4 Letters From the Front HARRISBURG MEMBER OF AMBULANCE CORPS OFF AGAIN FOR FRONT Just before his departure hack to the front, R. Franklin Etter, , bf this city, who is serving in the American Ambulance unit in France, wrote home, telling- of his experiences. He is finding the excitement delightful and writes that he con siders staying longer than he first intended. His description of 6n escadrille is very interesting. His letter follows: August 17, 1917. Dear Family: Well, at last we liave moved. We're off for the front la gain after over three weeks of re pose. I can jjay, that I don't think 1 have spent a uetter and Tnore enjoyable three weeks in my life than the three Just passed. Think of -It I Every day two automobiles Sfull of fellows go to the canal so we ican swim. We have a baseball game (every day in which all the fellows 3>lay. We can walk to all the nearby rtowns and once a week we can ride jSnto the big town near which we wre located. Our mer.ls, mighty good tones too, are cooked for us b>-%ur ""Cristo" who used to be head chef tat the Grand Hotel in Paris. The (villagers invite us to their houses to Itea and we talk with them and since 3 am beginning to understand French tfairly well I enjoy myself. Of course p*e sleep in our >r and like to. It as just like camping out and a thing piundreds of Americans would like f —! >a >' good money to do—go oamp png three weeks in France. Every two or three days we give concert in the evening, to which i kve invite the villagers. One fellow ] ps a bear on the flute, another very | Kood on the guitar, and a third plays j *he mandolin. Besides that, there i mrp several good voices In the crowd) land sometimes wo all sing. We have! (the concerts in an "Epicene," or lit-1 [tie grocery store. Every little village fhas a couple. The villagers are | itiekled to death to come and listen ; Innd it helps pass the time away. Last Sunday 1 went to church in Rhe little Catholic church of the vil lage. The tiling that struck me most •was the fact that out of a congrega- j ition of about 150. all the men ■crerej k>ither soldiers In uniform or very old bnen and the rest were women and , [children jyid every woman except! jjwo and every man except the sol jiiiers wore black ivtire!>l. You can pee by this how hard the war has hit [Trance. Practically everybody has piad some close relative killed in the 1 ■Avar. Dr-iorato Cars The night before we left, the vil- I SKIN TROUBLES That Itch and Bum Quickly Relieved by I CUTiCURA SOAP | and Ointment 25c. E&ch /k\ I - I i A New War Map I in Five Colors will be issued as a special supplement with the Phila delphia Public Ledger for next Sunday, September 23. m w . . I It is printed on heavy paper, showing in great detail the cities, towns, railroads, canals, mountains, etc., of the jjpr| ' B2 I Western Front lis I in France and Belgium, the territory in which our U. S. soldiers will soon be fighting. This map will enable you to keep up with their movements, as reported in news dispatches. 9 . The supply of these maps is limited, and in order to be jjj. sure of obtaining one notify your newsdealer TODAY to reserve a copy of Sunday's Public Ledger for you. I You will find in it—in addition to the war map—a number of notable news features. THE PHILADELPHIA Eg . PUBLIC LEDGER 1 The National Newspaper H FRIDAY EVENING, lagers, while we were at supper, put great big bouquets of flower* on each one of our cars and the next day wo were leaving, as wo went by, they threw llowprs at us. They said It was a sign of victory and good luck. They certainly wore sorry to see us go and some of them even cried. 1 must say they were very kind to us and did all they could to make us com fortable. In a way 1 hated to go but am glad we are going into action again. We left about 1 p. m. for a forty flve kilometer trip which is about thirty miles. It rained all the time but fortunately I didn't have any trouble with my car and a. little thing like rain, when every thing goes all right, is a small matter. We went to join our division, which is on its way to the front. It's a territorial division and made up of Moroccans, French, negroes, etc. They certainly are a queer looking mixture with their different uniforms, colors, etc. Near 100 Airplanes We stay two days in this town and then go directly to the front again. By the way, in this place the Aisne river has its source and yesterday I Jumped across it in one Jump. Some man, n'est ce pas? Near us are six Escadrilles ofj French aviators. There are fifteen j in an escadrille, so that makes about ; 100 machines. They fly over us alt the time, practicing stunts, etc. Toj see them loop the loop is a com-' mon sight. They do nose drives, fly j upside down, pretend they are falling! and spin like a top, attack imagin ary "Sauciseses" or stationary bal lons send out artillery signals, shoot, fire at balloons, practice with their machine guns and do all sorts of thing*. I went over to the field this morning and took some pictures and, talked with several of the aviators. One had brought down nineteen Ger- j man planes. The aeroplanes them selves are wonderful. Most of them | are painted a bright silver color with the French aviation it | ignTa oh the : wings and the tail painted red, white and blue. On the fussilage or body is the insignia of the escadrilla,' usually an animal of some kin-L painted in bright colors. Then a big ( number, the number of the machine.