Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-03
star corresponaen. Epenino Ledoer

ana tnVeaUEhttOnH must ne BOne thtVubh
documents drawn up and papers signed
before the journey can be even started
Before leaving London one must go to the
Foreign Office In whitehall and there OBJ
tain a form containing a most searching
set of questions, chiefly concerning ones
personal appearance. all of which must
| be answered with the strictest veracity
under the fullest penalty Of the law. II
ones eyes are green instead Of a ro-
mantle violet, Il isn't scrap of use to
deny their verdant tendencies. The pass
port man will soon set you right there,
and ruthlessly and metaphorically remove
the veil OF your illusions; to him re-
trousse nose is never Greclan-he regards
II as a snub. and upon the vacant space
opposite nose" he will boldly enter
"snub," despite your protest In vain
you tell him that It Is not your nose but
merely his outrageous conduct which you
regard as belonging to the genus "snub."
But he pays no attention.
Upon the vacant space opposite ANY
Special Pecullarities' your vanity has
hidden you deslst operations. You do not
personal appearance for all the world to
read. Perhaps you fondly imagine that
you are free from blemlsh. But the pass
port man soon undeceives you. You are
informed that the slight cast in your left
eye or the little brown mole on your left
cheek or the unusual size of your wrist
Joints are decided "peculiarities" and
worthy Of note. And so. feeling a trifle
hot about the ears and devoutly hoping
that no one else has heard, you chronicle
the same immortal fame upon your pass
port.
Two photographs OF yourself must then
be produced, In duplicate, and certified
by responsible person. Your description
of yourself In writing must correspond
with your likeness in the picture.
EVEN LADIES MUST GIVE AGES.
Your age, too, gentle ladies, must be
stated to the very day of your birth
and stated correctly! Ignominy will de-
scend on your untruthful head IL per-
chance you slip up on figures, for II you
are a British subject birth certificates
are looked up in Somerset House, ana
there is nothing hidden which shall not
be revealed.
It is tedious process, this getting OF
passport in war time, and many days
may be spent in Investigations Once the
coveted passport is obtained, 1t must be
presented in person at the French Con-
sulate and have the Endorsement OF the
Consul and the Commissaire de Police
You are liable to be held up there, too'
and sent home for various credentials! 1t
is exhilarating, though at the same time
q trihe annoying, to have to taxi right
across London at break-neck speed at
the last desperate minute in order to OBJ
tain further proofs Of identity" before
the Consulate closes and your last hope
of ever getting to France has fled!
The crowd at Victoria station en- route
for France was an interesting one, for
only those who had important business
in France had any thoughts OF going.
All passports had to be examined before
one could enter the train for the south,
and when Folkestone was reached an
other strict examination began.
1t was a curious scene in the little sta
ton beside the sea. Although Folkestone
is an English watering place. the railway
porters were all French, and shrieked in
French at the top of their shrill voices.
Beside the wharf lay the French boat,
so near, but--as some Of us soon were to
discover-so desperately far! We wero all
crowded together in a tiny room, Eng
llsh officers, French officers army nurses,
naval men, and each In turn had to pass
before the grand jury in the room be-
yond. Around an imposing table sat
eight good men and true, two British Of
ficers. French officers and officials.
AN UNLooKED-FoR SETBACK.
"I am desolated. mademoiselle, but
your passport is not fully wise! 1t car
ries settlement the Endorsement milItaire
You cannot go-they will nev-aire let you
land thus In Francel" said the first Of
ficer as he handed me back my passport
and signaled his attendant to bring in
the next would-be ''voyageur."
Take a taxi to the French consul,
quickT' said another officer. 1.-THE boat
leaves in seven minutes, but you may
make 1t in time. He will give you his
wise"
1 had grown accustomed to these de-
spairing taxi races against time" in or
der TO satisfy the searching demands of
officials who are ever on the lookout for
Spies" but this particular race along
the Folkestone Cliffs at breakneck speed
to the French Consulate was a record
performance Far below us the sea
sparkled in the sunlight and the wonder
ful white cliffs of Dover shone dazzlingly.
White-clad children were walking primly
with their English nurses and wounded
soldiers were strolling in the sunshine.
'Vite, vite, depechez-vousl" 1 kept CALI
ing to the chauffeur. And. indeed, he did
'depechez!" We eareened along the top
of the cliffs at a breakneck speed, mar
rowly missing several wounded Belgians,
who were being supported in. their morn
Ing rambles by sympathetic English
ladies'. and, finally, with violent Jerk,
we drew up at the consulate. There sat
the French consul. his pen already dipped
In the inkl Without word he snatched
the passport from my hand and scrlb-
bled the magic words upon II which
would lead me to the shores OF Franeel
Three minutes till the boat sails. |
he murmured, eheerfully.
I'll faut vraiment depechezy'
ANOTHER WILD RIDE.
Then came another wild ride, and I |
was back before the grand tribunal at |
the station. My passport was snatehed |
from me and an embarkation form thrust |
into my hand. Fill up this form. quicki' |
said an Official, In French. your name |
IN ful your age, your profession"
An excited porter then rushed In to tell |
1s that the boat was about to start-and |
still I was signing documents and forms. |
Run. run quick" cried the English offi- /
GERS. ''and the best OF luck In catching /
The boatl'
. "Are you carrying any letters with /
your" screamed an official. "and are they /
Of a private natuTe7"
Run, run violently" gasped my French 1
porter And indeed. / did rum Fhe 1
siren Of the boat hooted loudly, the men 1
At the gangWay beckonsd with more
force than politeness. the ropes were
loosened and Il seemed as II an non
were gone. But luck ana fha l-i,,.a,,.s-