The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-09-30
DR.. ESTEY IN TALK
Presbyterian Preacher Tells
Rotary of Europe.
Impressed With Restoration In
France and Belgium.

THE country battleffelds of France
have so per cent of her needed grain.
Many of the villages destroyed by war
must remain desolate for a generation.
Belgium shows wonderful restoration;
she is mining more coal than before
the war" said Rev. DIR. Estey at the
Rotary club today.
At the Rotary club meeting today
noon at the Chamber of Commerce, a
brief and pointed talk on Rotary spirit
was made by Robert Cook, principal OF
the Topeka high school.
The meeting was enlivened by the
distribution of articles of more or less
value to Rotarians who could prompt
ly gives the names of the members
who could supply such articles
Mrs. Frank Maxwell Chase of Beth
any college. made a brief talk upon
child welfare and research work COW
ering a survey to be made in Topeka
who are lacking in certain normal
qualifications. This survey is to be
made as part of a program to supply
facts to the coming legislature in the
interests of the establishment of a
state welfare bureau.
Remarkable Restoration. g.
The feature of the meeting was a
talk by Rev. DIR. S. S. Estey, who gave
| his impressions of his summer trip to
Europe.
Il was impressed particularly" said
Doctor Estey, with the remarkable evil
Forty per cent of the country is engaged
in industrial pursuits and while the Ger
mans destroyed the factories generally. all
but the tall chimneys, Belgium has gone
to work and in some lines is producin &
even greater results than she did before
the war. There are no labor troubles there.
Belgium is NJ disgruntled; she is al work.
France r. slower in coming back. altho
one OF the greatest surprises TO a visitor is
ed up and covered with fine a harvest
of wheat was shown in many parts of
Kansas. Eighty per cent of the necessary
grain for France was growing at the time
was there.
with the exception of Italy found the
food remarkably good. France is stiII enr-
the harvest Italy is still eating macaroni.
l could never stand eating two and half feet
OF macaroRi at one gulp.
In the villages the effects of the WARFARE
plain ruins, ruins everywhere. 1t will take
generation to restore the devastation.
Red Tape in Travel.
lone Of my greatest troubles over there
was In getting about from one country to
another. There is an endless amount of
red tape covering passports. L think
taxes. assessments and gratis which would
| enable me to get out of one country and
! into another. 1 think my picture must be
! In more police courts in Europe than it is
| in the homes of my friends in this eoun-
! try. Travel at times was difficult, but in
| many respects no more difficult than it is
in our own country today.
In many places l found the American
] dollar worth about So in the foreign coun-
1 tries. Normally. dollar was worth five
/ francs in France; now It is worth twelve or
thirteen francs. In England a pound, ordf-
narily worth about $4.sS. is now worth
! $3.50
| Food is greater in quantity than before
] the war and just as cheap, as Il rule, with
/ the exception of Italy.
/ Il was advised not to travel as preach
! er; did not intend to. 1 left my preacher
/ clothes at home and Travelled us an o=di-
/ nary man; third class frequently.
| Il was greatly impressed with the beauty
or the cemeteries in France. They are
/ kept in splendid order. / don't see how
anyone could want to bring the bodies
/ back. They should remain in the country
where the heroes fell
Wanted to Come Home.
lone of the things that exasperated me
; most was that / had to get permission to
/ come home. 1 got 1t in Edinburgh.
| wanted TO come home, but had to go thru
! the form.
I three things; tobacco. cigarets and choco-
lates. A friend of mine had all of his
| cigars and matches confiscated.
/ "One IF the lonesome things one exper-
| iences IN France is the language I knew
/ something about French so / could wiggle
J derstood, but talking was difficult. 1
wanted to talk to someone for | was tire;
/ talking with my wife and daughter. / met
! an American one day in the same situation
and we talked joyfully and happily for
{ half an hour"
The program was announced for the
| Rotary club picnic and dedication OF
tSwimming pool donated by 1.-The Rotary
| clubs Of Kansas. The affair will take place
at, the Boys Industrial school Friday, Oe-
|