- in gold. They certainly are beautiful to look at and I got some wonderful pictures. They are all what they call chasseurs or fighters, and are tho fastest in the service. One month from my "per-! mission" is due. That means I get! two weeks off duty to go where I llko • KING WHO LOST HIS JOB IS GROWING FAT AND HAPPY ISglßfi J^H|NHR|gMHoKßßHN||^|Ho^BKi\^3j^^H^£SfiE 'V ; - ,'; t ,. v J y JJWLjWH jj •' V *BB™!* **£[■ Ex-King Constantino of Greece, who lost his throne largely because the queen, a sister of Kaiser Wiiheim, made him unpopular, is here shown with his children In the garden of the Palace Hotel at Lugano, Switzerland. The king- has taken on weight, and the lines have all baen ironed from his face since he arrived in Switzer land. He looks happy and contented. At his right is Princess Helen, and at the left Princess Irene and Crown Prince George. The king at the time of his abdication also abdicated for the crown prince, leaving a younger son on the throne, nnd this young man is having his o.vn troubles with the allies. and do what I want My railroad fare is paid to any place in France and return. I've just found out that we are being paid by the French government 5 cents a day. Think of it! But we never get it as we put it in what we call the "po-pot," i. e. It goes to buy butter or extra food. Doesn't Want to Leave Mother, I am seriously considering staying over here longer than I ex pected. It's all so wonderful and I am enjoying it so much that I don't want to leave. Since I can't do any good in America I want to stay hero and do something. What do you think about it? I haven't received a letter from you all for about two weeks, but I suppose it's on account of the irre gular boat service. Have you re ceived any from me since the last time you .wrote? I hope you have for I have written at least once a week and even oftener. By the way, my box hasn't come yet I hope you have sent it as 1 am \#titing tor it. I saw a bunch of American soldiers again and already they seem to be quite at home. Everybody in France is practically sure of victory now, since our army has arrived. They HAMUSBURQ GiSg&gfc TELEGRAPH I are all so patriotic, so hopeful and | so brave that we can't help but ad j mire and like them. I certainly hope ! that our army will come through soon and end the war and am sorry that I can't be in it to help more. Must close now and get ready for supper. I also must look over my car to get it In good running order for our trip to-morrow. Will write ! soon again and hope to hear from ! you all soon. Lots of love, FRANKLIN. BRAZIL SKNnS OUT LESS CRCDE RUBBER The exports of crude rubber from the Amazon district to the United States for the month of July, 1917, amounted to 2.154,715 pounds, com pared with 2,910,815 pounds during the corresponding month last year. There were no exports to Europe in July. 1917, although there were 1,667,760 pounds during July, 1916. No shipments were made from Ita coatiara, Brazil, and Iquitos, Peru, either to the United States or to Europe. BIG INCREASE IN NUMBER KILLED BY AUTOMBOBILE Insurance Study Shows In creasing Menace; Children the Main Victims I The startling fact that the death j rate from automobile accidents has more than tripled since 1911 is dis | closed by a study of the deaths j among the industrial policyholders :of the Metropolitan Life Insurance | Company. In 1911 the death rate from this cause was 2.3 per 100,000; in 1916 it had increased to 7.4. Dur ing this period the rate for each year was markedly higher than the rate for the year before, and that for 191G showed an increase of more than 3 7 per cent, over the figure for 1915. The steadily climbing death rate from automobile accidents .among the families of the country's wage earners is due, very largely, to fa talities among little children. This investigation has developed the fact that of the 2,507 policyholders who were killed by automobiles during the six years 1911-191G no less than 790, or about 32 per cent., were children under ten years of age, and 1,125, or over 44 per cent., were children under 15 years of age. Un less something is done to check au tomobile fatalities, the time is ap proaching when the automobile as an instrument of death among chil dren will become as serious and dreaded factor as some 'of the deadly epidemic diseases upon which the attention of .health authorities has long been centered. Thero- has been in recent years a marked de crease in the death rate from, such diseases as measles, scarlet fever, whooping cough and diphtheria, but the rate for automobile accidents (surely as preventable a cause of death as any of these) is increasing by leaps and bounds. Another condition developed by this study is the fact-that as far as the industrial population is concern ! Ed, more deaths are caused by au tomobiles than by surface cars, sub way trains, elevated trains, bicycles and horse-drawn vehicles combined. Indeed, in 1916 the 756 deaths caused by automobiles approaches very closely the 799 persons insured in the company killed on steam rail roads. The figures for Metropolitan pol icyholders, it must be borne in mind, represent, almost exclusively, pedes trians, rather than those who ride In the machines. This is particularly true of the children. A large part of this mortality, it is evident. Is due to reckless driving and to