Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-09-13

Of August has been crowded the pain and
sorrow OF normal year. The tender ties
OF family have been torn asunder and
social lite blasted. Homes we're bereft OF
fathers, wives OF husbands. mothers OF
sons. The myriad nerve threads Of bust
ness, industry, study ard recreation. were
severed In an instant
In business sense, Paris IL a dead city.
More than half its shops we're closed in
| three days. the steel shutters drawn and
boitod. Martial law enveloped tho city on
August g. Bars and cafes were closed at
| s y. m. restaurants at $3.50. Industries and
building operations stopped for want OF
help. Surface csrs became rarity and
none we're 20 be seen at night. Under
ground roads were reduced TO Quarter
service and suspended entirely after 6 D.
m. Thus a tourist, n at all disposed to
see the sights was obliged 20 use leg
power or pay millionaire rates for cab.
Precious fow were so inclined, their
thoughts and energies being centered on
ways and means OF getting out OF the
city rather than taking Il in
on the evening Of August I the Ne
braska pilgrims strolled around the Ave-
nue. de rOpora. Rue Rivoli. boulevard
des Capuchins. Boulevard de La Paix,
and some intersectlng streets, where In
better days night life Is said TO be gay
est The time. between $50 and IT,
Throughout the stroll Of probably two
mlles We did not meet one hundred civ
Hans. Policemen and soldiers in pairs
were plentiful Every place, with tho ex-
ception Of hotels, was closed and dark
Net light Rlmmered through the drawn
shutters. The rows OF arc lamps threw
their garish light on deserted streets,
casting shadows as sepulchral as a full
moon in a cemetery.
A Melancholy MOckeFy.
Gay Parcel" What q melancholy
mockcry It seems TO apply the name to
the capital at the present time. A week
before, full OF life. animation, business
activities and summer ioyouBness; today
stupefied by the calamity OF war. It's en-
ergies and resources turned from peaceful
pursuits to the defense Of home and
fatherland. and It's manhood offered as a
sacrifice 10 the Moloch OF mil,tarism. The
people were calm. but determined, meet
Ing the situation confidently. because the
war, though surprisingly sudden to most
people, was expected by the French. A
business man with whom had dealings
said In answer to a question, mo, no. tho
war lie not surprise TO us. We expected
IT, We have been preparing for H. For
years Germonys treatment has been in
tolerable. We hope to win. II we are
not victorious France will cease TO be
France and become a puppet-provlnce OF
the German empire" The speaker In the
eldest OF seven sons OF widow conduct
ing trunk store in Avenue de rOpera.
-Four OF the sons are at the front. lie
himself expected to be called under the
extension OF service age to 80 years II
would not be of much service In the
marching columns," he remarked, but 1
can be useful in other ways and / am
ready for the call"
Similar sentiments were expressed bv
{. Miteau. French-American from
keota, Ia. whom I met In Paris. Mr..
Aiteau is horse dealer and has been a
frequent visitor to the South Omaha mar
Ret. He is visiting a brother, who has
two sons at the front.
Paris newspapers feel the deadenlnr ef.
rect OF war as severely as any line OF
ehNg UuNN Dten reduced to |
s'ns'e-sheet handbIll fashion, devoid Of
ADVERTISEMENTS. Three actually suspended
publication until after the war" their
owners and staffs going to tho firing line
10 prove that guns are mightier than
pens IN the present crisis. The most
UBIQUITOUS Of the afternoon papers are
La Patri and Information Newsboys
run hither and thither with various edi- |
ions, and II they carry news Of fighting |
thoush heavily censored by the authorI- |
oes, they are snapped Up by news-hungry |
Slowos. newspaper vendors are not az. |
49, 20 cry out the nature Of the news.
being restricted TO crying the mama ~ IN, |
Paper Every half hour OF the after
noon the streets resounded with hurry.
ING cries Of La Pat-three.'' "t,InJ,or.
each syllable broadly empbS.
SCFen ms of Amario.u.