Omaha daily bee., 1912-05-12
Prince in Paris
By PHILIP GIBBS.

guesJ, tne prince u "o4oot- 80 -
the Parisians as one more pledge OF that
cordia, understanding which has bound
together two nations, so utterly unlike in
spirit and ideals. in close comradeship
He is the grandson of King Edward and.
therefore. is most welcome TO a people
who had a strong personal affection for
a king whose qualities of character APP
pealed to them with irresistible charm.
For his own sake the prince is visi-
tor they are glad to have. HIS title
brings back old memories OF romance
and chivalry, as told In the chronicles
Of Froissart and in the novels OF Dumas
His youthfulness calls to the tenderness
and sentiment of a people who love the
spirit of youth. So as he strides py tne
side of his tutor down the Champs
Elysees or through the Luxembourg gar
dens the midlnettes nudge each other
and say. via 10 petit prince. CONNIE IL
est gentil," and French ladies, carrying
toy terriers smile at him esctatically, as
at a young knight sans peur ct sans re-
proche; and black-bearded Frenchmen
lift their bowler hats and then shake
hands with each other at the thought
that France and England have forgotten
all their old enmities and that this young
prince is q hostage OF peace. So Paris
regards the prince. snapshotting him by
sunlight and flashlight, and forming little
crowds about him as he walks.
But what does the prince think OF
Paris? Perhaps he has not formed his
opinion yet, but has given himself up to
the new impressions that come crowdins
upon him. But II Is good to be boy
On one's first visit to the capital OF
France. especially whom the spring Is
there. with a CLINT Of green along the
avenues, with birds singing in the Bois
with sunlight sparkling on the ripping
waters of the Siene, and with clear
blue sky above the white houses and pal
aces and spires. There Is q sense Oh
lixhtness and brightness and gaiety In
the city which exhilarates the spirit OF
youth. Though there 10 misery here, and
squalor. and grinding poverty. though
there are sad hearts. and sulien Souls
and men and women passionate In
despair. as in all great cities OF the
world one is not conscious Of them when
Paris is bright in the beauty OF the
snr,ng. One sees a lighthearted people
taking their pleasures gaily and gong 70
their work with smiling eyes, OUTSIDE
the innumerable cafes the Partisan sip
light beer and black coffee and yellow
absinthe. There is the music OF ciinking
glasses. the bugie notes Of motor horns
the cracking of whips. staecato shouts
the hoarse cry OF La Presse" the laugh
ter Of women, the faint dull murmur OF
distant traffic-the melody Of Paris
The young prince Of Wales upon his
walks sees every type Of Partisan lie
and everywhere he sees that divine
cheerfnlness which seems to animate
these people IN all classes Of society he
will see the market women OF Les Halies,
fat, comfortable and cheerful as they sit
at their stalls. bawling out the price OF
vegetables, chatting their customers
counting up their francs and sous He
will see little parties Of midinettes com
ing arm-in-arm across the Pont Neuf'
with rogliish eyes and tripping feet that
dance 10 the tune OF life. He viii see
the students slouching up the Boul
Mich" with their long black ties blow
ing in the breeze, their long hair strag-
Cling under squash hats. as they go for
a book at the Cafe d'Harcourt or cheap
dejeuner at the Chope Latino. where they
discuss the problems OF life with the
Irreyerence Of youth. with tremendous
cyniclsm. with q wit which turns the
sublime 10 the ridiculous The mouches
are skimming down the Seine with boat
loads OF CHEEKY bourgeois families. The
children are playing In the gardens OF
the Luxembourg with white-capped
nurses, and shouting with laughter out
side the Petit Guignol under the trees.
And up and down the avenues OF the
Champ Elysees there is an endless tide
Of automobiles. their brasswork flashing
In the sun-a pageant of fair women,
and Of all the rich people OF the world
who come TO Paris for their pleasure.
At night the scene changes. The spirit
Of Paris calls with different voice. II
is the voice OF witch with giittertng
ewes. Out Of the darkness there come
writing snakes TO light. whiriing wheels
OF flame light, flaming torches. colors
that flash and change incesantiy so that
the eyes are dazzled and bewfldered
Vast crowds seethe along the boulevards
and surge into the theaters Behind the
plate glass windows along miles OF
streets Paris sits down TO dinner, tucks
a white napkin under Its chin, and calls
for the wine list. But here and there
are quiet hiding places. where In the
darkness lovers linger, and the apaches
SLOUGH in the shadows with their women.
The moon rises above the towers Of Notre
Dame, touching its pinnacles with a
silvery light and pouring Its rays down
the Seine. Ghosts come out with MEM
cries Of old Paris under the Bourbons
and the vaiois. The old. old voice Of
Paris whispers to the spirit. as the night
wind fiutters through the leaves along
the ouais. and as the light of lanterns
from the iron brackets filters into court
yards Of quiet mansions which belonged
to famous families To the young prince
Of wales Paris will offer all her gifts
and all her beauty, with that witchsry