Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-04-14
WHEN PARIS E MAD.
BY NJ. QUAD.

! nad Deen with one OF the Frcncn
armies as war correspondent, and
with ii, or such fragments of it as
escaped humiliation or ~captureSI re-
turned to Paris. There was a spirit
OF dissatisfaction, disgust and mutiny
among the rank and file, and we
reached Paris to find even a stronger
spirit existing among ali classes of
citizens. 1t was the seed that was to
grow the commune. To this day the
French soldier who took part in the
war that was expected to humble
Berlin cannot understand that he was
outnumbered, o~utgeneraled and out
fought and that France rushed to
arms without being half prepared.
The defeated soldier will simply have
it that he was sold out by his gen.
eral. That was all the talk in Paris
as we fell hack-German gold had
bought victories-and the thirst for
vengeance upon the alleged traitors
vas intense.
/ had had enough of soldier work,
and I settled down to become a sta
tionary correspondent, although it
was only a few days ere nothing
could be sent out Of the besieged city
except by way of balloons. LAS Don
as I had found lodgings 4 secured a
military pass and accompanying 1t
a certificate from Minister Washburn
as to my nativity and neutrality.
These stood me in good stead within
the next week. There we're no doubt
many German spies in Paris, but the
people greatly exaggerated the num-
Der and were ready to denounce any
one not a born Frenchman. / had
been taking my meals at a certain
prices asked without complaint when
one evening the keeper of the place,
who was a surly old fellow at best,
attempted an ~extortion that l resent
ed. We had some hot words, and I
left in anger, and not more than an
hour had passed when I received a
visit from a trio of the national
guard. I had been denounced by the
old man as a German spy. The trio
consisted of a corporal and two men,
and when they had gained my room
the corporal saluted me and cour-
teously observed:
Sorry to trouble monsieur just as
he is preparing for bed, but the fact
is I am ordered to take him out and
shoot him."
For what?" 1 asked.
For being a spy in the employ of
Bismarck. Come, monsieur. We have
others to shoot and cannot waste time.
But you go a little fast, corporal"
protested one of the men as l looked
from one to the other and wondered If
it was a joke. Il think the orders
were to take monsieur before the pro-
vost marshal for Investigation"
Say you so, Francois? Well, what
is the odds to him whether he is shot
tonight or tomorrow? It will come
to shooting anyhow, and we have three
other places to visit before we can go
back. Be reasonable, monsieur"
For answer l showed him my passes,
named the headquarters to which l
had been attached and then related the
cause of my dispute with the owner of
the restaurant.
"Ah, 1 see," replied the corporal as
he scratched his head and smiled. ut
was the old mans little way of set
ting a 8 franc dispute, and he is pro-
badly making merry we it. Monsieur
American, you are all K. O., as | be-
lfeve they say in your country, and it
will give me pleasure to do a little
business with monsieur of the cafe.
Attention, squad! right face and for
ward march! We came for a spy, bu.
found n who had fought with us.
Good night, monsieur"
l went around to the restaurant next
morning. 1t had been turned wrong
side out and a number of children were
looking for scraps of food. Whether
the old man had been shot or driven
away l know not, but his occupation
had departed. l saw the commune
forming and realized what it meant.
and | kept away from the crowds as
much as possible and had little to saw
to any one. AS soon as the
got fairly under way and the national
guards went owe it they began TO
press men into the ranks to defend
Paris. had three or four narrow es-
capes from being pressed and finally
| aaESA W.