The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1919-02-20
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much extra time if the conditions
and service did not require it for the
trip. And l could cite other details
which have forced the conclusion
that in normal peace times private
control, operation and ownership II
our common carriers insures the best
possible service to our people.
An amusing little incident occurr.
ed on the train the other day. I had
casually engaged in conversation
with young lady when she asked il
I was married. When I replied in
the negative she laughed and sail
she hadn't yet seen an American SOL
dier who was; and I was inclined to
recall the old but rather foolish
query: ''Do married men make the
best husbands?" Aside from grapes
France does not produce an abund-
ance Of fruits, but there are numer-
GUS exquisite gardens of gorgeous
flowers, and the ladies are proficient
in fancy hand work and embroidery.
Shortly after my letter of Dec.
18th, l enjoyed the privilege of a
weekend in the city of Moulins,
place of $4,000 inhabitants and the
capital of the Department of AL
lier. Moulins is much more typical
Of other French cities than Vichy
is. Vichy, with popula-
tion of $4,000, has short street
railway system operated by COM
pressed air; Moulins has no street
cars. Vichy has electric lights on
the streets; Moulin has none on the
streets which after nightfall are in
total darkness and practically de-
serted. Vichy has broad beautiful
boulevards and avenues; Moulins
streets are little dinky alleys with
sidewalks so narrow that pedestri
ans must walk in the middle of the
streets. However, there's no danger
from the traffic and one might lie
down and take nap without being
interfered with or disturbed. Vichy
presents a much more inviting ap-
pearance to a stranger both from
business viewpoint and that of beau
ty. Vichy is fashionable and up-to-
date; Moulins is sleepy and old fash
ioned. Vichy, although it is a re-
sort, I found less expensive than
Moulins. This though I account for
by reason of the fact that Moulins
is a place reserved exclusively for
American officers to- visit, and the
other men are usually not allowed
there. It was by mere coincidence
that got in. Vichy with slight pro-
gress could possibly be Americana
ed; Moulins is hopeless. Every
French city has its market, which is
usually in the middle of the business
section and very similar to the one
at Charleston, although considerably
larger. I have not seen much of the
public school systems in the cities,
but in the small country towns it is
very much like ours except that they
have a custom of the teachers living,
eating and sleeping in the school
building. French newspapers are
not credit to the enterprise Of
their country. I have seen no such
thing as country Weeklies, and the
leading Paris dailies get out no ex-
tras and are usually little sheets of
four pages which when compared to
our prominent New York journals or
even Southern dailies would be a
joke.
But along with it's liabilities Mou-
lins also has a few interesting as
sets. l attended religious services
in one of it's great cathedrals which
for fine architecture and beauty
could hardly be surpassed. There I
heard and was agreeably impressed
with the singing of the "De Profun-
dis in three parts in memory of the
soldiers of France and her allies who
gave their lives on the field of hon
or, and one could not listen to the
recitation of "The Rosary" without
an inspiration for the better. From
the church l. went to the jail, quite a
contrast, but L assure you that my
trip there was absolutely voluntary
visit and not a compulsory business
matter. This building truly reminds
one of an ancent chateau, castle or
prison, constructed of rough stone
with it's high rugged walls and other
features typical of an old prison and
causing one to feel that not even the
master of the somewhat mythical
fourth dimension could escape from
it. The public museum of Moulins
harbors thousands of rare exhibits
of art, sculpture and French national
Efo Nopy of ovhibifc wo,,1 Il