Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1919-04-16
VISITING AROUND IN
HISTORIC OLD FRANCE
Bryan Sperry Writes Interesting
Description of Sights in
France.
Vierzon, France,
March 70. 1919.


It has been nearly two weeks since
l last wrote you, but have received a
I have been all over France in the
last couple of weeks and have seen lots
Of th Int 3, Worth seeing We LETT here
on the coast. We took in that city
From there we went to OAK and stay
in a place where they held *Buu fgh hts"
before the war. From there we went
to Pau, which is close to the ,Pyrenees
there He ng Rre s9d toof in
city the next day. While there we saw
and old palace which belonged to Henry
~ Of England s a., and it is Just the same
thru it and there are sure some great
paintings In it. All Of the walls are
there and is we'll taken care Of.
In the Pyrenees.
From Pau we went to Lourdes which
is located in valley in the Pyrenees
Mts. and is one of the prettiest places
tnnes IS saw with ha lots S of sta
while there was an incline railroad on
top of the Mts. where you could see the
entire surrounding country. and it was
Next we took in what is called the
"Panoramma," which is a large paint
ing of over two thousand square yards
to see 1t is built in a circle and there
is platform in the middle of it, you go
in thru tunnel to get onto the plat
you could ever expect to see as you can
not tell where the ground leaves off and
the picture begins There is fence
painting and it is SO Natural that you
can't tell where the ground hits the
picture, We had an argument about
Walked up to the edge Of it and I was
wrong. There is a path that goes into
1t also and it seems as though you
could. walk right into the picture. There
is dog in it that looks as tho he could
walk out of it and a girl sitting on a
rock that looks as tho she could talk
to you. 1t is most wonderful.
Visited "The Grotto."
From there we went to large church.
the largest one l have seen over here
1t is three in one affair, one on top of
the other and is, situated on the side
of the Mt Just below the Mt is what
is called the "Grotto," maybe you have
heard about it. People used to come
Of different diseases. 1t is a cave in
supposed to have appeared there and
cured them. I guess there are from
four to five thousand crutches hanging
on the wall which they have left there
The next place Of interest was the
ELEVEN stages Of the life of Christ"
dragging, the cross. and finally where he
is nailed to it and etc. There is a
stairway. leading up to it and people
prayers.
From there we visited an old fort
which was built in the early days and
impossible to shake it but now about
a dozen we'll planted shells would blow
it off from the Mts. The French are
From Iourdes we went to Tuchon
which is the end of the A. E. F. area.
Tuchon is 2 large summer resort for
tourists visiting the Pyrenees Mts. and
is q beautiful place.
Spent Night in Spain.
Tuchon is only a short distance from
Spain, so we walked over the Mt. and
spent the night in Spain. 1t sure was
down. ! wouldn't do it again for any
money, but am not sorry that I did as
I can say was in Spain. We made the
my feet were all in but it was worth it.
We stayed in Tuchon five days and
then started for home, we stopped in
Toulouse for short time and from
there to, Cotton on the Mediterranean
coast where we could see all the big
boats, and it made me feel like taking
and from there to Mt. Pillar and C on n't to
Lyons. There l ran into a surprise.
We had gotten off from our route and
went into the Il. +. y. to be put right
and ran right into Harold Selseth. He
sure was surprised to see me. He is in
the 33rd Engineers and looks just the
same as ever.
From there we went on to Bougres
and from there to Vierzon. 1t certain
~ was great trip and if I stay over
here long enough I want to take in
England before going home Don't
know when I will be coming home but
am in hopes it will be in June or July.
I am getting sick Of this country and
look at the old home would make me
feel about ten years younger.
Pvt. Bryan Sperry,
80 Co. r. F. c.
Is Grand Div, France.