I am fascinated by the figure of death, and the hourglass that the knight ignores in Durer’s print, but that night I dreamed death dressed as a priest peeked into my bedroom while I was asleep and I woke up terrified.
August 1, 1914
War has been declared. Recruiting posters went up all over the neighborhood—men must report to their local headquarters to be drafted into the army. Papa says he will probably be assigned to an administrative office: perhaps in Paris, or nearby. André, after training, will be sent to the front. There are crowds of men at the Gare de l'Est, waiting to be mobilized.
August 5, 1914
The first soldiers left today. All of Paris turned out to see them off. The officers looked so handsome in their red trousers, dark blue jackets, and mauve helmets. Each man had a f
