WITH THE A. E. F. IN FRANCE
course I said yes, and we had a real party! One of the men had received some pop corn from the United States, which was a great treat, as they do not have it in France. Besides this, they made a big bucket of chocolate, had sandwiches, and roasted chestnuts in the open fire. Some boys from the Glee Club came up and played and sang, and we all sang some of our hymns. Then we sat around in the firelight (our gas went out at nine o'clock) and told stories. It was a most enjoyable time and they were all so appreciative and said they would never forget their New Year's Eve in the Christian Science Reading Room.
“The demobilization began along after Christmas, the Army Schools being gradually closed, and the outlying forts evacuated. This was not done all at once, and our congregation kept up right along, averaging about thirty men each service. This continued through January and February and the Room was finally closed the first of March, 1919.”
TOURS
Tours, with a population of about 100,000, is one of the most remarkable and interesting old cities of France. In peace times it is frequented by visitors of all nations because it is the center of the famous château district of the Loire where much of the early history of France was made, and because it is here that the celebrated St. Martin established the Abbey St. Martin which played such an important part in the history of Europe. It was to this Abbey that all the kings of Europe were wont to repair with rich offerings for benisons upon their projected activities, good and bad. Here also the monks of the Abbey St. Martin and of the Abbey of the Marmoutiers plied the art of bookmaking, and in the library at Tours are some of the finest specimens of these early manuscripts.
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