El Nuevo mexicano., 1919-04-17
Cities DC France
To Rise Again
N, K, Wisehart, IN LegIie's

M, ~, visionary, In LeSliefs
The cities OF France shall rise again.
From exile the refugees are return
ing to mon pays, to windowless,
roofless homes, seeking shelter IN one
room In the skeleton of a house or In
what was once a cellar. In the Som
me-from Acheux to Montdidier, from
Amiens to- Roisel-rin the Aisne. the
4 Oise. the Meusq, the home fires are
~Fekindling. Throughout the 5000
lsqnare miles Of devastated France one
lsees here and there refugees digging
IN the ruins or, nov that spring ap-
proaches, blowing come bit Of unshell-
ed ground.
For these returning refugees the
French have a more vivid term than
amy we use in English. They are the
Fsinistres, those who have suffered.
land they are the pioneers OF new
France.
They are returning by the thous-
and, without waiting permission from
the authorities, but they must make
la harvest for u children; Often
they come in canvas-coyered wagons
by three horses In single file.
but otherwise not unlike the prairie
schooner that crossed our plains in
pioneering days. The sinistres are the
sturdy folk Of their time, with the
courage to face and conquer barron
ness, desolation poverty.
One sees the sinistres resurrecting
from the ruins perhaps a sewingsma-
chine, perhaps a piece Of furniture.
Ask them what they need as did an
odd man and his grandson at Lens,
a poilu at Arras, and some ONE
at Douai Invariably the answer is:
Everything
What do you wantT''
What we had before the q
The sinistres are not waiting for
help, though help is coming TO them.
They are working toward such recon
struction as the materials on the spot
afford; toward such a harvest as the
rended land can give. When help is
offered they are pathetically CRATE,
full. Too often there is nothing to
offer but encouragement, but they
are grateful even for arfew moments
cheerful conversation.
Not alone through this pioneering
To the individual aid will be given,
Will the cities Of France be restored.
Iof sturdy, loyal, Individual initiative
and, what is still more significant for
the quick revival of France, for the
beauty and healthfulness of the land.
the cities, towns and villages will be
rebuilt according to plan. These
cities shall rise again with the char
acteristics Of their original charm,
but lovelier and healthier than be-
fore.
The destroyed towns, rebuilt ac-
cording to carefully prepared improve
ment plans, Will have broad byways
them. While these towns were
notably lacking in open squares,
the tourist in days to come Will find
them plentiful-every town viii have
It's Place de la Concorde, though on
somewhat different proportions. The
school and town hall, instead of be-
built tight-in. will stand in the
midst Of trees and Fairgrounds. Hy-
gienic improvements will be many.
The narrow streets will have been
widened narrow courtyards will
nave been opened to afford better
light and air. Windows Will be larg-
or than formerly and better proper
n 10 tue size OIL the houses INT y
placed nearer the ceiling to give bet
Ter ventilation. French villages are
-enacious Of old customs. but even in
he Meuse and the rest of the Lor.
district, where it has been ira
~litional for the COWS to use the same
.'ntrance as the children and other
members al the family, it Will be no
necessary to pass through the
)arn to enter the house.
From 1000 to $500 towns Of France
been partially or totally destroy
"a, There are 100000 damaged build
ngs Of which at least 250,000 have
totally destroyed. More than
500 schools, 1900 churches and 1000
own halls must be rebuilt.