The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-06-23
MRS. GILMAN WIN ES
HOME FROM GERMANY
Brattleboro Woman with Army of Oc-
cupation-Curious Sensation to
Live in Country of Enemy.


ton, to her mother, Mrs. II. w Hovey,
Mrs Gilman says in part:
We did think that we'd never get here
The army of occupation isn't easy to get
into. but here we are and it's very, very
nice
We came Just week ago tonight and
this is the first evening I've had at home
Really it is hard to know where to be-
gin. | think I'll back up to our trip up
here.
Several of us came together, four other
girls in all One was coming back from
leave We came over on the same boat
SO she wasn't new; the others were No,
one. a searcher, had been in Nichy, but
| lust knew her to say "howdy'
We left Paris at $50 p. IN. and reached
Metz the next morning at 7.30. We had
breakfast in marvellous underground
room. like the Philadelphia Rathskeller
We had coffee served in tall glasses
Then we went out to view the town The
cathedral is said to be a beautiful ex-
ample of some style of architecture don T.
know which POINTED structure Of the
18th century,. Certainly, it was very
lovely, and fortunately mass was being
said so we heard the organ | thought
the windows especially lovely-she most
marvellous blue and yellow All the while
doves were flying about up under the
roof.
The rest of Metz wasn't much to see
In the big square in front of the station is
the pedestal of the statue Of the kaiser
which the people pulled down, and the
proclamation of the mayor announcing
the coming of the Americans is still up.
The streets are narrow, almost alleys,
and the shops almost empty
We left Metz at 11.30 and reached
Treves or Trier at $50. There we had
a delightful time, visiting the Roman am
phitheatre and a palace said to be Caes-
ar's. These ruins were very interesting
and the day was perfect. One does feel
feel frightfuIly untidy after sitting up all
night and having no place in which to
make even brief toilette Our overseas
cap is godsend in keeping hair in some
sort Of order.
1t was $50 when we came to CobenZ
The ride up the Moselle is very beauti-
full; rather like New England. but the
vineyards give it foreign air The steep
est hillsides are terraced. How anyone
can cultivate them without falling down
is a mystery.
The thing which makes my temper
reach the boiling point was to see the
beautiful, peaceful land after devastated
France. | wanted to shell the whole val
ley. and an artillery officer said he'd glad
" work out the data. You'd never know
that there had been a war. and northern
France IS so awful! It's not fair!
1t is the most curious sensation you
I. H., +r,- IS
an enemy. And they are certainly that.
Most of them look at IT'S much askance.
The men, in particular, hate us cordially;
if looks could kill I'd be plumb dead But
if one has any dealings with them they
are too polite. Very many speak English.
We are billeted in very nice house:
an apartment belonging to some official.
Our room is huge, two beds, two wash
stands, quite a bit of furniture and still
much space There is bath available
also, and we have the use of sitting
| room downstairs. The daughter of the
house is very polite, speaks quite a Bit
OF English and Is SO wellbred that foI
ones own self respect one must be bott
1 courteous and pleasant.
We never see anyone but the servant;
unless there is something necessary {
be said Our room is beautifully kept
| boots cleaned, breakfast made, and nary
a cent do we pay We are bileted JUS
like officials and men BY the way W,
rate captains or majors quarters
Our luncheon we have out at the hos
pital with the nurses. Our maintenance,
is less here than in France Our hospi
tai is at present only neurological Tn
patients aren't out in evening so the hu
isn't open, officially, but any unit mel
who wish may sit there. However, tn
.'Y' people provide SO many entertain
ments that any man who is not actual
on duty is down town
We have danced most of the time. abou
equally divided between officers and Ell
listed personnel and it is some strenuous
On Saturday evening last l met Genera
Peyshing at the Casino. He is a fine SO
dierly looking officer of the old type. II
danced quite a bit
ID. and | went to dinner at headqual
4 tiers mess of the -- infantry night b,
fore last. about an hours ride throug
beautiful country like Nermont-hil
sides and winding roads, the same kin
1 OF trees and all the orchards in full bloom
q The only marked difference is made
the many patches of wildly yellow mu
I tard in the bright green fields.
4 Headquarters of the 23d infantry
CHARTERED in magnificent house built /
German millionaire who made much
4 his fortune III gas shells in the war II
is now living in one room in the garag
with the spare parts. The view fro
q the dining room is fine and extensiv
The table linen is a dream OF the nh
L men at table, five had the croix de guerr
Isn't that record. They all insisted
d telling us they had lived in dugouts.
X | know it must seem foolish to be
\ gay in war work, but all the men ne,
amusement and have little work to d
50 many say it's the hardest time tn
4 have had-no work. no excitement. A
E the c. O's are keen on dancing for t
men Nothing pleases them so much, b
it is some strenuous.
z The men are lonesome for Americ
women. 1t is most impersonal atte
4 ton which is rather pleasant, and tn
3 cannot mix in German society.
wish you could see the ships sail
4 overhead We have trick squadro
4 such nose dives and spins and spirals!