The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-17
THE FRENCH CAMP.
Edmond About at the Fr0nt-FIis Views Of the
French Cnmp-Persecution of JonrnnIIsts.

Edmond About at the Front-His Views Of the
French Cnmp-Persecution of Journalists.
Edmond About, the distinguished French
writer, for whose safety grave fears have been
lately entertained, but who has finally turned up
safe, addressed the following letter to the Paris
SOir, dated From the extreme frontier July
31:"-
People speak from habit OF the licentiousness
of camps. The word RIGHTEOUSNESS continues
part of the language, but 1t is no longer part
of our practice. l am in the camp; am not
purbind, and have seen nothing like licenti-
business. 1t is characteristic of memory to out
live reality, and to hand it down long after it
has ceased to exist. Up to the last century,
when wars lasted many years, there was a long
interval between two campaigns which must be
filled up somehow; the soldier must not feel
eRnuS, or he gets ILL., A regiment of girls was
brought to the camp. Comedy began. Recollect
Marshal de SAKE and Madame Fayart in the first
place. French officers do not like to amuse
themselves without their soldiers. The trooper,
therefore, had his 'dears." Private Tulipe
and Sergeant Rance divided the favors of
Jeanneton, while the strapping fellows of the
staff courted Celmene. They INDUCED in
liberty OF language and manner which astonished
the nation somewhat although the nation was
anything but prudish. Now, the aspect of
camp is serious, not to say severe. Men who
sleep, well or i'll, under their tents awake in the
freshness OF the morning, and the mornings are
almost cold. They dress, take coffee, and pile
arms; every one is busy; there is no time for
ennui or melancholy. Several soldiers are
reading or writing, by which you see that the
average level of instruction has been raised.
Here and there you may hear a gross
expression, but you also often hear a bit of plea
santry in good taste as sharp as it is broad. The
very Arabs, those Turcos who so terrify the
Germans, conduct themselves like civilized men.
visited yesterday body of 1000 of these native
sharpshoOters. All the neighboring village was
walking through their tents, and were not in the
least shocked. Sometimes at the sight of
pretty Lorrainer, or blonde Alsatian, white as
drop of milk, a fire sparkles in the eye of the
African, he opens his mouth and exhibits thirty
two teeth which would gladly crunch the pullet
is all. The women are not over frightened at
pleased with 1t.
There is little or no marauding. The standing
crops which surround these cities of the canvas
are generally respected. But the soldiers are
often shamefully cheated by the small traders:
They sometimes pay three sous for piece OF
bread which is worth only one, and are charged
for yellow colored and bitter water the same
price as for the excellent beer of the Grand
Balloon. They have never taken their revenge.
IL is an exceptional case when they borrow
potatoes from the neighboring fields. They
are far from any town, the communications
are difficult; perhaps the officer has said
to his men somewhat imprudently,
Scatter yourselves abroad" All is fair
| TO a man who is allowed to scatter himself
abroad, and who has to depend on himself, but
| they use and do not abuse. i visited an en-
| campment with the Mayor of village. He spied
| in the pot potatoes the size of nuts which he
planted for his OVID use. well, my boys, where