New-York tribune., 1919-02-23
PARIS, February 4.

Ihis has been breathess month, with
no time to write anybody We have been
to Nantes and st. Nazaire to Grenoble
Lyons and Marseillcs, to the American front
-Bclleau, Bouresches, Chateau Thierry,
Tcrcy, Cicrges, Sergy, Fere-cn- Tardenois,
Soissons and Compiegnc-and the men have
been also to Lens, Arras, Albert, Bapaume
and Amiens, and have stood on Vimy Ridge
That day the French rule that woman
cannot ride in a French military car pre-
vented my going but | am to go this week
and also to Rheims and am promised trip
to Alsace, but hardly dare hope that that
will come off.
For the long trips we have had special
sleeping car, which has stayed with us so
that we could use it as hotel if we could
find no other place. We have stayed two
days in each place, as the guests of the
Chamber of Commerce, and were shown
everything possible. Usually the autos
waiting for us each morning would be our
own l. S. Army cars, driven by our own
boys, and that was what l liked best Of all.
At Nantes and St. Nazaire we were shown
the work Of our own engineers, who, the
AAC44NH HdN, nave SUI pIlSSu even themselves.
Their work is magic, like Hog Island One
afternoon they took US on fiat car over
their sea ralway-bult like the Florida
Keys and by the same engineers, only in
khaki-to their tidal dock. When the war
stopped they were preparing to handle and
provision 100000 men if necessary 1
have attended Chamber of Commerce ban
quets at all these paces-the only woman
with about fifty men. l never planned to
do tit just happened each tme but l
know that no woman ever did it be-
fore, and it was great fun. Much as
| disliked being photoed, l would really
like a picture of myself at the Nantes
banquet, seated between the Mayor of st.
Nazaire and the Prefect of the Loire-two
of the largest men l have ever seen outside
of sdeshow-and emotional in proportion.
The Marie spoke fair English and had
grevances-the Americans had torn his
town to pieces, and though they had asked
permission, they hadn't waited for him to
give it. He said to me- bitterly: "Before
you people came to St. Nazaire a goose
cost francs-now it costs 45. When my
wife tells me that goose costs 45 francs
| say we will not eat goose-but what do
you do? You go out with money in your
hand and demand goose = you offer SO
francs for goose-why, if you Americans
want goose you will have goose, if it takes
every cent you've got. AS for me- do not
understand such thing!" l sympathized
with him successfully over our failings
that the next night at his own banquet he
made fiery speech praising the women of
America and the idealism of all Americans
On all these trips we have had as liaison
officer, interpreter and counsellor a French
captain of engineers - the most efficient
Frenchman we have met At first he
scared me to death-he was so fierce look
ing-never spoke, except to wish me good
morning each day-and every time caught
his eye it had glare directed straight at
me. He is bachelor, and knew was prob
ably thinking things of an Anne rcan woman
who did not stay in "sa place" In the be-
ginning the men made the mistake Of pass
ing him the water at meals, till he g1ared
and roared, Don't you know it is an insult
to offer water to a sapper? Our allowance
is two litrcs of wine day, and we drink
it," The last day of our trips he ap-
| pcarcd at the door Of my compartment.
bowed in his best fashion, and said: "Mme
-~, | have never seen q woman travel as
easily as you. ! am going to pay you a
| compliment, though you may not think it
one. Nine. -~-~, you are gentleman"