Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 294, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 December 1918 — LOCAL BOY WITH PEACE ENVOYS [ARTICLE]

LOCAL BOY WITH PEACE ENVOYS

SON OF EX-CITY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT HAVING GREAT EXPERIENCE ABROAD. Russell Warren, son of Mr. and Mrs. I. N. Warren, has been stationed in Paris for the past six weeks on business, the exact nature of which he is not permitted to state, but which brings 'him in ’daily contact with the leading men of the allied nations as they assemble for the peace conference. He lives at the finest hotel tn Paris and enjoys such luxuries at he never dreamed could come to a boy of his humble estate. Recent letters to his parents read aa follows: - * Paris, Ntov. 19, 1918. r: 'A* 4:80 A.M. ■My dear folks: —

Prettk early in ttie morning all right, and this will help pass the time along, but work this time of day is pretty dull A little over two'weeks now since I arrived in Paris ahd in that time I have seen Paris changed from a dark and dead city to a bright and live city. Not all the lights are lit yet but enough to make the place look pretty at night Sunday they had or tried to have a big parade and celebration commemorating: the return of Alsace Lorraine. Never in all my life did I see such mobs. You couldn’t cross the street anywhere between the Arc of Triumph and Place Concorde at noon. Tehre .werh supposed to have been 150,000 marching in the parade, but they couldn’t keep the streets open long enough to even think of parading. They were supposed to march under the Arc of Triumph down Champed Elysus.Place Concorde, where a stand had been .erected and addresses were to be made by President Poincare and Premier Clemenceau.. The addresses were made but no parade. It is at Place Concorde where they have all the captured German guns, airplanes, tanks and other articles of war. SomeVone made a grab for a souvenir and then everyone started, and by the time the guardsmen could get the crowd away the airplanes certainly did look as if they had been thru the war. Some one cut the wire that all the German helmets were strung on, and they came clattering all over the streets. I got me a German machine gun and have it in my room now. I would like to bring it all home with me but I don’t know how I could do it. I’ll tear it to pieces and bring the best parts.

These certainly are rare days in Paris and I wouldn’t miss them for love or money. I don’t suppose there are fifty sailors in Paris and we are quite a curiosity; we can’t wear dur white hats down the street as some one will grab it for a souvenir. • People here connect us with the Marines that made the big drive at Chateau Thierry and nothing is , too good for us. It sure does look as if we would spend the winter here all right, /as they seem to think the peace conference won’t be held before the first of the year and we will undoubtedly stay here until that is over. I will certainly bate to leave, this city as it beats any place I have found yet outside of home. It Is beginning to get quite chilly, up here and I wish the rest of my clothes would come. Yesterday ft did snow a little but it has turned int orain now. I guess it won’t be long before some of the boys will start coming back to'the States. I notice where Daniels said they could let 50,000 out of the navy next month, but I guess I am not one of that number.. I am sure I don’t care, though, as I am having the time of my life now and now that the war is over, life in the ngvy will be a lot easier. Since coming up here I have had no mail at all, so I don’t know what you are doing or where my ship is. I look fbr mail every day. I don’t know just yet where I will eat my Thanksgiving dinner, but I know it won’t be as good as the one late last year. Wfell, two hours more and I will b through for the day. love to alt Your son and brother, RUSSELL I. WARREN. Paris, Nov-16, 1»18. My dear Mother: —

I would have written you sooner but we have been so busy celebrating here ■ that I have scarcely had time to eat and sleep. I’ll bet there was ho city in the < World that Celebrated like Paris did. I knew the armistice was signed 30 minute safter it happened but it didn’t come out in Paris until 11 o’clock. Never in , my life did I see such a sight and I never expect to see another like it it I live to be 150 years old. People were so happy they cried. Everything closed up and everyone turened out to celebrate. The streets were crowded with parades and it took me about two hours to go two blocks. I don’t think I was ever kissed so much in all my lire. People would run up crying "Vive la Amerfcaine,” throw their arms around you, kiss you on one cheek and then on the other. These French people certainly appreciate what we have dene for them and if .you were only closer so I could see you more often I would stay right here. It certainty has been a rare privilege to be here during such a time and I consider myself one of the luckiest people in the world. There seems to be no telling how long I will be here, but I probably won’t leave until the peace conference Is over and that may be months. They sent for the rest of our belongings so I doubt if I ever get back ship again. I don’t care, though, os lam seeing the country and enjoying life. < have had no mail for nearly a month now, and it is about time they were get-, ting it forwarded up here. We are having great weather up here now and most of my spare time is spent In walking around and seeing the city. I doubt ifthere is a city in the United States that equals Paris. One oftbe fellows has a kodak and we are getting some regular pictures, * nd , ®**’ getr time to get them developed I will try and send you soma Now that the war is owr they will start feeding us a little more. We don’t have to sign bread checks any rnore-emd last night I was able to get a couple of fried eggs. These people sure have learned to save all right; everything they have is of the very best but there isn’t enough of it I am getting about |4 a day to live on now and I find J can save a little money on that as I very seldom ever get up in ttane for breakfast and then it is the French breakfast of hot chocolate and bread and butter. x I see by the morning paper that there is to be a big parade and celebration here Sunday to celebrate the return of Alsace Lorraine. I will be busy though then, so I won’t get to see it I suppose we will soon know the plan for the demobilization of the army. They win certainly keep a good many soldiers along the Orman frontier for some time to come. I suppose the draft will step now and those that were in the new draft age can rest easier now. I see no, chances of the navy demobilizing any as can take our time about it Gee, but it our work is just commencing. But we

will be great to go to sea with all running llgbta lit and no darken ships at sor I o’clock. It does seem too good to be true. All I want now is aboSt a M day furlough, and I taww I wllf get it as soon as we hit the U. 8. lam anxious to hear from you and know bow they celebrated this thing at home. Love to all. Tours, _ f RUSBELL| L WABREN.