained there week. stretchine ~
legs and resting from our voyege. ~
course we were impatient at the delay ~
| ,re wanted to beat 1t to the front iJqgQo-
diately and take hand in the big acrep.ff
| ON 10 6ofrDcka s, f--lft1
| : We were elated at the end Of the sW6n&
lsvben we were loaded into funny litties -
csrss which were about half the size ~ NJ
American brand. We Were packed % ti1lH@
that we barely had standing room an@ ~
~. shoye and squirm before we could ~
snace big enough to sit down. NeSertAel1A
we were in high spirits and were gla4 ~ ,!
on the move. - IL '1.-....
doors, and was lucky enough to VIM s
IN the open several times. Our chew e1<{ =.
trip consisted Of corn beef; tonaatss
hardtack and at some Of the statjfHX
The route we received handouts Of skil1
hot coffee. ~ :. -. 4. q
try. dotted with towns ana WIleSes e.
were at the front doing their bit asesa9
Fsnn. The work on the farms w9e
done mostly by oid. men. women 49,
dTen. : The Inhabitants gathered - +
station to see us pass through RI 2<s
| After travelling for three days -