The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-01-08
NICE
NOV. 11DESCRIBES
ARMISTICE SCENES
Robert HaVerty, Aviator, in
Letter Says French Joy Was
UnbOunded and Festivities
Extended into Night.

Those who remember armistice cele-
bration night in Memphis, can picture
Of the untrammeled joy which pos
sessed the hearts of the victorious
FPenCh on the eventful Nov. II, when
news of the signing OF the armtstice
was heralded throughout France. one
M%emphian, Lieut.. Robert Haverty, avi-
ator. who was on leave on the Medi-
terranean coast, in a Ietter vividly de-
scribes the festivities which took place
in Nice when the armistice came.
His letter in part follows;
We took a motor trip to Monte Carlo.
The road leads through the mountains,
winding slow. AS a road 1t is perfect
built by Napoleon, | believe. Terraces
up and down seem to be filled with
flowers and budding trees. In the dis
lance you see the s~now-capped Alps.
Rounding a bend in the o you look
down far below you at the sea, blue
and clear, with sometimes a blush haze
where the sky and water meet.
After a while you come to n little
town on the top of a Gift. The driver
stops the car and you stroll over to a
little hotel of Persian architecture for
Il drink. From the windows YOU look
down upon Monte Carlo, "A dream city
| l 1900 feet below. ] think it Is the most
exquisite picture my eyes W. ever
beheld' We st u while and are an&lous
tN'A hNANN AAAA' ~ NiNNhASS N'NJ NNH~
can imagine-Monte Carlo.
Then comes IL perfectly good South
ern negro's voice: Yes, sir, boss dis is
Charlie. Is you all looking TO nah
bawh?' We ask: What are you doing
here, nigger2' and he laughs and re-
plies proudly: I runs de only American
bawh in Monte Carlo We had arrived,
Chimes Herald News.
I'VE spent a wonderful day at Monte
Carlo. 1t was such a beautiful place we
decided that we would spend the rest
Of our leave there. But the next morn
ing at II o'clock the cathedral bells be-
gan to chime, the whistles began to
blow, the destroyers in the bay (of
| Cannes) fired three salvos. The arml-
stice with Germany had been signed,
We changed our minds about Monte
Carlo and headed for Nice.
"On the train everybody was happy
At each station crowds greeted us with
joyous faces that sent a warm glow
of happiness through the heart, Old
people who had given their sons to the
four years Of horror nearly cried Tor
joy. Young m crowded about,
smiling and laughing. From their eyes
came the joy of hearts that sang be-
cause their loved utes-husbands,
sweethearts, brothers-snould soon re-
turn. 1t was worth a lifetime TO see such
XXI Nice a festival wa in progress
when we arrived. Crowds Of people Of
all n%ationalities jostled each other good
naturally. Young men and girls pa
raded the streets, singing, shouting.
Seven Aviators Kissed.
At one corner. the even Of us
American aviators-were surrounded by
! a group of young French people who
Joined hands and circled around us ike
the kids used to play ring around the
rosy. AS they skipped n danced
around US they hurrahed for America
and we 'Vive'd la France Then they
| insisted on kissing us all. might re-
mark that some OF the kisses would
not have been considered bad in our
"The party continued far into the
night. Up and down the streets the
crowds paraded, shouting, singing,
laughing. Some of us drifted into one
OF the larger cafes of Nice, We toasted
each other, the country, the victory.
From somewhere cane some Italian
street singers who stood ON the tables
and played and san Then French and
American broke forth with 'Madelen,
| The famous French marching song, and
when | left, tired out with a day of
celebration, there drttteu to my ears
the familiar strains of Hail, Hail, the
Gangs All Here
at was a great day. ! shall long re-
member It. But longer snail | remem-
Der the peaceful thoughts that came
to me In my room later, by myself, of
home and family"