Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-15
REGULAR SCRAPPERs

ike tTencnmeh. OUT WISH they were
bit more actually courageous rather than
just theatricaliy brave" said bright Pitts
burg girl who recently came to Washington
to live, after residence Of five years in the
Latin quarter of Paris, where she studied
singing. Theoretically Frenchmen are the
bravest men on earth-but they haven't the
least idea about fighting, as we understand
fighting. That's where our men--I mean
Americans and Englishmen- shine. They
know how to fight. won't permit my
self to acknowledge that I. or any other
girl. look upon fighting among men as
anything short of barbarous, but. some
how or another. when the moment comes.
and the American or Englishman we know
and like seizes upon the moment and fights
because the fight is placed up to him, and
fights like a somebody who knows how to
fight-well, I suppose there is something
elemental in us. and we can't help but
think it fine thing that the man Of our
race and breed knows how to do the thing.
and is almost bound to be the victor when
pitted against a man of another race.
Just now I am thinking particularly OF
an incident that occurred at the Julian, IN
Paris, not so very long ago. l didn't see II,
OF course, but l heard all about 1t from
many sources. It was the talk of all the
studios for long time.
There was-and is-a certain - young
American student in painting living In the
quarter whom I knew very we'll. He was
quiet man. Big and broad-shouldered,
but not in the least self-assertive. fine
painter. and man who will make name
for himself In the world Of painters.
His school was the Julian. Now, there
Is a rule there-an unwritten but meme the
less binding rule-that at the dfe class 1t is
matter Of first come first served as to who
gets the forward seats nearest the model.
None of the students had ever questioned
this rlllo- The who gets the forward
seat Is allowed to hold II, the same seat,
that is to say. for week. 1t has been the
rule Of the school for many years.
1.-The American, without any particular
shouldering or elbowing, got a forward
seat close to the model because he was on
hand early. Now. for some reason or other
not explained, the French students of the
class didn't like the American. He was
talented for one thing and he could draw
all around most of them. wherefore he
gained good deal Of approval that was
not music to their ears. Moreover he was
Americana, which in spite Of all the talk
of French American amity. Is about the
same as being Anglaise in the quarter.
"They didn't like to see him. up there in
that forward seat so close to the model, so
they began to pick on him. The American
paid no attention. They made crafty, sly
little remarks meant for his ears He gave
no sign that he heard, but merely went on
with his drawing and never even turned
his head. He didn't deem them worth his
while. He probably felt in his soul Of
souls that he could easily thrash a great
many of them, but his view was, doubt
less: What's the use?
so he paid no attention to their mean
little remarks. But an English student
sitting directly behind the American re-
scented the talk of the French students.
What are you going to do with these
rats? he asked, bending over to the
'Nothing-I haven't time to bother
with them and he resumed his work.
Just at that instant something hap
pened. One of the French students, find
ing that the American was not to be
aroused by any mere remarks, tried an
other system. He picked up some sort of
a missile and furtively tossed 1t. The lit
tie missile struck the crayon in the Amer
leans hand and knocked it from between
his fingers. Then the American and the
English student exchanged quick glances.
They understood each other.
The American rose in his place.
" I want the cur who did that to stand
up in his place. he said quietly to the class.
There was no movement. Now. If 1T had
been wholly English or wholly American
class. undoubtedly the man who had tossed
the little missile would have stood up. He
wouldn't have been afraid. He would have
done the square thing by his mates. There
was no movement.
The American and the English student
exchanged glances once more.
T" All right, old man. said the English
man. let's begin 90 ~.
They began. Such beginning! Such
an ending! -
"wen, 1t wasn't really any fight. you
know! 1t was too absurd! There were
nearly fifty men in the class. mostly
Frenchmen. The American and the Eng
lishman simply walked through them all,
trouncing them numerically. It may sound
Incredible; it is true. none the less. It
wasn't really any fight. The two artists
merely picked up the French students and
banged their heads together and tossed
them in a heap. A great many of the
French students ran away. If one of the
students attempted to use the savate-that
French way Of fighting with the feet-he
was simply slugged on the point of the
jaw and sent to the floor. Some of the
students did attempt some defense, but
there was no chance whatever for them.
Il was told by many that it was very
fine thing to see-I am shamed to admit 1t,
but the American and English girls in the
quarter actually thrilled with the story
1t lasted for ten minutes, and then the
French students were all we'll pummeled,
or had taken to their heels. The life class
was not reassembled that day. But the
next day 1t assembled and the American
and the Englishman took their accustomed
places, and not a word was said to them.
They were not molested again.
Delightful creatures some of the French
men. II they could only rise to the stature
of our own men when the moment ar
rives!'