The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-10-01
McDEVITT ENJOYING
REST AFTER BIG FIGHT
Describes Quaint French VIII
lage Where He Is Now
Stationed

tGiNtu ilOiII I1uIOlu mClJttlll, WIO Is
now serving with the American Ex.
petlitionary Forces in France.
Judging by the regularity of the
postofiice department in handling
soldiers mail, feel confident that you
inhst have received letter from me
telling you that | survived the big
drive In No. ! shape.
We are now located in our rest
camp far back of the lines where we
do not as much as hear Q rife shot
unless 1t be In practice. You can i'm.
agine how much we enjoy the peace
and calm which pervade this quaint
French village. The troops are quar-
tered in barracks just outside the vii
flage and we have our aid station in
Pthe village proper. We are living in
a real house for the first time in
months. The place has no furniture.
of course, but we have moved IN some
bnnks formerly used by the French
soldiers and have made our beds up
on them.
The place is clean and isolated
from the main body of the troops.
Thus we get n degree os privacy here
tofore rarely possible, The house we
are living in has recently passed its
400th anniversary. The date marked
on the fireplace is 1917. Indeed it
would be considered quite Il land
mark in America, but in this country
it is still in the bloom of youth. do
not know the details of French his
tory we'll enough to be able to say
whether this part of France is of
special historic interest or not, but
undoubtedly the hills and valleys
hereabout, and even the house where
we are staying could tell some thrill.
ing tales could they but speak. Our
village is situated at the very foot of
a large hill which almost reaches the
proportions Of a mountain. walked
to the top of it last night and was
able to get one of the most wonderful
visions ] ever saw. We could look
for miles up three distinct valleys in
as many different directions. At the
foot of the mountain. just opposite
our own side, is another village, and
here. is. located another. battalion OF
our regiment. You remember Bill
Shaw? Well, he is down there in
that village. | see him often and he
is the same sterling fellow, an inspi.
ration TO all whom he comes into con.
tact.
But | didn't tell you what saw on
the hill There are the ruins of an
ancient city. You have read of the
castles of the middle ages-the feudal
times-the days of knights and chiv-
airy. A feudal lord once lived there
in the days before France could call
herself a nation. 1t was an ideal place
for stronghold and even today
would be considered a strong military
position, were the war being waged
in this part of the country. But only
ruins are to be seen there now. They
give silent testimony of an age that is
centuries past.
How beautiful is France! Yet how
different are the scenes here from
those we beheld but two weeks ago.
France is like garden. | stood on
the summit of that mountain and l
saw nothing that was not beautiful,
God had moulded the general con.
tour of the landscape and the French
people, with their fine sentiment and
inherent capacity for appreciation
of the beautiful, had taken advantage
of the natural setting and created a
great park out. of it. These are not
characteristics peculiar to this vicin.
fly 1t is true of practically every
neighbOrhood ! have seen in France
with exception of the chalk desert in
Champagne. ! stood there on that
commanding height and almost felt
constrained TO take off my hat in pro
found reverence. remarked to Ser
SedHJ IeIeTS, WHO WAS linking tHe
trip with me, that no man with any
imagination or character at all could
look upon the grandeur of the sight
without being better man for 1t. II
| took us away from the sordid things
of everyday life and brought us in di
rect communication with nature and
with God. But ! must reserve further
description until some other time.
I am thinking of you, my dear par
ents, now. though of you as stood
upon the hill. thanked Providence
that you had made my life possible.
was glad that | had inherited quail
ties from you which made it possible
for me to get strength for the life
which | am living, rather than to be
come embittered because | must bt
torn away from home. ! get some new
Worthwhile experiences every da,
and | long to have you know that
| ON hanny I nppd but to know tho