The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-04-04
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NY - 80 1850
Somewhere in France. March 10, 1918
The major. (who back home" was
district court judge) met the
sergeant (who back home was q
newspaper man and had helped elect
the iudge.) 1t was their first meeting
in uniform and on this side OF the
ocean. There were hundreds OF
things to talk over. Both knew things
the other did not in the line or news
from home. Then there was a cap
tain. who back home was a banker;
and a lieutenant. who was a college
classmate, and a corporal.
The Judge suggested a party away
from the ken Of thinks military and
the sergeant made the arrangements
It was one OF the most bizarre af-
fairs ever held in France. A major
a captain, a lieutenant, a sergeant, a
khaki straight flush. which is an un-
usual hand. For YOU see In the mile
tary set this season the rules are
that oficers and men shall not be
intimate. Still this was between old
friends.
Wonderful French Town.
I wonder whether YOU can picture
the kind of place we had as ban
quet hall. But first let me describe
this town. 1t is old. as old as civiliza-
ton in this part Of France and its
population may be estimated from
$50 to $500, YOU never can tell
Some old Franc Of the middle ages
probably laid out the villages and
there is evidence that he was in his
cups or had had too intimate knowl-
edge OF the drsge Of the wassail bowl,
or whatever 1t may have been that
they called the cup that cheers, for
the streets are crazy affairs. Just
like those in that old song they run
up hill and down" and the corners
are many and the turns surprising.
Five main stems straggle out from a
central square. 1t is called a square
by courtesy because that Is what it
most resembles as compared to an
American towns properties.
This square boasts a fountain with
basin thirty feet across which, in
the early days Of the American oc-
cupancy and because OF the war, had
become the last resting place of a
dead cat, ashes from hundred
stoves. tins and cans. all the job lot
collection Of winter.
Remarkable TanaIs.
The buildings are Of stone for the
Norman fashion. A few OF the more
pretentious structures have a facing
of terra Gotta. All show the marks
OF age. And all are equipped with
heavy shutters which are put up each
evening when dusk begins to give
warning Of the night and darkness
approaching with it's possible aero
plane visitation. The shutters are to
conceal the light. Stores and houses
are piled in together in an indis-
criminate manner, while too, one
finds livery barns and stables and
garages all facing the street inter-
mingled.
On one OF these narrow alley-like
highways the fronts Of the buildings
are solidly connected. One comes to
q. big srched door and enters the out
er court OF a stable. Stumbling
around the old fashioned hayrick and
smothering an exclamation as in the
half light you nearly step on a rabbit
you came to a narrow staircase at
the rear Of the court Of a stable.
Straight ahead is g. stable. a rabbit
warren, a chicken coop. root cellar,
and a small struggling garden where
q few greens and garlic may be
grown in the feeble spot Of sun
light
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over this stable. A knock and the
door Is opened.
Bon jour M. Americana" you are
greeted.
Bon jour mademoiselle."
The Arrangement.
And the Fluctuations over you parley,
she and Mamma Carlut in their
polyglot French English and you in
your slightly worse English French.
But YOU make her understand that
YOU would like to have Mamma and
Mademoiselle Carlut prepare at 6
o'clock, a dinner for which you will
bring the ingredients. ooh oui, yes,
our, happee to serve M. Americana,
but monsieur must bring bread too"
they say.
Then down to Madame Hairychin.
That is what the boys call her at
least. She is q butcher and a good
one, and You persuade her to sell you
some meat. veal steak.
"Combien veau and-a-Iot-more-
French" she asks, and YOU not want
ing to exhibit your ignorance OF the
French system of weights and
measures hold out Is francs.
The half dozen French women
waiting. market basket on arm, for
your business to be concluded laugh
and litter good-naturedly and you
catch mention off"le petit Americana"
and you know YOU have made a faux
pas" OF some kind. Madame Hairy
chin. who gets her name from a most
astonishing and astounding growth
OF whiskers where a man would raise
a goatee, weighs and weighs and