1. Serving Literature. 2. On the Veranda. 3. At Play. 4. In the Library. 5. At the Cascades after a Hike.
Just here it might be interesting to read a translation of one of the letters written by the Mayor of Challes-les-Eaux, with reference to colored soldiers on leave there. After four wonderful months in the Leave Area, where we came to know every variety of colored soldier in France, we were sent to the devastated area that had been the front. Just as we were leaving, a messenger met us at the tram and handed us a letter that was so unexpected as to surprise us, but of which we were tremendously proud. It is impossible to reveal the real spirit of this letter in a translation, but this letter, similar to one given to Mr. Stevenson, expresses the feeling of the French people for our men as they lived in their hotels and moved in their midst. The following is the letter translated into English:
The Mayor of Challes-les-Eaux, Savoie, to
the Lady Directress of the Y. M. C. A.
Madame: In the name of the population of Challes-les-Eaux I thank you very much for the pleasure at your many entertainments. Give thanks to your very good amateur artists.
You have won the admiration of the population for the care that you have not ceased to give these black soldiers, who are wonderful children, with generous hearts, a spirit of good comradeship, possessing also a French trait—that of loving and making themselves beloved.
Touched by the welcome which is given them, their hearts are wounded because they cannot fraternize with their white comrades as they do with us, and they regret not to be able to express to us more than a promise to return to France, the country of fraternity.
We retain the best memories of their sojourn with us, where no incident has occurred to mar our relations. We are pleased with their good record.
We ask you to convey the greetings of the people of Challes-les-Eaux to their dear families and beg that they will accept our fondest regard and our sympathetic felicitations.
I wish to render to Madame Directress my perfect appreciation.