The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-10-24
CHAPTER XII.
Eaeh 3 FIamine centsr.


 Each Flaming Center ~ UGH was the last state of Paris,
 and such on a larger scale was
 the condition of affairs in Chi
 cago, and the same fate had overtaken Berlin, Moscow, Tokyo, the eastern half of London, TouIon, Kiel and two hundred and eighteen other centers of population or armament. Each WAS a flaming center of radiant destruction that only time covld queneh, that indeed in many instances time has still to quench. To this day, though indeed with a constantly dimin- ishing uproar and vtgor, these explo- sions continue. In the way Of nearly every country Of the world three or four more red circles, a score of miles fn diameter, mark the position of the dy- ing atomic bombs and the death areas that men have been forced to abandon around them. Within these areas per ished museums, cathedrals, palaces, libraries, galleries of masterpieces and . vast accumulation of human achieve ment whose ctarred remains lie buried. a legacy of curious material that only future generations may hope to ex- anime.
 The state of mind Of the dispossessed urban population which swarmed and perished so abundantly over the coun- tryside during the dark days of tho autumnal months that followed the last war was one of blank despair. Barnet gives sketch after sketch Of groups Of these people camped among the vineyards of Champagne as he saw them during his period of service with the army of pacihcat1on-
 There wAs. for example, that si1nan miIIiner'' who came out from a field beside the road that rises up eastward out Of Epernay and asked how things were going in Paris. He was, says Barnet, round faced man dressed very neatly in black, so neatly that it was amazing to discover he was living close at hand in tent made Of car pets. and he had ian urbane but insist ent manner 9 a carefully trimmed mus tache and beard, expressive eyebrows and hair very neatly brushed
 No one goes into Paris said Bar net.
 tsBut monsieur, that is very unen- terprising.' the man by the waysids submitted.
 seThe danger is too great The radia- tfons eat into peoples skins.
 The eyebrows protested. ''But ia nothing to be done P
 tslothing can be done.
 <But monsieur. it is extraordinarily inconvenient, this living in exile and waiting. My wife and nay little boy suffer extremely. There is lack of amenity And the season advances. say nothing of the expense and din cuIty in obtaining provisions. When does monsieur think that something will be done to render Paris-pos- sibIe2''
 Barnet considered his 1nterlocutoE.
 sePm told, 2 said Barnet ''that Pafis ] is not likely to be possible again for several generations
 ssOhl but this is preposterousi Con sider, monsieur! What are people like ourselves to do in the meanwhfle7 J am a costunier All my connections and interests, above all my style, de mand Paris
 Barnet considered the sky, from which a light rain was beginning to fall, the wide fields about them from which the harvest had, been taken. the trimmed poplars by the wayside-
 Naturally, he agreed you want to go to Paris. But Paris is over"
 "OverY'
 .Finlsned.v
 .'But then, monsieur-what is to be- come-of me?''
 BaTneC luEnS0 HIS 1dCS NcsLFfssAtAs whither the white road led.
 tsWhere else. for example, may ! hope to opportunity 21
 Barnet made no reply.
 Perhaps on the Riviera. Or at some such place as Homburg- Or some place perhaps. "
 ssAn that said Barnett accepting for the first time facts that had lain evident in his mind for weeks; sfau that must be over too.H
 There was pause. Then the voice beside him broke out: SsBut, monsieur 1t is impossibleL It leaves nothing p
 s.No Not very much.'' "One cannot suddenly begin to grow potatoesT''
 ssIt would be good if monsieur could bring hfnself''-
 esTo the life of a peasant And my wife You do not know the distingu- ished de1icacy of my wife, a refined helplessness, a peculiar dependent charm Like some slender tropical creeper-w1fh great white Howers. But all this is foolish talk. It is impossible that Paris, which has survived so many misfortunes, should not presently rs viEe."
 tTo Be conhnued.l xa.z vA4z Wz,....E e. T1.4I- T1,1r-.