THE BATTLE OF SAINT-MIHIEL

roads. Moreover, we know that it was the Romans who, many centuries ago, began to build the French highways to have better military communications with Rome. Therefore, you see that we have begun well, for in our large states they x have already built highways that will soon cross the country in all directions.

We prefer to pave the streets of our cities with 2 bricks, 2 stone, or even 2 asphalt, but usually the highways which link two cities are paved with2 concrete. On the contrary, in France these highways are generally macadamized.1

These admirable highways fill me more and more with admiration. They are generally bordered on both sides with trees, but, strangely, sometimes this border is composed of fruit trees. Naturally I was astonished when I saw this. I racked my brain to find the reason for it. Why had they1 planted cherry trees and apple trees there? I could find no good explanation. Hence, I thought that finally I would be able to catch our chauffeur unawares.

But no. This man seems to know everything. He quickly told me that many municipalities employ this means to obtain money for the maintenance of their excellent roads, and that for 3 some years the sale of this fruit has been sufficient to pay the salaries of the road menders. What do you think of that? Can you imagine that in the United States?