The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1919-06-12
LETTERS FROM SOLDIERS
From J. j. Maginot.
A P. G.. St Nazaise. France.
Anil % 1910

II April IS. 1919.
Dear Aunt Mary
Just returned from five day trip
20 Paris and Reims and so must write
and tell YOU how | enjoyed it, I in
tended to write while away but my
time was SO well taken up travel
ing and Sightseeing that 7 had no
time. One Of the sergeants here and
myself got our passes at the same
time. We left Wednesday and arriv-
! ed in Paris a $50 p. m. BY the time
We got located 1t was bed time Next
morning We were up bright and early
end took in the sights. among them
the principal ones were the Eiffel
Tower. Napoleon's tomb. Church OF the
Madeline. Arch OF Triumph and No
tire Dame cathedral At 80 p. nj. We
took q train for Reims. passing
through Cateau Thierry before dark
and arriving at Epernay about thirty
miles from Reims at $40 p. m where
We stayed for the night Next morn
ing we went on to Reims and after
dinner we hiked out through the
trenches about seven or eight miles
and returned before dark Next day
we rode out in a car to the old Hin
denburg line" returned and took the
400 p nj train back 10 Paris Satur-
day evening we watched the Parisien-
ers amongst the bright lights sun
day morning We attended services at
rNotre Dame cathedral after which we
'took trip to Versailles. returning at
3 p. m and took a train at s D. m
for st. Nazaire. and arriving back here
at ?. m. today. pretty well tired out
but well repaid for our trip Now
will explain more fully what 7 saw
while away Paris Is indeed wonder
fnl city. taken from an artistic stand
point, most Of its buildings are works
OF art and IN this way does not COM
pare with our cities, which are not so
full Of art. But from a business
tand-point II cannot come up to our
cities, there seems to be very littli
competition. everything goes on in an
easy manner. This Is my personal
opinion Of Paris, il IS a good place for
a Frenchman. but not for an Amerl-
can. Il lacks the American pep and
get-up. We did not stop at Chateau
Thierry, but saw practically all we
wanted to Of II from the train. 1t Is
not shot up 50 bad. Epernay. where
We stayed over night also escaped the
worst shell fire, but at Reims one can
witness the results OF war in all Its
fury, IT. 900 buildings have been
wrecked. and every building shows
the marks Of shot and she'll The great
cathedral Is still a wonderful piece OF
art but had to stand the brunt Of the
shell fire. Sidewalks streets and car
lines were torn up and lamp posts
and statues shot down. Everywhere
rubbish is piled up four or five feet
along the streets. On Friday after
noon we hiked to the trenches which
are all around the city. everywhere for
miles and miles as far a $ your eve can
see. ruins and desolation greets you
at every turn. Everywhere You see
miles OF trenches and barb wire en-
tanglements We hiked over seven
-niles through the trenches and num-
erous dugouts. we also ran across
German artillery headquarters. they
surely were well prepared Every
where on the battle field you see
Shells. grAnades. bullets and other
equipment laying around. The trench
es are partly caved in and some OF the
less disturbed have already been fill
ed IN I tell you. It Is an awe-inspir-