Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-01-07
FRENCH SET JOY RECORD
WHEN WAR WAS ENDED
Staid American General Danced
in Street With "Cutie" French
"Stenogs," Writes Yank.

anu Oi tnclI huecuO0 IUI bIit fshs''"'
The young writer WAS originally mem
ber Of an artillery company, but was
transferred much against his inclinafion
to duty at the American headquarters:
where his skill rs an executive was needed
and found recognition, but brought only
unrest and yearning TO get into the thick
Of the action. :,
The letter is interesting also because 1t
reflects the position Of 40 many American
men. 81 must start life over again, 1t
says, and illustrates the keen anucty oi
the Young Americans to get back to home,
to mother and TO their peaceful voca-
tons:
Mother of Mine: The end has come
the last blood-staincd chapter of tho
worlds tragedy has been written Goth
.enane is past, and the world has stood
the test. Doubtless by the time this letter
reaches YOU, it will be all over but getting
the BOYS home.
No doubt there was an immense amount
Of ex,iIting in Amcrica--but II You could
have seen the way these poor French
pconle have taken il. For the past two
davs they have been parading tho streets
in a delirium Of JOY, singing shouting,
kissing all within reach Everywhere nre
flags dispIayaf-just two flags, the French
every Frog one passes on the streets
sho,its ''Francais ct American tres bounes
comades Tous jours." They are simply
wild about the Americans. ! saw n parade
Of drunken, singing Frenchmen Inst night.
Just an imprornptu affair, and first oi all
came the Stars and Stripes, horne by
recling Frog" and ABOUT ten feet further
back IN the column was the tri-coor OF
France. There's certainly no feeling of
jealousy or rivalry where America is eon-
cerncd And the streets ring with ''Nive
Ia France Vivc lAmcrlque.
The first night after the receipt Of the
news Of Germany acceptance ct the
srrnistice was tho most delIrio,ts affair
| have ever seen A college town on the
night after big football victory is tame
place compared 20 this city last Monday
nisht Roaring. swaylng, chanting crowds
filed the streets Fire crackers exploded
everywhere. roman candles were shot
promiscucuslv through the streets, into
the crowds i saw two women extingtuSh-
ing FIRE in their clothes. Tough-iooklne
old poilus joired hands and Capered
round in rings. like kids Rings Of laugh
ing screaming ciries formed around
American soldats. and made the price of
roIensc a kiss One fat little Jew in oir
section here tcld ne that a respectable
looking old man had rushed up to him and
kissed him on each check.
The Americans were in the game, too,
celebrating in their own manner. and as
the evening grew late. staId colonies, fat
majors and slender young heutenants were
10 be seen capcring about IN the crowd
with pretty little cuties, and Though
did not witness any such occurrenccs)l nTl
told that on several occasions, COMMISSION
cd officers and buck privates mixed II mp,
and had TO be prcd apart by the military
police. One man told me he had seen 2
colonel, major and a lieutenant dancing
in the middle Of the street, with three little
stenoeraphers from the american offices.
Everyone went Mid.
of course some Of the celebrators over
did the thing. Last night saw French.
man and an American clash, and a moment
later crowd piled on the Fr.nchman and
relieved him Of = revolver he had pulled
Tonight the town is quieter I fancy
the people are dropping off from sheer
fatigilc. I know well that ore night took
second night ] WAS content to be an or
locker
Talk about vour safe and sane fourths
the funniest thing in the world TO 4
Frog" is to hold large fire cracker in hi>
hand until the last possible second, and
then hurl it into crowd. And they will
insist on lighting them from ones cigar
cite.
And / personally, how do feel about
the news? I'm glad. glad glad, that II Is
I'll over mother Of mine, and hope that
my military career will soon be thing Of
the past-fCrever. II is not as had plan
ned. not as / had hoped and striven for,
but such as IL is, il has not often been
bed OF roses, and at times it has been very
trying, very hard. For IA months now !
have not had bath in tub-often no
bath at all, for long periods, have never
eaten at a we'll appointed table, scarcely
ever slept between sheets, and I've worn
clothes (very often that you would not
care to pick up. Il have suit Of Ozark
grey undcrclothes on at this writing
II will be SO good. some day not IN the
far distant future, TO rest-to sleep N the
mornings TO be clean, TO lounge and read,
to battle in warm water every evening. to
be nanicur ed, TO be free Of French itch
and boils and cuts-to live Just fer a
month or Two.
And that is Whit wish to do now--just
to come home and rest, rest, rest. Az one
tiihc Iau Pithiicu " Wy " teih'hh III
France after the war, but now, have only
one ambitiorf-to get home and relax for
a little time. And when write that | am
coming, please have clean clothes for me-
and have my suits pressed up, and delica-
cies to eat for little while tsuch as have
not had in so very longl-and above all y
great deal Of quiet realize that ] shall
have to start lif e all over again.
am sorry, sorry that ] shall never re-
ceive my hantism Of FIRE, never play the
greatest gaIne Of all ~ first ! felt very