Our Despatches from the Front (No. 149).
Page 18
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Impromptu Concerts and Unwelcome Visitors.
IN THE VOSGES.
20t1 June, 1917.
It seems but a short time ago that I was writing of extreme cold, and now we are suffering from extreme heat. Up here in the Vosges mountains spring is always short, but this year we seem to have missed it completely and to have .jumped direct from winter to midsummer, from mud and snow to dust and flies. Now we have to be careful on certain roads not to travel quick enough to raise a dust cloud, while the night journey over the exposed mountain road cannot be started until about 9 o'clock, or even later on a fine evening.
Our advanced posts up in the pine-clad mountains are now much sought after : one is at least moderately cool there, while down at the base at G— even a shirt and slacks are conducive to an overdressed feeling.
In the cool of the evening our "poilu " friends get up some remarkably good concerts. At one post there is a small concert-room, complete with stage, in a semi-clogout, and it is a funny sight to see the audience rolling up in force, equipped with tin hats and gas masks. One of the artists is a splendid female impersonator, and is often presented to strangers with complete success as " Mademoiselle X., of the Folies-Bergere, who has come down specially• from Paris, etc., etc."
1356 , Civilisation and Savagery.
A few nights ago I was at a very ambitious concert at the base, where the artists were all well-. known professionals. The general and staff were present and the house was crowded. A well-known tenor, now a driver in the Service Automobile, sang splendidly. Another professional singer, in his uniform as sergeant of an infantry battalion, had walked in 20-odd miles the previous day to give his services in the cause of charity; for the proceeds were to be given to a fund for comforts for the wounded. A celebrated humorist from a Parisian music-hall convulsed the house, and a few minutes later the tenor's clear ‘tones in "Aux rnorts pour la France" brought tears to many an eye. Outside in the clear moonlit sky one could hear the hum of aeroplane engines as a French bombing "escadrille" passed Over towards the lines on a, reprisal
raid. This was is a weird mixture of civilization and savagery, of pathos and humour, of intense excitement and utter boredom ; I often think it is just this " mélange " _which allows us to stick it out, day after day, without losing our sanity.
'1 Should like to See a Trench Raid!"
Just at present we seem to be inundated with brass hats on tours of inspection ; occasional journalists are brought round, too, more or less chained up and under escort. One of these gentlemen unconsciously brightened a period of boredom and amused a whole division. He was provided with a tin hat and gas mask, and taken off to a moderately quiet bit of front line trench where he could not very well get hurt. There he was shown everything and was duly and deeply impressed.