Evening journal., 1914-11-27


1t viii be recalled that a member
Of The North American STAFF. who was
in Paris at the outbreak of the war,
wrote a series of vivid articles which
depicted the change of the pleasure
loving capital into a city of quietude
and sObriety.
The impression which the writer
gave of the new spirit animating the
nation was not only entertaining, but
strikingiy significant. None Of the
tremendous moves on the battlelelds
has been more important or more
prophetic than this sudden transfor-
nation, this evidence of national ear
nestness and determination evoked by
peril which might have excused an
eruption of excited feeling Many OBJ
servers have testified to the appear
ance OF a quality which one of them
suggests by classifying the people as
the Unconditional French"
Paris lost overnight its air of un-
thinking gayciy and careless ease
The whole facc of the city was alter
ed. There settled down sense. Of
gravity that was as far 'emovcd from
panic as from exultation. The out
burst of mingled execration and boast
ful defiance against the enemy, which
a good many of as expected. did not
take place. Instead. there was a reye-
lation Of quiet, businessiiSo efficiency
that made the world marvel and ad-
mire.
Tho eNcitable Gaul of popular carl
eature is a figure with authentic his
torical basis bIt those who looked
for him to exhibit his picturesque
activities in this crisis we're disap-
pointed. Confronting the supreme test
of nations sanity and spiritual vigor,
the French people showed dignity
and self-command which had been
thought foreign to their nature.
With the declaration of war, the
accustomed spirit OF light-hearted
political agnostcism literally disapc
peared. LA patre.' an agreeable
abstraction compounded from the le-
gend OF Joan or Arc and the exalted
measures of "The Marseillaise,' be-
came stern reality. From the capital
to the remotest provincial village the
machinery of mobilization, equip
ment aud transport moved with swift
precision. This, to be sure, was a
tribute TO governmental preparedness
far more significant was the spirit
in which the people met The long
dreaded emergency
The rigors of material law were
submitted TO with uncomplaining
obedience. Those who were called TO
the colo.s responded quietly, readily
and without heroics. The terse pla-
cards announcing mobilization orders.
the speeding TO and fro of officers. or
derlies and cOuriers and the passage OF
dctachihents Of troops in service uni
fotm were almost the only signs Of
military activity that were relied upon
to check a mighty army of invasion.
And these created fewer demonstra-
tions than trivial diversions were
wont TO cause in times OF peace, The
regiments marched away amid a sort
OF grim cheerfulness, but without
arOusing any extraordinary excitement
or ebullitions Of popular ardor. The
street crowds uncovered as the colOrs
passed, or waved their hands in mute
! farewell. There were no cheers, no
bands blaring martial music, no bugles
sounding stirring calls.
What confusion there was in Paris
said observers, arose among the
tourists. who had been haltdd i'm their
journeys by the sudden interruption
or ordinary railway travel. These
showed far greater perturbation than
the people whose very national ex-
istence was at stake. Many an Amer
lean who could not find taxicab to
carry his trunk to the station showed
more agitation than French men and
women who had seen their sons march
away into the unknown.
The steadiness and restraint of the
French under stress were in striking
contrast To the tumult OF patriotism
in Berlin. where the streets we're
filled with wildly enthusiastic parades
and the Kaiser and members of the
imperial family we're hailed Wills
cNultant demonstrations of loyalty
Even among the "phlegmatic' Eng
lish the war declaration caused an
outburst of feeling and cheering
thrOngs massed themselves at the
gates of Buckingham palace until
the King and Queen showed them
selves and acknowledged the accla-
nations of their devoted subjects
True, this tendency subsidized quick
ly; but among the French IL did not
appear at all.
The popular conception of the
French character had its nearest ap-
proach following the brilliant but flu
tile dash into Alsace-Lorraine dur
ing the opening days of the war But
the sentiment aroused contented il
self with draping the tricolor over
the mournful statue of Strasburg in
the Place de la Concorde, which for
iorty-thrce years had been decorated
with memorial wrcaths.
Otherwise the people maintained
! their attitude of studied calm. The
suppression OF news was accepted
! without resentment. No generals
were named to arouse popular plaud.
its. Each day of the threatening
German advance on Paris seemed
/ TO find the national spirit steadier
! The departure of the government
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