Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-11-03

DR.. Walter s. Hoke. brother OF
state Senator John W. Hoke and IL
NJ. Hoke. private secretary to the At
torney General, has been a dentist in
Bordeaux for thirty years. His prac-
tice is among what was the old no.
bility of Southern France. He has
written the following interesting let
ter to his brother in Harrisburg con-
cernlng Bordeaux during its occu-
pancy by the French government:
About noon of September the
president of the Republic and his min
listers arrived here, and on the after
noon OF the same day the president,
over his own signature-Raymond
Poincaire-issued his proclamation,
announcing that a state of war existed
which necessitated a transference of
the capital, and calling upon French
men to fight Loyalty for victory against
the Invaders.
Now. why was the government
brought here to Bordeaux? An old
saying-probably as well known all
over France as here-is most descrlp-
tive of the inhabitant of Bordeaux. 1t
is: "Je ne suis pas Francais-je suis
Bordelais. CT am not French-Im
a Bordelais.') This saying is so old
tnat one is tempted to belive that in
1870, as we'll as in 1914, it was thought
advisable to transfer the French gov
ernment to its nearest colony.
But, firstly, in war with Germany
an overland invasion is quite improb-
able, while, owing to the forts at Ro-
yam, at the mouth OF the Gironde, and
those at Blaye further up the river,
an attack by sea is an absolute inn
possibility. Secondly, the resources of
bordeaux are many-easy communi-
cation with the frontier. facility of &C
commodation to a suddenly-increased Sc
population, and surrounding country
a sod co. IL
Moreover, ii is the military center OF
the whole southwest OF France. There
is no other French city, under exist
ing circumstances, where the welfare
of the nation could be considered with
happier results.
"A Bordelais Unhabitant of Bor-
deauN) resembles the average French
man as little as the Scotchman re-
sembles the Englishmap. He is. above
all, sensational sensatlonalist. lie is
as Indifferent as the American Indian
to anything YOU have to tell him. The
only difference is that the Indian
grunts,th Bordelais shrugs his should
ers Nothing will arouse his enthus-
iasm. He has already seen something
far greater, and waits with painfully
apparent impatience until your tale
is ended so that he can tell you his
Absolutely nothing surprises him
Consequently, he heard of the coming
of the government with indifference
and would not so out of his daily path
to see the president himself. The
government here interests the aver
age inhabitant less than the traditional
and semi-annual fair held on the
Place des Quinconces. Besides the
Government, so many eminent men are
here that the newspapers said that
the boulevards of Paris, as we'll as
the government, had been transferred
to Bordeaux. But the papers speak nc
more of them. Nobody can live long
here without being saturated with the
spirit of Indifference.
The war came upon Bordeaux in
way that would have surprised ar
American, but one would be justified
in believing some here have not even
heard of 1t. But. in one way, it has
touched them all-financially This
lis a truly vulnera ble side OF a Borde-
lais When the mobilization became
ineNitab there was Neritable run
on the banks. In front of the Saving