The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1918-03-15

clouds permitted it to peep through
upon us; dark stretches of rich, new
turned soil, bounded by bright spots of
green and clumps of trees marking in
varied colors the easy slOping hill
sides: every little way moss-covered,
thatched stone house and barn, all in
one, under long steep roof, peeped
out from among its little grove of
trees. Being Sunday everything was
still and peaceful, so peaceful that
war seemed more remote than ever.
Hardly any one ventured abroad. In
fact we were passed by only half a
dozen people outside the villages in
the entire afternoon and evening. First
an automobile, rarest of sights, then
young man (probably on furlough)
riding a bicycle. next boy on wheel
then two peasant women in a one
horse (such little, grey bit of a
horse,) two-wheeled, awkward cart
without springs. But | cannot put the
picture into words. II you will take up
copy of the Geographic devoted to
France you will see pictures typical of
that have tried to described.
It has been several days since
wrote you and during the interval,
when not at work, have been filling
my eyes with the wonderful sights of
this beautiful and interesting country.
In previous letters l told you someth-
ing of the appearance of the little
villages and the intensively cultivated
land. l wish it were in my power to
describe other pictures. Old churches,
hundreds of years old. are common
here, but not so common to us but
they excite our keenest interest. We
have seen many of them of late. and
in a few have found splendid works
of art. In addition we have visited and
the old fuedal castles of the landlords
of bygone times. These as a rule are
built on promontoires, places of easy
defense, and clustered below them is
the village where tenants and serfs
first gathered for protection and to
render quick response to the call Of
my lord. One of these old castles,
built seven or eight hundred years ago,
still retains much of it's original char
acter and appearance, with high walls
and donjOn towers, great arches and
a wonderful grand stairway" of stone.
From the promenade on top of the
high walled garden l had the rare
pleasure of looking out over the valley
that is commanded by the old fort
ress on a brilliant moonlight night,
and a more enhancing scene never
before unfolded itself before me. The
steep pitched roofs of the oddly hud-
died houses of the town were grouped
! about the foot of the cliff directly un-
der us, while a light mist filled the
valley and groups of trees, like float
ing islands, extended above the mist
here and there. The old broken walls
were particularly beautiful in the soft
light and deep shadows of the night.
A couple of days ago it was my for
tune to see portion of the interior of
of which was built, so I am informed,
about 14O0 years ago. The glimpse OF
the interior that l had was profoundly
interesting. Rare treasures of art and
| rare features of architecture, includ-
ing splendid oil paintings of members
] of the titled family who owned the
1 estate and had occupied the old place
some ancient Grecian sculpture, and a
wonderful stair case that beckoned
one to explore the mysteries of the
great rambling place.
So many similar interesting things
have been given me to see that each
day has been full of genuine pleasure
Whenever ! can find bit of time
take a walk about this romantic and
lovely country. The weather at this
season reminds me of nothing so much
as our finest Indian summer days. The
nights are crisp and frosty, and the