The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-06-17

so far that we intend TO complete thS
entire task of reha bilitating this war
torn area by next November, and with
draw our forces. There are left but
LOO acres to be reclaimed.
The main problem is restoring fer
tility to the soil and combiHC from II
the thousands upon thousands of eX-
plosive instruments the Germans left
behind them. Scarcely a day goes by
but that some French child has a fin
ger or hand blown off by picking up
perhaps what appears to be a lead
pencil or a small toy only to discover
that it is an Internal machine we
have expended II, 100000 francs in
agricultural reconstruction alone. TWO
of our villages were Aisne and Sols-
sons. noted as scenes of fierce battles
during the war. We have built houses
reconstructed whole villages-and
put back on their feet hundreds of
French peasant families whose farm
homes were all but obliterated. The
saddest thing about it now is that all
thru the once devastated district Wom-
en- are doing practically all the farm
work. The male members OF these
families nearly all were killed in the
war"
The American Legion national head
quarters. cooperating with the French
authorities, is requesting every mem
Der of the American LHpeditionary
Forces who may have carried away
fragment of historic Rheims cathe-
1 drai in France as a souvenir, TO Seno
it back to Rheims.
Battered into a mass of debris by
German guns. Rheims cathedral, fol-
lowing the armistice, was a mecca Ior
souvenir hunters, Thousands of mem
| bers of the A. e. F. visited the ruins
and French authorities declare. many
carried away pieces of statuary and
other elements of the fabric OF ths
/ old cathedral Parts of the stately
edifice, put in place hundreds of years
! go and sacred to every french heart,
were priceless.
The reconstruction efforts are aimed
| toward replacing all former portions
that can be recovered. The French
people hold that it is an insult to
| Christianity and to the French nation
| for individuals to retain bits of the
cathedral as souvenirs, according to
Maurice Barres, member of the cham
Der of deputies and the French acad-
emy and leacer of the campaign TO
collect all availab' pieces.
''It is time that souvenir collectors
understood that this or that fragment
| of Rheims cathedral is vital part
| of the organism of the cathedral and
| that organism seeks RECONSTRUCTION
said NJ. Barres.
| Many fragments have already been
returned he says in his open letter to
| America, and it is to further this cause
that the Legion is making its appeal
to former doughboys.
| The American Legion member who
attends the fourth annual national
convention, October 16 to 20, of which
New Orleans is host, will encounter
more history to the square inch than
in any other city in America. To the
e--fighter the famous old port city
will reveal tho marks of two centuries
of spirited existence, inspired by the
deed of ex-service men of other days.
| Founded by Bienville in 171S. New
| Orleans has been under the French
flag twice; the colors of Spain have
fIoated over the city. the Stars and
| Bars of the Confederacy, and finally.
the Stars and Stripes of the United
States.
Many buildings intimately identi-
fled with the early history of Louisi-
lana and New Orleans will be seen by
| the LegionaEe in the old French
quarter. Prominent among these is
4 the famous Cabildo. a structure OF
| distinct Spanish architecture, built in
I1795. In this building were held the
ceremonies incident to the transfer OF
Louisiana to the United States
Historic cathedrals, the "Old Alb
sinthe House." Haunted House" and
numerous other interesting buildings
i are preserved today as reminders OF
the past. The home of Iafitte, the
notorious pirate, may still be, seen
| "Mardi Gras," as a world-famed festl-
val, will always be associated with
any mention of the "Old" New Or
leans. The Civil war ana the W Orlu
war temporarily curtailed the Mardl
Gras celebration, but aside from this
the festival has been celebrated every
year for nearly a century.
Approximately 5000 Kansis Legion
aires will attend the convention.
Kansas high school students are to
have an opportunity to compete in
the national essay contest Of the
American Legion. Detailed plans 70:
the contest have just been received
by State Adjutant Frank E. Samuel
A total of 81, 500 in cash prizes in ad-
dition to medals is being offered as
awards by National Commander Han
ford MacNider for the best essays
on How the American Legion Can
Best Serve the Nation"
The winners of first place in the
entire nation will be awarded $3.50,
winner of second place, $500, and
third place, $3.50. In addition to these
grand prizes, winners of first and sec
| ond places in each state will be given
| silver and bronze medals. respectively.
The rules of the contest permit any
I high school student between II and
is years of age to compete.
| The essays must be submitted to
the local Legion post adJutant by
August l, and are limited to 300
words A committee of three judges
lappointed by the county superinten-
dent then will select the three best
from the county. A similar state COM
n1ittee will select the three best in
the state and a national commit pc
will select the three best in the ma
ltion. 1t is expected that results OF
the contest will be announced short
ly after October 1.
Each Kansas Legion post has been
reouested by Adjutant Samuel to en-
courage high school students to sub
nit essays.
The Kansas department of tbs
| American Legion auxiliary led al
| other state departments in the mason
for the amount contributed to the
overseas fund of the Legion, accord
ing to a report received by State Sec.
retarv Emma Hadorn from nationa