The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1944-11-09
Hal Hall
Writes From
France

j NJINV
The following very readable let
ter was received this week from
Sgt. Hal Hail. former reporter on
the Western News staff and new
with the armed forces in France.
Under date Of October q, Mr.. Hall
writes:
Today l lunched with a countess.
This morning | left the hotel on
the simple errand Of picking up my
laundry in the neighborine town.
After checking that detail and find
ing | had misunderstood Lundi
Monday TOR Mercredi, (Wednes-
day., l wandered around the village,
finally ending up at a book store,
Upon entering the shop, noticed a
small grey-haired lady, dressed in
grey Stacks and red jacket, but paid
no further attention. Soon she came
to me and asked If knew of some
way she could send letter to her
husband in Paris. She said her
French post was slow and her mes
sage was urgent. After speaking on
the subject for few minutes, she
asked if | would care to come to her
farm for lunch. As I had the after
noon free, | readily agreed.
She had purchased three and one
half leaves of delicious smelling
french bread and some apples, so we
took the basket between us and
started the two kilo trek to her
farm. The walk ended quickly for
conversation flowed like water.
learned that the lady's home was
in New Jersey and that she had
come to France to live some 16
years ago. Previous to that time she
had visited this country many times
for her father was an artist and stu
died in Paris. Although her pass
port has expired, she claims to be
a citizen of the United States, fav-
ing never agreed legally to accept
citizenship in. France regardless ~
| hat marriage. Her husband. Orazi
(Horace to mel worked for some
time in New York bank and al
present is banker in Paris. His
title comes from the 18th century.
Upon arrival at the farm her ID
year old son was introduced to me
after which we took turn over the
property. 1t is delightful place
large vegetable and flower
gardens, vineyards and a small
brook with fish) flowing through
the center of it all-complete with
an Italian farmer and family who
are q gathered) communistically in
clined
Lunch was served by a not-too-
pretty French maid and consisted OF
very tasty Drowned potatoes, ground
beef and some sort of something
that looked like cased sausage. Al
forwards she told me this was
! French pigs blood and cabbage. II
had known before l probably
wouldn't have eaten it but as il
was highly seasoned | rather rel.
lshed 1t. | have, as yet, no i'll effects
VI course there was the usual rec
wine. The dessert was French grape.
and apples.
The son and daughter Mari;
Josef or Maryjo, age l2) luncher
with us. Neither can speak English
SO their mother translated. They arr
nice youngsters and anxious to visi
| America.
After lunch the children departe.
and Countess Guicciarti and I hat
coffee and conversation on the patio
My suspicious as to cOmmunistic &C.
tivities in France were confirmed
Conditions in the government here
are indeed deplorable and many
moons will lapse before this coun
try is again stabilized. Under exist
ing conditions (and unless De Gual,
takes much firmer grip on affairs
France is headed squarely for
government similar to that of Rus
STA. The strong and intelligent mel
are at this time either in the arm,
or in the occupational army in Ger
many. Local government is beinI
controlled by the slackers who hav
avoided the conflict in one name
or another. (This opinion is not on
cleaned only from my conversation
OF today but rather over the perio,
OF my stay here and from talk witt
, several citizens.) Even after the wa
with Germany is won, there will b
so much to be settled that | doub
; if normal and prosperous times vii
, come to any part of Europe 70
many years.
AT 3 o'clock decided | had bette
, leave for ! wanted to 60 to anothe
town to take a douche (shoWer,
! explained this and the lady said
was welcome to use the facilities c
her home so ! had splashing goo
t time in nice hot shower.
!. Took my leave shortly and re
! ceived an invitation to come back !
I. any time and shall for l can't be
gin to say how much the day wa
z enjoyed in conversation with a
American, who from actual associf
] ton, knows of the niceties as we
s as the problems of this land of tn
+ tri-color