The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-10-29
INTERESTING LETTER FROM
SERGEANT HAL K0HN.
9-11-18.
Somewhere in France

Coming down or over here as tae
case may be, we rode in cattle cars.
Had a long journey, in miles and
hours. But as the crow flies our trip
would seem rather out of the way.
But such is the way Of the war de-.
partment and it is all we'll worked
out plan. BY motor the distance we
came is covered in 8 to 5 hours. Many
large coast towns were skirted. I am
so sorry that can't mention them: I
passed the town where first my feet
landed on French soil The small car
boxes were loaded beyond their ca
pacity and the journey was drain
of ones strength have told about
the near big accident so, I'll leave the
train trip and take you into France
and to our village.
We got off the train about p. m.
and marched away at 8, being hours
coming from station here The roads,
were fine tho and We all stood the
! trip fine, the march part of it, at least.
/ Trees cast a helpful shade at many
places and a gentle breeze gave COM
fort. It was hot tho that day.
We turned off the main road, crossed
stream and made few more turns
and our billets were reached right up
in the very heart of the little village.
The village, only a dozen houses,
form a sort of huge court, ali nesting
close to the church. The rush Of the
stream is heard in the village, as it
passes over the dam and skirts the
narrow confines Of the town, making
the night when all noises are hushed
be filed with exquisite music. that Of
running, rushing. leaping water. Two
1ittle shops, wine, beer, coffee, bread
and all the. few stores which they can
procure. All else consists Of huge
building, long in shape. This forms
the wall of the fire house, the chateau,
which, sits inside beautiful garden.
The long house forms barn, out-houses
and the lower portion is occupied by
the miller and his mills are turned ny
those same rushing waters by day
All day long he is grinding and high
carts come and go, bringing their load
OF grain, leaving with great bags OF
wholesome flour. The miller comes
to the door and one is reminded of the
little verse about dusty miller" and
so he is
The chateau is very fine, being set
near lake, an artificial stream IS
bridged near the door and trees and
bushes grow in profusion on its edges,
The grounds about the place are well
kept. Mounds and well ARRANGED plots
5of blooming flowers give this home
an air of gentility. In peace time how
much more beautiful this place must
have been.
Where I have room is at one end
Of the miller's building, the far side
from the stream look out into the
SQUARE. into the churchyard.
These people are refugees from
Arras, Monsieur is Instructor in the
school and this home must belong TO-
the village, for built onto the house
is the school room and to this place
each morning the children come. The
madame is very kind but neither she
nor the gentleman speaks English,
however. a boy of IS, Jean, does fairly
well. He told me that he attended col
: lege at st. Poland, had an English
course. by here I might explain not
manv English have been and we are
the End lot of Americans, so the people
have had no chance to 'pick up" our
language.
The boy, Jean, reported on yester-
day for registration and examination
The class of 1918 was called up, those
born in 1900, and he was one. The
spirit of their registration must denote
the heart of France, for on these reg
isering days school closes and child
rem march about waving the tri-color
Of their beloved France. The boys,
too, who are accepted are proud and
little Qetters) figures of gold are worn
giving their number. They report fer
training in turn. according to number
jeans is 11S, but the American spirit
about drafts has been fine. We are
people, tho of different nature from
the fervent demonstrative, patriotic
French Our hearts and desires, I'm
sure are the same. all following the