The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1919-05-14

never had less inclination to sleep
than on the way over.
We steamed into Brest on March
II. 1t was good to be on land again
after eleven days Of rising and falling
with the sea, with nothing to look
at but water and nothing to do but
eat. l was not enthusiastic about
eating while on the ship, though the
food was good.
Brest appeared imposing from the
sea, the great cliffs jutting out and
the ancient chateau and ramparts
looking grim and warlike. Ships of
war rode at anchor giving a blended
presentation of modern and mediaeral
armaments. This old city of ninety
thousand people is thoroughly French,
yet as different from some parts. of
France as Columbia is from Charles
A. e. F. (American EXpeditionary
Forces) and the great camp near
town has been the storm center for
months because of mud. / may say
in passing that it rained three hun
dTed and thirty days there last year.
Your imagination can picture the con-
dition of the camp when the enormous
traffic is considered. Edwin Johnson,
a sailor lad, son of Mr.. B. A. John
son, is stationed at Brest, but / failed
to get to his station. Strangely
enough I did see Edwin's brother-in-
law, Dr.. Kellett, at Beaune several
times.
l am sorry that I cannot write
about some impressive things, but I'll
have to tell Sam McFaddin about
them when the whole public isn't lis
tening. When / tell all I've seen,
plus what I've heard, plus what I'll
make up ! think III cause even old
Nub and "Uncle Hat" to sit up and
take notice. Pm sure if / tell Joe
Wells some choice bits of gossip con-
versation in the shop won't lag for
while. However, just ask any of
the boys.
We left for Paris the afternoon of
the second day, after getting travel
orders, permits, tickets, reservations,
etc.-considerable red tape, but nee
essary over here.
l had already discovered that /
couldn't speak this language. / cant
"polly-voo'' much yet. Whatever
French I use will be spelled as it
sounds so you may learn it Gas it
is spoke" may give you few
choice specimens Of it as the dough
boy uses it. "Polly-voo" is one. Ask
a doughboy if he speaks French and
his reply is likely to be "Naw, l don't
"polly-voo:" or "Naw, don't speak
no Frog lingo" There is something
intensely American and assertive
about the boys. They become inn
patient with the French for not
speaking English! One phrase that
meaning ain hurry, right away,
~. en1,l;o,. will yn11 ont HCop,n
here, toot sweet" Another express
sion commonly heard is "no compry,"
meaning :I don't understand" A
French phrase we hear often is "kiss
kussce," meaning "whar is it," We
ask for something in our feeble eff
fort at handling the language and
all we get is "kis kussee," which calls
for another effort to get the meaning
across, if may talk like doughboy.
The French money gives us trouble,
but the presence of fellows in khaki
(all Of US have to wear uniform over
here) either enables US to arrive at
a right conclusion, or emboldens us to
forge ahead by main force. Of course
you know the French word for yes
is pronounced "wee" and it is always
on French tongue. When they un-
derstand you they say "wee", some
times "ah, wee" and at other times
"wee, vice." but it is what we most
commonly hear.
The trains are composed Of small
coaches, each divided into compart-
ments comparable to Pullman
stateroom. Usually the tickets are
not collected nor do we see conduct
or. Before man is able to get
aboard, however, he has to pass Wig
liant an. p" and show his creden-
tials. an. P.'s" are American mil
itary police, and remarkable level