Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-05-01

Passed through Langres. La Fer sur
Amance, where we detrained and
marched to Fayl Billot, which was
to be our home for some time. Upon
reporting to Langres 1 was given
command of this. the Seventeenth
billeting area. Had good zone
major, and our stay here was most
pleasant, far from the front, and my
duties took me to Langres. Besan-
ion, Vesoul, Gray, Champlitt, Dam
pierre, Baum les Danes, 1s-sur
Tile, Neuchateau and many othef
towns within radius of 100 kilo-
meters.
While at Fayl billet I had rooms
with a madame D. and took my
meals at the local tavern, LIE CheVal
Blanc.
( Fayl Billot is one of the most
s2arsely populated departments in
France, and is full of Roman his
tory and remains of former days.
/ The people are so honest and moral
as to explode all we have been
: taught to think of the French. our
men were fetching and carrying for
the people, learning French, and act
ing in such manner as to create
a most friendly feeling, for which
much appreciation was shown by a
constant flow of expressions of good
/
one greets every one else with Bon
jour" and "Je vous remercie" was
heard on all sides My billet here
was in an old chateau, where l had
two bed rooms and a storage room.
The reception hall was marble-tiled,
and an old black walnut stair case
led up to my rooms., do not know
where mademe and her servant
slowed themselves, but the Lord
knows there was plenty of room. l
usually saw the old lady coming
home from mass when l came out
for my breakfast The chateau has
quite a history connected with it; 1t
seems that Napoleon when on his
way from Elba to Waterloo, made
my chateau his quarters, and there
had a meeting with the Emperor of
Austria and the Gear of Russia. on
| several other occasions these dig
nitaries held secret meetings here
and the madame holds a parchment
signed by the three rulers that pur-
ports to exempt her house from pill
lage or destruction in any future
wars. / do not know if the Bosch
would honor the parchment should
he ever reach this place.
How l wish you could see It ALL
the wonderful bedrooms and furni-
ture, the tall goldframed mirrors
inlaid chests, hand-carved buffEts
tall boys, marble slabs, canopiec
beds, and all the things we see il
the old French prints. My bed was
la really wonderful affair, of Grea'
height, with brocaded and drapet
canopy, and the woodwork of ma
hogany with brass trimmings. My
hostess, who spoke most beautiful
French, was full of Napoleonic rem
liniscences, but spoke not word oi
English. 1 came into possession o.
all this history through Lieutenan
C, who as you know, speaks the
Language perfectly. The jardin con
Injected with the chateau and which
my windows overlooked was wei
kept and beautiful with bloominl
flowers. Madame was out in thu
morning during the early hours
with her watering pot and trowel
working among the flowers ant
lplants.
In crossing France we passed
Through the Seine valley with all it:
| beauty, but after motor rides
through this section I am sure tina
nothing in France or the Worlt
could be more beautiful, quiet ant
Irestful than the country for miles
in every direction from this little
French village, where was no sigl
of war, save the few men of m!
command. The people of the villag'
were poor but fine characters; thei
employment for the most part wa
basket making. 1 know you woul
have enjoyed this place, it. was al
so quaint and so French.
We received orders and left Jun
18th to join our division which ha
been in training under the BIRTHS
/, in Northern France. We detraine
at LIE Bourget, miles north o
Paris, marched to Gonesse, where W
Joined and remained until June 23t
Our trunks were not transportabl
in the trains, as we were now goin
to the front. so early on the 23rt
took my adjutant in my car and es
| corted a truck load of our trunk
lockers to Cox and Company. ship
ping agency in Paris for storage
Returned to Gonesse in time to pro
ceed with the outfit and passin
through MeauX, Coulommes, Ma
utcuily and Boissy, in my auto, ar
rived at our destination, Rebais a
$50 pm. Here we saw our first al
battles, but we as yet knew nothin
of real work, although French ar
| tilIery was numbering through til
; town all night and big square wa