The Lamar register., 1919-01-08


E'een, Remember? 1t took several
hours to get through all of the red
tape and finally walk the gang plank
aboard. 1t was "A French liner, the
'Espagne" and carried just few
hundred passengers. We had at least
two celebrities on board-Sarah Bern
hardt, the greatest actress the world
has ever seen, and Mary Roberts Rine-
hart, the short story writer. The
former did not appear on deck but her
!. granddaughter paradcd with the
French officers. But the latter was
quite gay, perhaps she was gathering
material for her next story.
II was very interesting to watch the
baggage swung on board and down in
to the hold Then in the steerage was
a group of Poles and Slavs that were
being taken across to help the French
; fight. We had most excellent food, if
could have enjoyed it. | did enjoy
the first lunch thoroughly. After
lunch the little tug boat carried us
out in the harbor, and we were Off
for France For hours we watched
the sky-scrapers of New York fading
away in the distance. A little farther
out, three huge airplanes appeared
and guarded US until dark. Other
than this we were ungarded and un-
conveyed.
One of the girls in our party died
on the way She was from Wisconsin
and had been helping in relief work
for the forest fires and had been tired
out before starting. Her cabin mates
found her dead in her bed one morn
ing. il must have been heart trouble.
We took her body on to Bordeaux and
she was buried there. This cast a
damper on all festivities on board.
We were very glad to see land on
November the ninth. The custom
house people came aboard about noon
and several boats and airplanes came
out to meet us and escort us in. We
stayed on the boat all night and early
in the morning we started on a two
mile walk to the station. There were
some forty "Y" girls and seventeen
men in the party and it was n most
interesting walk. There were old
women selling their wares in queer
little winding streets. There were huge
cart-loads of good looking carrots.
cabbage and cauliflower drawn by the
smallest little donkeys. And never
did ! see such beautiful violets and
chrysanthemums. We passed the host
ess house where Mrs. Astor holds
forth and the University of Bordeaux
buildings and the leader took us thru
the cathedral Of Bordeaux.
When we reached the station We
boarded those funny little compart-
ment trains. and soon we were off for
pay "Parcc." II was such n pretty
ride through a most beautiful country.
| never saw such Il progressive coun-
try, every inch of ground is cultivat-
cd When we reached Paris we were
taken to the Hotel Wagrum where we
had n sumptuous repast. The first
week we went through endless red
tape, attended conferences, etc. / was
/ finally assigned to the War Treasur-
cr's department, and hope to do some
canteen work here soon.
was here in time for the celebra-
tion on Monday and Tuesday, and it
was certainly some celebration. Paris
simply went mad, wild with joy. Every
body took two holidays and simply
swarmed on the streets. There was
no order or system to anything but
everyone had general good time.
The following Sunday there was an
Alsace Lorraine parade. On Thanks
giving Day, the King of England ar
rived first, and I stood for two hours
in the pouring rain to watch the king |
ride by. The procession was led by
the old Napolenic guard-police men in
gorgeous uniforms and the King and
President Poincare rode in an open
carriage The same kind Of parade
took place last Thursday when King |
Albert of Belgium was here, and the
same thing will take place on Satur-
dav when President Wilson arrives,
only more so. and again next week |
when the King of Italy arrives. But