Weekly journal-miner., 1918-07-10
.SERGT. NILSSON WRITES FROM
 OVER THERE"
P R E SCOTT SOLDIER IS ENJOYING LIFE IN SUM NY FRANCE AND TELLS OLD LAW PARTNER OF HIS EXPERIENCES.
(From Thursdays Daily)


 and from some unmentioned spot in France, Sergeant Major George Nil sson has the following to say to Le- i Roy Anderson:
 Last Thursday was Decoration Day. All work possible was suspen- ded and we had holiday In the morning We had some very simple | but impressive exercises at the American cemetery near this town. i 1t is located in beautiful valley The French cemetery is surrounded i by a stone wall and is an old fash toned "churchyard' with the church situated in the middle of it.
 For some weeks past we have been having beautiful weather and Dec oration Day was more beautiful, if possible. At 9:30 most of the men fell into line and marched down the hillside lead by the band of about ] 50 pieces. As I was not in forma- ton I took a shortcut down the hillside and watched the men march down. As they approached the cem- etery the bell in the old French | church began to toll and continued to do so until the men were all lined iup and the band had taken its posi- ton. There was also quite a gath cring of French and American offi- ccrs. A prayer was offered, there was short talk, one company fired three volleys in salute and 10 bug lers slowly played Taps. The band then played "The Star Spangled Ban ner" and "The Marseillaise" and the men marched back.
 The setting was wonderful down in the valley among the trees with the vcrdurc clad hills surrounding us, and all peace. quiet and beautiful. It hardly seemed possible that war was raging only short distance away. Decoration Day had some real mean ing this year for us, and l have no doubt that it was very impressive in the United States as well, bringing more forcibly to the minds of everyone the necessity of putting every shoulder to the wheel and mak- ing every effort to have this aw-I ful task done right and done as ex-' pcditiously as possible.
 Some evenings ago I chanced toI go to a French moving picture show. | saw a soldier up in the gallery star ing down at me and finally he cal led down and asked if l remembered him. It turned out that he attended Northwes tern University Law School at the same time l did, grad uating one year later. Sunday noon we had dinner together and then went out for a long walk in the country. We took the walk along the river. There is path on each side of the river and along the paths are rows of trees, making it cool, shady and entirely delightful. All along soldiers were lying in the shade reading or sleeping. The af- ternoon was warm but a cooling breeze made it very pleasant. As we walked along another soldier stop ! ped us and it turned out that he too had attended the \. w. U. Law | School for a year while we were there. He was here only for few days. It seems strange that so many i thousands of miles from home we should meet again.
 Our barracks are situated in what was formerly a garden. It IS sur rounded by high stone wall--a uni versal sight in France. The com- pany street runs straight down from the gate with our barracks on both sides of the street, which is paved with cinders and kept brushed clean every day. At the end of the street we have a little flower garden with pathways, rustic benches and flower beds made in the form of stars, dia monds, hearts, clover, etc. We have a lot of pansics blooming just now. In another corner of the enclosure we have vegetables growing.
 We are using the daylight saving plan too, and although it is now 900 D. m. can still see to write. In fact it is twilight at 10:30, that being the hour l usually go to bed. I suppose that IS because we are so far north. I understand northern France is about 500 miles farther north than i Chicago. 1
 Our Y. NJ. C. A. hut is very good. There is something doing every ( night. Religious services twice on , Sunday and on Wednesday night. t Band concert and movies two nights [ a week. tonight entertainment by f local talent, concerts every little { while by regular concert troops, and ( talks by speakers of national reputa- ton. The other night saw Douglas Fairbanks in American Aristoc- racv" -