The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1920-10-13

1CDStuIieS, hung Wioo StIlpS UI DuutiHS dCEOSs
the stage and wove Herewith the flag of each
nation, and finally as was sung song to the al.
lies as whole, there rolled out on hidden wires
over the heads of The audience an immense tri-
colored flag, covering the width and length OF
| the theatre. There was just instant that
audience fairly gasped with restrained emotion
and then came the greatest ovation I've ever
heard
| And at this point let me say what l wish you
might have heard with the singing of the
"Marseilles" as I heard it on different occasions
those two days There is no song of any nation
to equal it, as the world has frequently agreed.
and no people can sing it with such fervid under
standing as can these French. Particularly stands
out in my mind the figures of two artists who
sang it, one at The Follies Bergere, the other
standing in an outside gallery of the magni-
ficien. 81 Opera" fronting thousands of people
massed in the large square or plaza. There was
similarity Of pose, large flag held by the
standard in one hand, arms out flung being vi
brant under the swing and inspiration of the
song itself One Immediately thinks of pictures
Of Joan of Arc or the recent sculpture France
Defiant" which some critic has carpingly attempt
ed to abuse into nsignificance. And those ar
lists in the exaltation of the moment and the day
seemed to be lifted out of things of earth earthly,
and out into the supernatural. Into that song,
wonderful in it's very words and melody, they sung
the fervid spirit of the purest patriotism the
defiance of a people who will yield to no con-
queror the glory of supreme exaltation of men
throwing themselves into battle. l can more than
vaguely understand the recklessness with which
the first French armies threw themselves against
the Germans in the early days of the war; the
spirit of their Marseilles is so much the spirit
Of their folks.
So much for Paris and two of the biggest days
Of my life. Now that we are in but the aftermath
phase of the war, we shall make the best of it.
Leaving Paris we came BASTARD through Chateau
rherry, where gouging still ulsooded shell |
1oles, >unrusted barb wire in ENHANCEMENT loose
salvage, freshly crumbled ruins of villages mute
y mark the final attempt of the Germans only |
asst July to break the allied lnes on eastward |
MO a "Zole of Advance where we may mention
10 places discuss the details of Military move
nents. You will know from the heading of this
etter that in the Army of Occupation
md you will also know have been and are in
territory where great history has been want to
re made. | have already written letter too long
shall write you again of the desolation have
cen, the returning of the civilians to their ruin
d villages, the passing of prisoners from Ger
many, the traces left by the Hun forces withdrawn
My very few days before moved in, of the
igns Of starvation among the civilian population,
f few of the things which struck my interest
S pass through these towns once again turn
d over to France.
Our division is quite scattered. Five of our old
egiment were assigned to the fifty ninth but I
m the only one in the First Battalion. "Clem"
nd Hons, I think in the forty seventh. In
sense I am more than enjoying the experience
or am put ION my own" with outfit,
4 which l have neither made or broke reputa-
ion. fine bunch of officers are here and I am
oming to like them"