the heed lessness of children to the dangers to which they expose themselves. But whatever be the cause, it Is clear from these figures that the automo bile is an Important agency of death and that its control by the communi ties must be immediate and thor ough if improvement Is to be made. SYSTEM OF SUSPENDING CARS DISSIPATES SHOCKS Entirely obviating, says the Pop ular Mechanics Magazine, the need of shock absorbers, a new sort of spring has been developed which is suited alike for pleasure cars and trucks. It replaces the ordinary type of spring and is purported to carry a vehicle over rough roads smoothly and without the usual vibrntions and rebounds. In one form it consists of a wedge, supported on the axle, that works between two spring-con trolled rollers mounted in a frame attached to the body. In another instance the sides of the wedge are toothed bars against which- cogs. In stead of rollers, operate. The prin ciple of the device Is the same in each case. Coil springs, held hori zontally, are employed. Their re coil, after sudden compression Is exerted against the wedge instead of upwardly against the body. This causes the latter to return gradually and without jolting to ijs normal riding position. FLORIDA TO HAVE MMSTERS' HOME Eustla, Fla.—This city has been selected as the location for an In ternational and Interdenominational home for retired ministers, a de cision to this effect being announced by a commission of ministers and wealthy men who met recently at Cincinnati for the purpose of con sidering the advantage-offerings of municipalities in various sections of the Union. The home is expected to be the largest of the kind in the world, and thfe that Is inter denominational in character. It will be located on a 100-acre tract over looking two beautiful lakes. It was given by the people of Eustis, and is within a ten-minute walk of the businoss center of the city. In ad dition to the home and administra tion buildings, many cottages will be erected on the grounds. I^saaasaESsaasaasaas^^sasaaaasaaaaaasj "All Alterations Made Without Charge" 308 Market St. Have You Viewed the Fall Styles? | Have You Compared Values ? - If your answer to our first ques gar tion is yes, the answer to the sec |y fm \®r ond question will surely be in y favor of ASTRICH'S. Pi no Previous season were we S ° prepared to serve the I fr. women of Harrisburg and vicinity jif^'qj ' \ l\wf as we are NOW and in no Jwl ih other season have results been as jt &5 m iIBIIIC gratifying. The values we offer SB 1® Vl/j 4| ar . e . the B reatest ever, market con- HST *\l /1 Jy ' itions considered. iSti v ~ . ma^er what your taste may be yo" will be sure to be pleased with our &i Itti. ' Mft enormous showing of Suits, Coats, Dresses, Waists, Corsets, Millinery and t ' Shoes. | New and Distinctive Suits Priced at $35 to $95 | ifl m odeirr n n VebuTs an panne Velvet haVC just arrived are stunning i some semi-tailored' whUe are ® effects. Only oneof a style y dfeSS m ° de,S in P la,n and fur-trimmed CO ' __ | Women's AU-Wool Poplin Suits, Special at 9.r>o; worth to $35.00. j i other Smart ' StylUh Suits at 516.50, > | Coats! Coats! Coats! at $12.50 to $85.00 Already with the beginning of the new season, ASTRICH'S Coats >m are the topic of conversation in the best-dressed circles. The styles t ie co ors and the materials are shown in the largest variety in the city and make selecting a truly exclusive garment here an easy matter. Regardless of I 111 the amount of money you intend to spend we assure you of the greatest possible I ™„: y c E a v „7„ y Coat must bc * <■ prf |y p Arany arf ! arrivin R daily, among them—Velours Pataeonia cloths 4 Prke P s°Snge from ~ m Beetroot ' Black ' Grecn - Brown, Navy an'd Jade! $12.50 to $85.00 Id ' ty The New Dresses— New Fall Sweaters— ' ffl As in every other line of Women's Ap- To-day we show for the first time a host |p parel, you will find the new things shown of new weaves and colors—no matter how jnf| here every day brings something new— critical you may be, you'll find a Sweater te|| many new Serge Dresses have just arrived here to your liking. m 7o*r*le =n . See ° ur Wonderful Display | ?12 ' 50 ' $16.50, $19.50, $25.00 of Children's Knit Goods | A Special Sale of | fpk >)■ Hats at ® | Qr To make up Trimmed Hats to sell at the above price and yet to be up to the fIK/fW standard Hats our patrons are ac- II Lil ISa customed to secure seems next to impossible && under the present conditions of the high cost of materials, labor and uncertain express de- W liveries. See these Hats, they will speak for /A*/ Kj themselves. The shapes were bought before —/ the last increase in prices and trimmed in our A ' own workrooms and represent a greater value ill \ f\ than any other store offers at $4.98 \\\ \ 1 v-1 g Second Floor 1 Our New Slioe Department m KM Sh e m °x P ? PUlar ° f ", lc Season for women is the African Brown i| pneed ir " UmbCrS " ,at al>l,ea ' '° the m ° St I $7.50,58.50&59.00 ! \ l*f . Goodyear welted soles, leather Louis heels, imitation I {.I ' • tips ' c ' rcu 'ar and straight foxed vamps, with or without J Jj perforation new 9-inch models long receding toes. <; ' ce they are wonderful values indeed. I ' Extra Special V\ omen's Stone Gray Suede Lace Boots, \ \ with full covered Louis heels, welted soles \ —as illustrated easily 3k N. worth $9.00; spe c i a'l u B gy^arnggr SEPTEMBER 21,1917.