all France; battles that the nation may be free 



Never was there a more wonderful example of a nation at war than the France of 1915 

 affords. Even great-grandmothers are not so old as to fail to contribute their share to the 

 mobilization of all the forces of the nation for the support of the firing line. 



often held in a "Scotch mist," that takes 

 the heart out of everybody but the in- 

 habitants, who are used to it, and turns 

 the roads and the fair grounds into gluey 

 yellowish-gray sloughs. The buyers and 

 sellers sit around on the fences, or on old 

 jute bags on the wet ground in the shelter 

 of a wall, or stand out in the mud, cheer- 

 fully gossiping, and now and then talking 

 cow or pig. Little pigs are for sale in 

 the markets by the firkins-full. The 

 canny housewife makes her selection, 

 tucks the uproarious little fellow tightly 

 under an arm, and goes contentedly off 

 with the squealing pig. 



WHERE PlCx, FOWL, AND FAMILY DWELL 

 TOGETHER 



The Breton is not noted for his do- 

 mestic cleanliness. In plain words, many 



of the peasant houses are so filthy one 

 hesitates to set foot in them. Floored 

 with dirt and roofed with straw, often 

 they consist of one room only, where the 

 sturdy family cooks, eats, .and sleeps, 

 along with whatever small animals they 

 happen to have. The fowls are very 

 friendly neighbors, who run in and out 

 continually. The pigsty is frequently 

 under the same roof as the family. 



The huge fireplace, big and roomy 

 enough to roast a whole sheep easily, is 

 full of cranes and hooks and spits. Down 

 one side of the room range the beds, 

 which, more than anything else, look like 

 closets, mounted upon deep chests which 

 contain the precious costumes for fete 

 and pardon. The Breton clambers into 

 the open mouth of the closet over one 

 mountainous feather mattress, covers 



417 



