The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-08-16
RECEPTION AT
WASHBURN FARM
Lieutenant and Bride Re-
ceive Congratulations
in Putney Home
FRANK p. SIBLEY
OF BOSTON SPEAKS


Capt. E. H Cooper, Official Photog-
rapher, Present as Surprise Feature
Reception Public.
A social event of more than ordinary
interest and Importance occurred at the
Washburn farm in Putney last eve
ming, when a public reception was
given to Lieut. Harold E. Washburn and
his bride, who recently returned from
France, where Lieut.. Washburn saw serv-
ice in the interpreters corps on the staff
of Mai Gen. Clarence r. Edwards at the
| headquarters of the Goth division. The
affair was arranged by Lieut.. Washburn's
mother, Mrs. Mary E. Washburn, who
as a surprise to her son and wife invited
as guest Frank 2. Sibley of the Boston
| Globe, who was war correspondent of
the Globe and sent highly valuable news
| stories concerning the men of New Eng
| land, who made up the 10Th division.
The coming of Mr.. Sibley was great
surprise to Lieut.. Washburn, and Mr.
| Il v
burn by arriving day ahead of the ex-
pected time and bringing with him Capt
| Edward IL. Cooper of Atlantic City, n
| j., whose home is in Wilmington. Del.
| Capt. Cooper was an official photogra-
| pher with the 26th division.
4 large number of guests were pres
ent, from Putney, Westminster. Brattle-
boro and other places, and they extended
cordial greetings to Lieut.. and Mrs.
Washburn, who were married in Paris
June Is. The bride is a refined and at
traetive French young woman, and it
was pleasure to all to- meet and talk
, with her and to welcome both her and
her husband They plan to go soon to
Hanover, \. H.. Lieut. Washburn having
been engaged as instructor in French at
Dartmouth college. Before her marriage
the bride was Mile. Simone Rodet
The grounds were illuminated with
Japanese lanterns, and i'll the house there
were decorations of flags and flowers
Punch and waters were served and there
was music by five-piece orchestra from
Brattleboro.
Soon after . o'clock, while most of the
guests were seated on settees on the
} lawn, Mrs. Washburn the hostess. pre-
sented Capt. Cooper as the first speaker
Capt. Cooper modestly refrained from
/. telling of his experiences, which were
among the most thrilling of the war. and
he spoke only very briefly, expressing his
pleasure at being present and telling OF
associations with Lieut.. Washburn in
France, referring especially to the fact
that he took Lieut. Washburn in a cal
to the hospital when that officer was il
: with mumps.
He introduced Mr.. Sibley, who related
some of Mr.. Cooper's accomplishments
. not only in the line of photography but
: also as a fighting man, having captured
, eight Germans single handed. In one o
: the advances, when the troops were il
hot combat Capt. Cooper ran ahead o
:, the advancing line, set up his movin.
u picture camera, aimed it back toward th,
Americans and made pictures of them al
. they came up.
At another time when the German
: Were shelling town near Seichepre,
: Capt. Cooper and his two assistant
u wanted to get pictures of the work o
'e destruction and went into a trench 90
yards from a church, knowing that tn
% Germans took special delight in demol
q ishing churches. The moving pietur
ie machine was set up and aimed at TIL
er church and Capt Cooper began grindin
re out film. Presently she'll struck tn
p church steeple and took chunk out Q
m it and soon another shell hit the build
re ing and blew the roof off, These view
Ia were recorded ON the film. Then she
n. struck not far from the trench and cave
IN it in, burying the camera and the mel
!" but not deep enough to prevent thel
pc from getting ont.
en- As for himself Mr.. Sibley explaine
ne that his work was different from that
I'D other correspondents, in that he was a
be taehed to single division He referre
or to the Goth as the best i'll the America
Expeditionary forces and as being high,
in quality, character and performane
1t was cited l3 times by the French, b,
only three times by the American con
4 mand The boys have come back change
he said. They have deep and qui
satisfaction in having served in the wa
;o- and are better citizens, but they do n
90 look down upon those who could not
re for good reasons did not go.
re, Mr.. Sibley reviewed the story of no
i'd he succeeded in becoming attached to Il
70 26th division 1t required little blu
Ter fing in Washington to secure his pas
IN ports, and after reaching France he W
To- kept in Paris five months before
yer finally was able to go with the diyisio
Had he been refused the privilege of b
on ing with the Americans he would ha
ars gone with the French, as he had ma
ife arrangements to become attached to t
he French army and to be sent with su
of French forces as fought near the 26
division SO that he could do his wo