The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1922-11-16
A BUCK IN FRANCE
Continued from page l.

All along the line of march, through the
narrow, crooked streets, the women and
children clustered in the doorways to
watch us pass. From the lines caps were
lifted and hand waved to the sad-eyed
women; now and then a small hand hut-
tered in a pathetic attempt at CHEEKY re-
Spouse. These women had been watching
troops pass, day after day, going forward
to the lines, SO gay-heartedness was not
theirs to command. The Yank never fully
understood this attitude for it was all in
the days work to him and he went about
it with a devil-may-careI-dont attitude.
But war was grim reality to the mothers,
wives and sweethearts of the boilu.
We must have traversed four or five
miles before reaching the heart of the city
and they were long miles at that Dis
lance in France is measured in kilos but
it's the same when you have to cover it
on foot. AT last we were passing the
changing street cars, and the cheering
throngs, with our band rivaling the SUM-
dry noises that are peculiar to the business
section of any metropolis. The national
and regimental colors were unfurled, and
we assumed our best parade front, but to
parody Tennyson's masterpiece "girls to
the right of them, girls to the left of them,
girls before them, every eye wavered,"-
with the exception of Baldy's who could
not see female until he could see two
where there should be but one.
The main street of Bordeaux runs par
allel to the river, which separates the bust
ness district. The majority of the business
houses are on one side however. The traf7
ic was handled entirely by the marine M.
P.'s and they were most efficient for there.
was veritable maze of go-carts, dinky
street cars, and whatnot to contend with.
On the bridge were at least a score of
the red-brassarded "gyrenes" for to enter
the main part of the city from the Ameri-
can camps it was necessary to cross the
bridge, or swim the river
l recall one incident that occurred Just
before we crossed the bridge very distinct
ly. From an upper window of dingy
hotel fronting the river hearty call was
directed our way, and in feminine voice.
That was not unusual but the voice said,
"Where are you from, boys?" in good old
United States That we were Americans
she knew by our uniforms, so an answer
went back, "Camp Cody" That was our
training camp, and as near correct as any
reply might have been for G company
numbered men from several widely separ-
ated states. Again the voice-"Any of
you from Omaha?" Were we! You
should have heard the assents for there
were an even dozen of us out of the old
Dandy Sixth Nebraska, the hand-picked
aggregation which was the pride of
Omaha, or rather A. B. and c companies
were as D was from the odoriferous South
Side and the other two battalions from the
Wilds of the state.
The distance was too far to distinguish
the face CT the girl, but finding that her
native city was well represented she called
back her name one which many readers
would recognize Immediately as she is a
well known cabaret entertainer. Every
Omahan present knew her for the DANDY"
was aptly bestowed as all were FOUNDERS
of the first water. The Red Onion Wicks,
The Horseman, and The Empress Garden
were their haunts while at home. (Alas !!
those are resorts of a former day, no more
to cheer the heart of the seeker of pleas
ure with their free and easy atmosphere) :.
Before we had reached the other end of
the bridge delegation had been picked to
convey Fluctuations to our townswoman
that night if we had to swim the river to
get by the minions of the law.
The last two miles of the march was
really tortuouc for nc 7 coid CauD Gepi-