General and Mme. de Charette, since 1883. Notabilities who came to
Brittany, made it a pleasure as well as a duty to pay their respects to
the venerable hero and his charming American wife; they enjoyed a truly
southern hospitality, inspected the various historical souvenirs, the
flags, the banners, the presentation swords (gifts of devoted admirers
all over France), walked in the beautiful park, feasted on good wine
and good cheer, and departed with a pleasant recollection of all the
charms of this old-world manor, given to the famous general by his
ardent followers, the Papal Zouaves.
Madame de Charette wanted to offer the same hospitality to her American
compatriots as was offered to European royalty and distinguished
foreigners. So every Wednesday her doors are opened to 200 Yanks.
They find an excellent "goûter," a charming hostess, surrounded by the
ladies of the nobility from the neighborhood, who put themselves out to
amuse the "doughboys."
Music, singing, dancing, fill in the hours from 3 to 8, but what they
seem to like the most is to sit in the halflight in a circle, before
the great granite chimney-place, the logs burning and snapping, casting
weird shadows over these fighters from afar, on the heavy oak beams
of the "Salle des Zouaves," flitting here and there over the dark oak
furniture, catching a sheen of light from steel helmets, of a bit of
color from some pendant war flag. They listen to the old southern tales
and the history of the general's battles, or tell, themselves, of what
they have seen or done in this war of wars.
Among the French and Italian flags is one—a poor, tattered, faded silk
American one—cherished reverently by the family; for, in 1862, Mme. de
Charette (then Miss Polk) rode on horseback by a black night to warn
General Forrest of the approach of the Union troops. After the victory,
General Forrest presented this trophy to the young girl, saying: "My
child, thanks to you, we have won the battle; to you, therefore, I give
the flag."
Mme. de Charette's only son, the Marquis de Charette, was wounded
April 16, 1917, being the only man in his tank to escape alive; he has
fighting blood in his veins, for, besides his father's, his ancestors,
General de Charette fought at Yorktown with General Lafayette—as
well as General Leonidas Polk of the Southern army. We consider it
a privilege for our Yankee boys to see such an interior; our own
entertainments for them in our modern villas at Dinard being much
inferior in interest and attractions, but it is a great pleasure to
receive them.
Every Saturday a certain number—20 to 25—come to our home, "Val
Fleuri," and we give them American pumpkin-pie, cornbread,
potato-chips, cakes, chocolate, etc. Pretty girls dance with them, we
sing war songs, and old-fashioned ones, too, and although each Saturday
brings a new set, my husband and I are glad to be able to offer to
these "boys from God's country" an afternoon in our American home.
October, 1918.
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