The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-15
Henry Barrett Chamberlin in the Chi cago Record Herald.

cago Record Herald.
 ~ N THE fourth day of July, 1Te group of men, delegated to rep O resent the political entities known as the British colonies In North America formally regarding all customary rules of procedure, declared that those colonies were free and independent, that they would no longer been king ruled. A few short years later an angry mob with ep-throated menacing roar, voicing the woe of miserable millions. gathered around the prison of Paris. the Bastile, and throwing wide its doors, inaugurated the French revolution. This happened on July IA, and so this month of Julius, founder of line of naughty Caesars, has twice given birth to democracies, rerus- ing to believe in a divine right Of kings carrying with 1t diabolic wrong to the masses.
 As good Americans celebrate Independ- ence Day on the Fourth of July. so loyal French republicans observe Bastile Day on July A. Among the loyal French re- publicans there is always a goodly num- Der of Americans, for the day falls In the midst of the tourist season. Indeed, after the 14th no one that Is anybody IS In Paris except the tourists and the shop- keeper who waits for him. But on that day the town is full enough of people and of interest to satisfy even the profes- sional tourist. always eager for new won ders, new sights, new sensations
 On Bastile Day 1t chanced that among the hundreds of Americans so1ourning in the French capital four were young wom- en who had arranged to see all that they could of the French national holiday. Two had been in Paris long enough to lift themselves out of the tourist class, to use the vernacular unfiinchingly, and to meet the peculiar rudeness of the courteous French in kind. These two were students one a painter, the other musician, each taking a sort of post-graduate course Tn her art, in which each had already at tained a not contemptible proficiency. These two lived together in tiny apart ment on the fifth floor of Q big g'buiiding under direct charge of tyrant concierge who always inspected their feet perore nerpnttting them to ascend the stairs.
 Out at the famous course, Longchamps, the president was to review the French army. 600OO strong, and every one was anxious to sec the great mass Of soldiers sweep by the reviewing stand. The four Americans had three tickets commanding entrance to places near the presidential stand. They had decided that their sex, their nationality, their ignorance of the language, exaggerated if it were neces- sary. combined with the pressure or crowds sure to be seeking admission with thens would enable four to pass the tick et-taker, even though they lacked one
 ticket
 They accomplished the feat, saw the
 president and his party, thrilled at the
 glory of masses of men, sweeping by in
 orderly and disciplined fashion, though they laughed more than once at the lit-
 tie individuals in >baggy red trousers that composed the mass, fought their way through good natured crowds to the cars and go back to the city, where they wished to make arrangements for car riage in which they could with safety and ease ride through the streets that night and see the mirth of the people. This se- curing Of the carriage was Aol eo ooeJ a thing as 1t may sound. In every other day of the year cab fare is regulated by law. So much and no more can the cabman exact for each mile or each hour But on this day of the people the cabman can tax the trade what 1t will bear. So 1t was only after some haggling as to the amount that the four started.
 Had they so elected they could have gone to any of the national theatres and entered without fee, for on the national holiday the French government entertains the people in its theatres without money and without price. But it is worth more | than the price of admission to become one | of the many eager to witness different performances for nothing. The streets were vastly more interesting to Amer jeans not used to French ways. New Workers who visit the east side are mol | unfamiliar with street dancing.
 | In Paris, on the 14th of July, the day when the people came into their own