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Armistice

I read an interesting article by Maude Neville — daughter of A.W. Neville, Lamar County’s late distinguished historian, both of whom worked for The Paris News — dated Jan. 28, 1973. The series of articles by various journalists recounted the end of wars which they recalled, and Maude wrote about what happened in Paris, Texas, when World War I finally ended. I was struck by the finality of it. Will we live to see the “end” of any other war in our lifetime? Sometimes, I wonder.

She said the telephone call came at 1 o’clock on Monday morning, Nov. 11, 1918, and it was not unexpected. There had been a previous report that was in error when firing had ceased to allow negotiators to pass through battle lines, and it had set off a wave of celebrations across the U.S. However, this time, it was the real thing, and A.W. dressed and set off for the newspaper office, then on North Main Street. He was sitting by his typewriter, ready to go, when the AP message from Dallas came through, and carriers were waiting to rush out with the free “extra.“

Maude and her sisters had rushed downtown, also, with coffee and sandwiches, in case the news staff hadn’t had time to go to their favorite all-night café. She said the plate glass windows of the News were filled with these extras for people to read.

Downtown, there was pandemonium. Imagine it today. There were cars, trucks, bikes, horseback riders and hundreds just on foot screaming, cheering, waving. Factory whistles, bells, auto horns, guns, firecrackers. Finally, the police had to relieve some folks of their guns.

Hogue Manufacturing Co. provided a coffin with a wooden image of the Kaiser inside, and people could drive a nail in the coffin for a dollar (for war relief benefits).

Imagine the great luck of two squads of men who had already boarded trains at the railroad stations, along with 65 from Red River County, when the war ended. Maude said emotions were mixed; some rejoiced, and others cursed their luck that “it was all over” before they got to fire a shot “over there.“
Foolish men. Read about the slaughter and the casualties in World War I.

Maude described herself as a budding young reporter in those days, assigned to fill a weekly column on social events, and she said it was tough sledding, as people either weren’t giving parties or didn’t want them reported, lest they be considered unpatriotic.

It was a different world.

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