The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-08-05


1--WE Frenchmen are wont to stand
aghast at the adaptability of Amer
leans, amazed at their conquest of OBJ
stacles that would seem overwhelm-
ing to us. The train hand who be-
comes a railroad president, the call
boy who eventually owns his own
theatre-these tales astound our
European conservatism.
"Well, one case in point which
recollect is good example Of your
transatlantic elasticity. A ball was
given for the benefit Of one of our
refugees in one of the big hotels.
"During the evening a substantial
looking man, clean shaven-an Amer
ican, knew at first glance-came up
to me and said he had once visited
our head refuge. l said that had
probably not had the pleasure of
showing him around. He answered,
No, hardly that he had not come to
inspect the premises, but to beg a
nights lodging. Then he told me his
story.
at appears that some years be-
fore he was a buyer for an American
firm, coming to Paris twice every
twelve months. He took to drinking
heavily and once when over here he
made some big business blunder and
his firm discharged him.
Instead of going home and seek
ing another position he stayed on,
wasting his time in cafes, going from
bad to worse. At last he took to
begging. After several successive bad
days when he had been turned out of
one wine shop after another, he fell
in with day laborer also out of a
job. This laborer proposed that they
both spend the night at one of the
refugees.
"The next morning the American
awoke soberer than he had been for
many a week. No doubt his close
contact with the dregs of Paris had
made him feel how much of an out
cast he had become.
an this repentant mood man who
had formerly known him in the States
ran across him and consented to give
him work. Soon the ex-buyer re-
turned to America and eventually Sc
cured good position. After lapse
of years he came to Paris again, and
hearing that there was to be ball
for the benefit of the asiles he pur-
chased ticket-they cost Sand
thus amply cancelled his debt of hos
pitality.
Another time an American artist
stayed one night here. l think he
came more in search of impressions
than charity Later he painted a
scene representing the men eating
their rations before retiring. l for
get his name, but he is now illustrat-
ing for one of the French political
weeklies. The picture was exhibited
in the Salon and he sent us a framed
copy.
THAT gift was acceptable enough.
But you should see some of the things
offered by well meaning but i'm
practicable benefactors and bene-
factresses."
The Baron led the way across the
sun flooded court of the principal
refuge, which accommodates nightly
900 homeless soldiers of fortune. The
court was lined with tubs of flower
ing plants, a witnes to the French
mans infallible instinct for alleviat-
ing the sordid by the artistic.
He unlocked the door to huge
storeroom in the basement. There,
among other things, were a richly in
laid but dust covered chest of draw
ers, shabby dress suit and a Psyche
glass, an exile from some Louis
Quinze boudoir.
YES" the president smiled in an
swer to his visitors amazement, "the
course of charity doesn't always run
smooth. In that chest of drawers are
a clowns costume, pair of gilt Slip
pers and several discarded decollete
gowns.
"Still such gifts are fortunately
rare, ana ordinarily we cannot COM
plain of the public's lack of generos-
ity. These Asiles-and there are
four in Paris accommodating in all
1900 persons night-are maintained
by charity, although they enjoy the
protection of the State. We have re-
ceived donations from all nationali-
ties. Lady Wallace, widow of the
well known English art collector,
left us large sums, and an American
woman, Mrs. Maxwell Heddle, be-
queathed more than 1000, 900 francs.
So you see America need not feel that
she is getting something for nothing
when her homeless citizens are our
guests for night"