The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1919-02-27

Neumagen, Germany, Jan rs, 1913
received your letter asking for
news and souvenirs In outlining the
purposes for which the nations fought
someone spoke after this fashion
The French fought for home and fire
side. the British for freedom Of the
seas. and the Americans for souve-
Mrs. This statement was made IN
Jest, Of course. but II you could see
some Of our soldiers throw away com
fort kits in order to carry souvenirs
you would see some justification for
the remark. must admit also that |
have rather choice collection OF
souvenirs which have religiously
guarded. but had decided to bring
them with me rather than trust them
IN the mail
My regiment II part 81 the Army Of
occupation. and is stationed on the
mozclle River. a tributory Of the
Rhine Il Is no; quite as imposing as
a position on the Rhine. but the Mo
sclle rivals hat famous river IN beau
~ and good wines. which arr the
chief assets Of both. Following the
course Of the river i is twice as far
20 the Rhine a. Il Is as the crow flies
There's a reason" The river must
find IL way by meandering between
snow-capped mountains The poetic
expression ''vine-clad hills" applies
literally here. for even the stoepes,
preeipiccs are covered with culiivat-
ed vineyards. In some Of the views !
am enclosing. you can note the cul-
tvated patches. running to the crest
Of the mountains can easily IN
derstand the attitude Of the French,
when. after passing through that raw
aged portion Of France. ] emerge IN
10 q beautiful and cultivated coun-
try, untouched by the ravagcs Of the
fires which the Germans kindled.
But this country is the antithesis
~ America. Everything is old. old.
cid Everything is quaint. from the
old emperious castles that stand as
sentinels on the impregnable cliffs to
the wirnkled old women who carry
baskets on their backs You remem-
Der what a queer sight IL was when.
several years ago. we saw oxen pull
ing the plows which turned under the
virgin soil Of the plains. Well. can
look out Of my window most any
time Of day. and see underfed milk 4
COWS pulling wagons by their horns !
suppose all the horses were taken by
the army. for have never seen in 4
Germany anything but the submissive
old milk COW at the pulling end Of
a wagon.
Notice the cid castle which over
looks the village Of Berncastel in the
picture. climbed and puffed till
the top Of that hill to look at
that imposing old relic As APP
preached the entrance. partly for
amusement and partly for realism,
let my mind slip back through the
and pictured myself clad in
shiny armor. approaching those aus
iere walls which enclosed the fair
md beautiful II was not so difficult
- you might imagine, for az | stood
lnder one of the -criinbling arches
md looked on the valley below fan
lied that u ! could have oblilerated y
iinky little railroad and few army
lrucks. | would have seen the same
'iew that was looked upon centuries
MO winding river. the vine clad
ills. and auperannuated buildings.
AN Of the countries over here have
.ntiquated dwellings houses and
'arns combined was reading an
'rtiels BY Irwin Cobb the other day.
n which he regretted the fact the
ulned villages ~ France would never
y what they unsd 10 be- that barb
slFs fences would replaces the old
eek fences that anaksi aver lhs
assdeNss that medsfn and even tsm.
'e'ary structures eeald ake The