The Columbia evening Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-09
FRENCH SPIRIT
REBUILD
RUINED AREAS
Paul W. Brown, Visiting Here,
Has Seen the Unconquer-
able Farmers Returning
Home.
PRAISES THEIR PLUCK
ITO See Their Faith and Will.
ingness to Endure Hard
ships Makes All Who
See Optimistic"

| Paul W. Brown. editor-in-chief Of
America at Work. and former editor Of
the St. LOUIS Republic who was in Co
lumbia making a comparative survey Of
the Missouri Agricultural School re.
turned few months ago from tour
Of the devastated regions Of France where
he was engaged in the reconstruction
work in the devastated aras. Mr.. Brown
was in the district Of Aniy-le-Ch
of the department Of the Aisne and was
chiefly interested in agricultural rehab-
ilitaiion.
On August l. last year, MIR. Brown
said. there was only one road leading in
10 the province that was practicable;
there was not an acre Of land under
cultivation; not a head Of livestock OF
any kind. including cats, dogs, pigeons
or mice. There was nothing for them
to live on. By the end Of the month
about FIVE hundred people had managed
to make their way back into the region
and had made their homes in abandoned
dus-outs. wrecked buildings or rudely
constructed shacks. There were eight
fall gardens planted and thirty per cent
Of the arabic land was under cultiva-
ton. this was made possible largely by
the loan Of tractors and tools by the
American Relief Association. This shows
the willingness and determination Of the
French farmers to regain their position,
destroyed by the war.
IyDoxITABLE FRENCH SPIRIT
Mr.. Brown told Of one young French
man who before the war farmed profit
ably a large tract Of land. He was
wealthy, living in huge old chateau
With large crew Of servants and hired
helpers on the farm. He served in the
army, was wounded and captured and
imprisoned for two years by the Ger
mans. On his return to his home he
found it entirely destroyed and himself
bankrupt. He was not discouraged but
with his wife and one hired hand made
their home in a two roomed shack and
by incessant and indefatisable effort he
is farming his land now. He is only
yptcal Of the spirit Of the French farmer
thousands Of whom are in a similar
position.
One Of the greatest factors to be con-
sidered in bringing the French land
back to cultivation, according to MIR.
Brown. is the amount Of unexploded
shells that sirew the land. 1t is es-
timated that there are twenty two million
tons Of explosives in and on the ground
Of the battle areas that menace any til
lers Of the soil. 1t takes two hundred
men a week to clear away two hundred
thousand pounds Of this explosive, which
is collected together and exploded. Ac-
cording to Mr.. Brown there are from
two to eight people killed daily in
France as a result Of the accidental dis
charge Of these shells that are buried
in the ground and are Unexpectedly ex.
ploded in cultivating the ground.
MADE HIM AN oPTIMIsT
1t is the greatest experience in the
world to make an optimist out Of man.,
said Mr.. Brown, TO see thses poor war
weary people, return to their destroyed
homes and ruined land with the utmost
faith in the future and undauntednnnn
faith in the future and undsuntcd by the
unimsginsble hsrdships. 10 be under
gone, unhesiistinely and chcerfully com.
mence TO make the best Of what they
have. Such spirit is unequalled."