East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-11-12
FRANCE NOT TAKING
WAR TOO SERIOUSLY
CBy William Philip Simms. United
Press staff Correspondent

(By William Philip simms. United
Press staff Correspondent
LAGNY. oct 2s.-(By Mall to New
Nork.)-War. deaths twin brother.
Is great leveller OF classes. In this
part Of France. where the war has
actually passed. master and man.
mistress and maid. mingle as one
family.
am writing this In the only tav-
ern in the place which remains op-
en- I had dinner with the proprietor.
his wife. daughter.son. hostler. cham
bermaid ana cook. And "a good time
vas had by all" Everybody laugh
ed and cracked jokes al the expense
Of the Prussians and by the light Of
candles studied maps showing the
positions Of the fighting armies.
had a hard time finding a place
70 eat and spend the night. And II
was cold and raining. sleeping out OF
doors did not appeal. The Hotel OF
the Golden Nail (Augere du Clou
d'oO took me in.
Come right in. Angleesh." called
out the smiling proprietor. I'VE
have just returned from vichy to-
day and the hotel isn't running but
any Engiishman Is welcome to what
We have"
explained that I was an Ameri-
can.
"Oh, American and EngIish-they
sre % the same in France" he re-
turned. You've got a fine hospital
down in Paris. Ny eldest son.
wounded at the battle OF the Marne.
is getting well there now"
We shook hands. The proprietor
whom everybody addressed as spa
tron"-called his "patronne." his
wife. and we shook hands. Daugh-
ter. married but three months ago.
stepped up ana shook hands Son
shook my hand. the hired man shook
my hand. and the chambermaid and
madam's maid shook my hand. Then
all smiled hospitality and bade me well
come. And the nice part OF It was
the genuineness OF the whole proceed
ing.
II was fine dinner. Just back from
where eating was poor, It
was a feast for me. We all sat to-
gether. at the same table and there
was no table cloth; the linen had all
been hidden from the Germans and
there had been not time to uncover
L. The maid aired her opinions OF
the sales bouches (''dirty mouths"
slang for Prussians.) and the hired
man went her one better. When we
reached the ham and eggs. three
more refugees came in. a man his
wife and little girl. the latter Just able
70 walk and talk. They were given |
N all around welcome after which
hey tackled the soup in a way which |
showed determination to catch up
rith US before we got TO the straw
berry preserves.
Does 90 like the Germans?" the
title girls mother asked. showing off
he little tot
"CochOns." CPigs. Pigs,) the little
me responded just as other little chill
iren say Nasty, Nasty" And every
,ody laughed to the fond mothers
THAT was a good joke they play
d on those three German officers up
he river. wasn't it," the hired man
reclaimed
What was it," the little girls faith
? demanded.
why. hadn't YOU heard?- the
exclaimed. eager TO be
n the telling OF the story. why
hree German officers In a big auto
Mobile. dashed up in front OF Nine
)urand's house and asked the road
o Lagny. It's that way replied
Ime. Durand. pointing down the road
-hich led to the Marine. The big
uto whirled away and-Off the end
Z the stone bridge into the river. The
ridge had just been blown up"
and the three Officers were
rowned-or killed." the landlords
aughter added.
Served them right, sald every
ody
The door creaked and the land
,rd's son fox-terrier came in from
he stable and started 10 brush him
elf off along the skirts and trouser-
ags under the table.
"Prussians, Prussians," hissed the
oy. quite as an American boy says
ats, Rats, and the fox terrier scamp
red about the room. poking his nose
,to dark corners and whining.
was shown to my room by the
,ndlord candle in hand. And here
am writing by that same candle.
uilts wrapped about me-fOr It Is
old and damp here and there is no
re. There are thosuands and tens
1ousands OF households in France
lst like that downstairs. Tonight
ley all had dinner and talked and
,ked and laughed and grieved a lit
e. perhaps. in Just the same way.
France Is not taking the war too
eriousIy. She is not brooding all the
me. From what have seen she
ppears to be facing things with a
out heart and what griefs she has ,
ides Just as the landlords daughter
ides hers.
Good night,
Business OF blowing out candle)