The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1918-03-11
Bereaved Women Behind Lines in France
Doing Work of Men Enthusiastically

[Cn EIllIll
I she had not one serious thought
We became quite well acquainted
with her She showed uA picture
OF her three little children. Beau.
| tirui childronl She showed uH "A doll
which SHE WIS dressing. In her odd
moments. for one Of them who was
Ia hnv. "A birthday soon. She was
especially Joyous about "A little silk
| handbag she was knitting for the
doll
Something was said Just then
concerning the war. We have
never seen more startling
/ change In u eountrnance. A
glare dropped over the sparkle
of her eyes, and hey seemed
| numbiy staring nj some faroff
terrible thing: her face paled
Into gray. her lips became blue.
] aud her voice. a voice ordinarily
fun Of yivasity. dropped 10 that
dull. even. coioriess monotone
/ In which all French tragedy u
expressed
She spoke rapidly ana scarcely
above whisper oh the misery.
the endless misery. the depthlesH
misery Of this dreadful war. which
has caused millions Of hearts 90 turn
10 the ashes Of mourning thru all
! lie to comet
And u WAS blessing Of ia. good
God that one might smile with the
face Tor others. tho the heart was
dead
Win that came the smile again.
FOR that was her duty In life. to
smile for others
Thi. woman had not one male
relative left, She has given
much 10 France. yet She adds
tb. Eift 81 half her income.
orc woman We know. whose only
business. four years ago. waz to be
beautiful rose Ia the garden OF
luxury. now devotea her entire time
ana her entire means 90 running
shops. without profit. where sewing
girls are employed
Docs Her Share
And her purposes are two fold
first. 20 provide living for those
girls and their families. and second.
10 keep alive. In France. the arts Of
embroidery. lace making and fine
sewing.
That's her aharc In the war. and
II has given her new beauty
our little friend Jcanette's share
IL. living In the country with her
mother. she's a roly poly little lady
We have known for some years.
designer In a millinery shop. and We
always considered her Hnnppliy
gownsd young person.
When We saw her this time hhs
was cut in the mode. but there was
something wrong with the snap
How jeanette did laugh nv ahr con
fcMhed that aha had b-rn made over
every rraRon since the war began
until noN she couldn't find a place
70 put - fresh seam. 40 the war
must end quickly
BusinesHg There Isn't much in
their ntjio shops. only now and then
Other times. and when her money
is all gone. she goes out into the
country and lives with her mother
which IL grcat joke indeed. be
cause sha never LIKED tho country
OF course. Jeanette could set
work In other shops. or in tn. s,cno
Rra phic place. or even I'm the fac.
tories ~tsre no many Of them hav.
gone. tut she doesn't feel that she
has the riEhi TO take away the
money from girls who have no
mothers In the ooultry.
Living j. cheap out there;
COW. y few chickens. and = gar.
den. do the trick: and every
woman who can manage II LIVES
In the country, 40 that those
who can't manage u may have
the places Ia tho city: and nearly
everybody like Jsan~ttr makes
over dresses. for France,
She's very ,imid little thing. IL
jeanette. can't sleep without light
she showed us a katie. Of which she
ia afraid. u gives her a Hhuddcr 20
touch g..
It's a murderous looking weapon.
bright and shining and new. Just
new.
A young German soldier came
over tho top at her brother In law
with that knife between his teeth
but he never got TO use H.
II would halt your breath for
startled instant TO see this young
woman make that statement
She tells IL very simply indeed all
she Gays IL that the Tochc never had
an opportunity to use u. but the
grim laugh which accompanies that
extremely simple statement In a rev.
citation ia dlabollc satisfaction.
You sec. Jeanette has lost her
only brother and two cousins IN
the war.
They are usually very quiet. these
French women. and do not wear
their emotions on their sleeves. but
when she aays that II Paris were
mcnaced she would go out on the
front line with that knife. and &C.
count for at least on. Bochc. YOU
do not reed to look AT her attractive
face to know that she means Il. All
you need II the appalling monotony
OF her voice. Sometimes 1t takes
more courage TO smile than TO
suffer.
Army Of Bcrcavcd Women
Think OF ~ A vast army of be.
rcavcd women, millions OF them.
every one from the highest TO the
lowest Going something with all her
strength TO help win the war. bear.
ing their burdens Of grief with
courage so sublime that they can
still smilcl
Small wonder that all who are
privileged TO know her should glo.
rify the courage and the sweetness
Min RITnon Al ma