The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1918-08-30
WOMEN NOW Do.
ALMOST ALL THE
WORK IN FRANCE
SAYS FAWCETT
Some Few Old Men Mingle
With Them In The
Fields
CELEBRATE JULY 4TH
In HANDSOME STYLE
Fawcett Also Describes The
Soldiers And Towns
OF France


W. C. Fawcett of Danville, ]. Clinton
Fawcett on board the U. S. A. G. It.
Monticello as Quartermasters' agent,
interestingly describes things over
there as he sees them. The letter fol-
lows:
U. s. A. G.. r.. "Monticello"
Somewhere in France, July Z, 1918.
Dear Mother:
Well, once again we fooled old Fritz
and arrived safe in France although I
must say we had some real exciting
experiences on our trip across this
time, the details OF which l cannot re-
late in this letter TOne ship only in
our convoy was sunk, however, and
that within 800 yards of our ship.
don't mind saying was just the least
bit excited, but guess excitement was
what was needed to relieve the monot-
ony of ship life.
The port at which we landed is one
of the oldest cities in France, and Is
indeed very historical center. The
architecture is very interesting, con.
sisting principally Of arcades and tow
ers. Was inside one of the oldest Cath.
olic churches in France the other day.
The paintings and various religious
decorations were indeed beautiful.
There are also some very beautiful
villas around this place. 1t seems the
French people like seclusion, as each
villa is hemmed in by a stone wall
about eight feet high, and peering
through the large iron gate at the en-
trance, one can see the most beautiful
lay out of shrubbery and flowers i'm
aginable.
The French soldiers are very in
teresting lot, especially their mode Of
uniform 1t would seem as II each reg.
iment had different uniform, each
company in that regiment distin-
gushing emblem, and each man in
that company a different insignia, as
don't believe have seen two French
soldiers with the same uniform and in
sigma. The French officers are very
much decorated up, their colors being
principally light blue coat, bright red
trousers with black stripes down each
pantaloOn and red or black cap al
most covered with gold braid. The
French officers have large club
house in the center of the town, to
which all Americans are welcomed, so
| drop in there for a few minutes ev-
cry time | go up town.
The women are doing practically all
the manual labor in France. They are
now harvesting their wheat and going
women, and a few old men, out in the
fields with their scythes cutting and
gathering in the grain. My, how
would like to get in there with a good
Keeper and help them out. | can real
iZe now how we used to do our Nhar-
vesting in the States some fifty years
ago.
The Fourth of July over here was
observed in great style, by both the
French and American soldiers. The
city was decorated with flags, the
Stars and Stripes mingling with the
red white and blue bars of France
signifyng the great friendship now ex
listing between the two countries. All
the ships in the harbor were also dec
Grated with flags from bow to stern
and were certainly beautiful sight
Well, mother, there is but one thing
uppermost In my mind now, and that
is an opportunity of getting home to
see all of you on my return to the
States. or course, 1t Is impossible fol
me to say when that will be, but YOU
can rest assured, am going to make
one big effort to get at least five
day leave. and say, won't old Ohio
look good to me then? / guess when
do get there | will never want t.
leave, but until poly guerre" 1t is VI
to some of us to help transport oul
boys, as well as supplies to this side
even If old Fritz is securing the brin!
deep awaiting beneath the surface Il
send out his death charge to the un
warned and unprotected. which is on
ly one of the many cowardly and un
human tactics pursued by the Ger
mans in their vain attempt to conque
the world.
With lots Of love to all, as ever.
j. CLINTON FAWCETT,
Quartermaster Agent
u. s. A. G. T. Monticello.