DRIED FLOWERS FOR THE " POILVS."
[To THE EDITOR Or THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sin,—Among the barbed wire and the ruins of a French sector is a canteen (under the British Committee of the French Red Gross) whose staff, in the early spring, launched forth into an industry
hich has proved rather strenuous. It spent its leisure moments in collecting wild flowers, pressing and arranging them on cattle for the Poilus' Sunday correspondence. These, as fleurs du front, evidently go straight to the heart of fiancées, mothers, and wives, and the Poilus now come miles to buy their cards at two sous apiece. I should like people at home to know how easily they could give pleasure to our Poilus, and I think some will gladly do so—simply by, from time to time, pressing a few flowers, ferns, tinted leaves or fern mosses, and when these have dried a little, sending them to me, very flat in an envelope: Miss Harkness, c/o Comite Britannique de la Croix Rouge Franettise, 26 Rue de Chtiteandun, Paris, to be forwarded. Only a penny stamp is needed (O.A.S.). If in this way I could get a little " harvest home " of flowers, I know that when the time comes that there are no more round the trenches, the Poilus, instead of being disappointed of their cards, will not only be delighted, but touched to And their fleurs du front replaced by fleurs d'Angletert!e. Yellow flo*ers are not popUlar; pansies. (thoughts) and little blue flowers (happy memories) are faviturites. I am
sorry to say I never see your paper, but I shall know (I hope!) if you have been kind enough to print my letter.—I am, Sir, &c.,
L. BARENESS.
Foyer-Can tine des Dames Anglaise:, Comiti Britannique, C.R.F., (Ericre de la Goutte de Café.
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