Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1914-08-27
A Letter From Paris.
Paris, France.
August 8, 1914

Paris, France.
August 6, 1914.
will not leave Paris until the very last
minute, as all Americans are perfectly
safe, and if they have somewhere to stay,
aud enough money for their needs, il
would be crazy to leave at this epoch
making hour. Paris is certainly the
QuieteSt, least excited capital that was
ever al war. One can hardly imagine
the French in that role, but such IS the
case, and the order that reignS is simply
amazing. uSt one day was there any
rioting, when several German owned
shops were wrecked by hoodlumS- But
this was repressed so SternlY, some three
hundred rioters being imprisoned as Sc
dltiouS SublectSs "a serious charge IN
these times that II has not occurred again.
The whole nation realizes so deeply the
seriousness OF the task before il, the
question OF life or death, that II has no
patience for noisy or senseless demon
STATIONS. So at eight O'Clock every
night, every public eStablishmentin Paris
closes its doors and eXtinguisheS lis
lights, and from then on the whole city
is as quiet as the grave. The police al
low no gatherings of any sort, and you
have 10 move on continuously. II is alb
solutely marvellous the way the situation
is being handled. Except on the houses
and on people, you don't even see the
French flag. For just one day, every
thing that moved on wheels had flags,
but that night an order went out, and by
noon next day every flag had disappear
ed, as if by magic. Every thing that
might arouse false enthusiasm must be
avoided. There is enough OF the other
kind.
went down to see some of my Ger
man friends off on the last train out, and
the scenes at the depot that night were
simply indescribable, for there was a
perfect stampede TO get away before the
bars were put up, that cut Germans and
AustnanS off from their countries. Those
who could not get away have been sent
10 some town in the west OF France,
where they will be kept under watch.
Small wonder that with this indefinite
prospect, no one wanted 10 stay. The
train was absolutely damned with people,
no baggage allowed but one piece that
could be carried in the hand. There
were most affecting scenes, and II was
so distressing that just couldn't remain
after my friends had disappeared IN the
crowd. We have had our touch OF trag-
edy here al the house. Marcel Cren lett
Monaay, Haute- bourg, the Son-in-laW,
Tuesday. And in few days, Jean, our
concierge, a brave, honest, simple soul,
will 90 out and shoot at some brave,
honest, simple concierge OF a Hans,
neither one OF them understanding word
Nf oil fItc IinInr1racN and lCktnn only
thing, to be allowed 10 live IN peace.
The tarewellS were most affecting, and |
shall never forget or cease 10 hear the
sob chocked"VVe la France u that went
after each as he turned the corner at the
end of the Rue Rollln, and was lost 10
sight, perhaps forever, There is only
one Frenchman lett, Brio, who has been
reieCled for heart affection, and his dis
treSs is pitiiul. He has been 10 the Ma
yoralty 10 offer his services as street
cleaner or even as Scavenger, so as to
permit some one else TO 90 to the front
in his place.
As for Nine Cren, she has offered her
house TO the Reu Cross, in case OF need,
and she may be requlStloned al any time
TO lodge soldiers.
OF course am doing no library work.
All Libraries, museums, every public IN
Stitution except the churches being closed.
Also the buses have stopped, every SIN
gle one-only few street cars running
Still. Most OF the subway lines are on
only one-fourth schedule. The others
have stopped entirely. OF the taxls not
more than one-fouhh are running, those
whose chaufteurS are over military age.
1t IS hard for us Americans TO realize
the tremendous meaning OF war, when II
affects every family on whole continent.
When our Civil War was on, only a very
small proportion OF the country suffered,
and in the rest, affairs went on much the
same as ever. Here, everything is par
alyzed, and | suppose easily 90 per cent
OF the stores and public establishments
are closed because the men have gone TO
the front.
Provisions are a little scarce, as the
army must be supplied first, but That Will
last only few days. The first days OF
the scarcity, some few shops tried TO
raise their prices, but they had an eX-
perience that discouraged imitation, Tor
the crowd demolished their places, and
the proprietorS were arrested. We
haven't as much at meals as before, but
few cents worth of chocolate or fruit
fills the deficit. II is amazing how reg
ularly things move these days. Need
less to say, ! shall stay till the last min
ute feel that am having the oppor-
tunity of life time, and wouldn't miss
a minute OF il for the world. Paris is
certainly the safest place on the whole
continent, and personally, the war has
not affected my welfare one particle. !
have engaged passage Professionally, and
will sail on the lst or 9TH OF September.
John N. WARE.