THE COAL WOMAN.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 348, 16 December 1915, Page 7

THE COAL WOMAN.

REPLACING- MEN IN FRANCE.

A (NEW ZEALAND LADY'S EXPERIENCES.

The well-known Christcfrureli singer, Mrs. Arthur Mead, returned to New Zealand by the Niagara recently, after a two years' absence from the Dominion. Mrs.. Mead has been studying in London,. Paris and New York, and was in the French capital when the war broke out.

She was able to get one of the Channel steamers in the wild rush from the French tourist resorts, and was en the last beat on which the passengers had any luggage. Mrs. Mead planned to go back to Pa t ris in September, but as the Kaiser had not then exhausted his attempt to break through to the gay capital, her return was deferred until the first week in November, when she return-id to study under M. Algier, r. well-known music-master. MK. Mead heard much but. saw little of the visit of the Zeppelins to Paris. The noise of the bombardment, rhe states wag a terrifying experience. The ai.r-craft raids were aimed at the Eiffel Tcwcy, where the principal wireless station of Paris is located, and 'is the house at which she'was staying" was situated only a quarter of a mile away frcm the Tower, and the Germans came near their mark, the experience was a nerve-wracking one for her. "The enly glimpse that could be obtained of the Zeppelins,' she said, "was when they happened to be caught by the searchlight. ELxcept for/ that we

saw nothing of the raiders, hut the night was disturbed by the roar of the bombs, which seemed to be so close that the house in which we stayed trembled and seemd to be the target of the bcmb-droppers."

After speaking of the strict precautions taken bjy the authorities to check the admission of German spies to France and England, Mrs. Mead paid a tribute to the marvellous fortitude of the Parisians in the trying times they were experiencing. Women were rapidly and willingly adapting them-

selves to the work cf men in every walk of life. She had even seen the the women delivering coal, which they had carried up five flights cf stairs. They acted as drivers and porters, swept the streets, worked as tram conductors, and even as chauffeurs. On every hand there were ever-present reminders of the war; ond yet cheerfulness and absolute confidence in the ability of the Allie s to win prevailed. Paris was indeed a city of hospitals. hTe wounded were met with every few yards. There was m escaping this grim and pathetic reminder of the presence of Avar. In every street one met men crippled in the most grievous and frightful ways. Men without an arm cr a leg. some who had lost both, men who were blind or Avere injured in other terrible ways were seen every few yards. Practically eA r ery male citizen in Paris wore uniform, for if the men Avere too old or unfitted'- for active service they Avere engaged in some other military capacity. "It has been a Avonderful experience for me, but I am glad to £et back to IXew Zealand again—New Zealand which seems unchanged, despite the terrible scenes that a.re being enacted 'at the ether end cf the world," added I Mrs. Mead.