The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-05-13

that a French archaeological ex-
petition built to house some of the
things they found in the excava-
tons They built it on a grandiose
scale. 1t looks for all the world like
those castles that were built in days
long gone by. Battlements, bas-
tons, in fact everything that a cas-
tie should have. The only thing
missing was the moat around it,
A knock on the massive door
opened ii to us and we were greet
ed by sleepy-eyed caretaker We
were told that the French when
they left had locked the museum
part Of the castle. but we were free
10 roam around the rest Of the
place. After passing through stair
case after staircase we gained the
roof. where we had superb view
Of the surrounding country. Pic
lures of course We're taken and We
got a good birds-eye view of the
excavations and could make some
sense out of what appeared just an
ordinary row of hills Going down.
we passed sunny courtyard where
we saw some Persian Soldats'
busily engaged in the Iranian ma
tional pastime of hunting for COO
ties in the seams of their clothing.
They were hot on the trail and
took scant notice Of us. Then We
left for the excavations.
To give you some idea of the dig
gings. visualize slice Of cake, pre-
ferably Danish layer The ground
is dug so when you stand at the
base of the various pits the walls
are perpendicular and you can see
varying layers OF gravel, bits of pot
terry and other rubble. 1t seems
that cities were built and when
they were conquered they were
torn down and new ones built on
the ruins This happening in one
spot for almost five thousand years
would make a lot Of layers. The
French have cleaned out the site
on which Alexander the Great
built a great temple and palace
!. dedicated to his sister. GOOD heart
ed cuss.l The columns which art
: immense. are all tumbled in every
! direction. They claim it was de.
stroyed probably by an earthquake
Directly below this are the rem
nants Of the city Of Shushan a
its greatest glory. Alexander hae
: used some Of the pillars as road
way. He took these from the palace
that Esther, the Queen, lived in.
! Read again the book of Esthe
: SO you can visualize all that | felt
! The whole exciting story; Ahas-
uerus, Mordecia, Haman, Esther al
those great characters, and me priv
. ileged to trod on the scenes Of this
exciting drama.
! The fellows by this time were
picking up bits of pottery and dig
ging in the excavations. We all load
J ed our pockets SO that we had
: hard time finding room. When WI
;. found a more interesting bit VIZ
: would take quick inventory anc
discard the most uninterestlng AT
), ter a few hours we trudged back *
: our camp and had supper. Aftel
= supper we started a bonfire, hae
: some singing and general josnint
and kidding. Then the office
] made a most welcome order of thu
: day-to some. He said that mas
: much as this was vacation triI
: and the poor privates always catcf
:, guard, he decided that the private
should sleep and have the sergeant
: and corporals stand guard. This or.
, der was greeted with cheers by al
/ Especially the privates) since b.
/ this time the heavens had openec
and it was pouring down the con
ventional cats and dogs. II mus
have been delicious to the private:
to snuggle under the blankets anc
think of the poor non-coms ou'
there in the chilly rain The next
morning we spent at random, roam
ing these ancient Holy Lands, anc
as we returned home after dinner
our bunch was a tired but happy
bunch when we reached camphome
| laden with crockery, mud and hap