Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-06-17
DR.. DONEY WRITES
Confined from page one)

tneul. ndu miSluuSeu tne SQluler. IN
reference to addresses, supposed he
would want them short and humorous.
Now l speak for nearly an hour and
make the speech as thoughtful as /
can. The soldier wants to know why he
is here and what is to come of it ali.
A bit tired tonight, feel like ramb-
ling in the letter, if you do not mind.
Monday afternoon went out about fit
teen miles over perfect highway,
bordered by tall trees, through eoun-
| try bewitehingly beautiful. At the end
of the journey l found a host of north
west men and some of our own boys
who have just been called in-Randall,
MintOn, Jones, Rowland, Its. Alvord
and Spaulding, some former William
cite men and others known back home.
The meeting was held in the city
square with the regimental band as
an attraction. We were 0regonians and
to make us feel fully comfortable it
rained. Perched on a box, l declaimed
for an hour and the "0regon mist !"
was so pleasing to the people that they
remained. The colonel, however, wore
a raincoat, fact that he win probab-
Ily have to- explain. But since he sent
| me back TO town in his car the next
day, after real Oregon dinner, can
not introduce the charges.
Last evening | had dinner with 1t.
Wallace and his fellow officers. Ii is
an unmixed ioy to be with this royal
soul and an added pleasure to send to
Won his tender greetings. An hour re-
mained before the lecture, we went to
see "tthe Virginn noteworthy monu-
ment near his village. The road winds
for some distance along the bottom
and side of a hill which is honey comb
ed with caves that are used for grow
ing mushrooms. large quantities of
which are here produced. One cave had
been serving as the guard house, but
a portion of the roof had lust fallen
and the ten prisoners were being
guarded outside until instructions as
to their disposition were received. On
the TOP of the hill stancs a statue of
the Virgin Mary ten feet high resting
on a pedestal eight feet above the
earth. The statue itself seems to be
partially of metal, is q really beautiful
work of art and represents the Virgin
with clasped hands in the attitude Of
prayer. Her face is strong yet tender,
with an expression that holds attention
No other monument or structure is
near; this stands alone in a tiny en-
closure of we'll trimmed hedge. In the
background is a forest, but from the
front and sides the statue looks over q
wonderful valley dotted with villages,
with a river like a line of silver in the
midst, The view extends for twenty
miles up and down the enchanting val
lev. a view which literally thrills you
with a kind Of exaltation. The Virgin
lis asked to be the guardian of the vii
lape at her feet and the valley of the
-, to pray for all Of the families
the VINEYARDS and the people there
abouts. The monument was erected in
1886 to the memory Of SO and So by
his widow.
To ME the conception is beautiful
land whatever one may think of miscon.
ceived devotion one must see in this
work something of faith and conf.
dence and trust and hope which is pro-
foundly touching.
! / have friend in town, most win
ming lad, happy and dirty always. He
is probably six years old, has ruddy
cheeks and the blackest of eyes. He
wears wooden shoes which clatter, d
black shirt which starts at his neck
and opens in the back. On his head,
set a bit to one side, is q cap peaked
lin front and behind. He will not talk
to me but whenever / pass he stands
at attention and salutcs. To do so he al
ways has been obliged quickly to pass
q piece Of bread from his right hand
to the left. AS | return the salute he
stands motionless with unblinking eye
with one check distended by a por-
ton of his interrupted meal. When l
stop beside him he either scurries off
or remains as motionless as marble, |
think he is Joking with me. / found
some stick candy, ed-striped, andr
prepared for him today. But before
finding him, two little girls (real lit
tie girls) took the candy from me. To-
morrow | shall hide from those little
girls (very young they are, too) and
wave striped candy before the tiny
poilu until he surrenders his tongue to
me.
/ have another friend, of that l am
certain. The old lady who constructs
the fat French bed in my room must
have seen the red candy. She leonfided
to me that she could not even get su-
gar. 1t was the war, the boche, "mal-
| 4. - ii ,,LoA l,roa ooFFao