The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-26
Trenches--in Peace and War

On the field, General Joffre, who in
private life loves to potter about the
garden of his house in Auteuil, accom-
pany his wife on shopping expeditions,
who is very fond of a musical evening
with his daughters, Marcelle and An
nette, who have on occasions persuaded
their father to exercise his bass voice,
and who might often be seen in the
morning riding with his girls in the
Bois de Boulogne, is, although amiable
and genial to his intimates, imperturb-
able, arbitrary, and assertive, says a
writer in 1.-The Strang Magazine"
Perhaps one of his most curious
characteristics is that he wild tolerate
no interference, so far as the exigen-
cies of the situation allow, with the
systematic personal habits which he has
followed for many years, and to which
he attributes not little of his good
health. This is illustrated by an incl
dent which happened during the re-
treat from Mons.
Late one night at Joffre's headquar-
ters a Staff officer arrived with very
urgent dispatch. The Commander in
Chief had retired, and the officer was
informed that on no account whatever
must the General be disturbed. but
he must be roused,' said the Staff
officer, "for a whole division is in dan
ger of being surrounded" ''The Gen
eral," came back the reply, "has Civ
en- orders that in no circumstances is
he to be awakened before. 6 a. m. Fur
thermore, there is no need to do so, for
he has left all the necessary instruc-
tions for possible emergencies in en-
velopes marked one, two and three. -
The Staff officer on duty thereupon
opened the dispatch, selected envelope
Number two, which met the case, and
instructions were Immediately tele-
graphed to the commander who had
sent his dispatch, and who was prompt
ly reprimanded next morning by Joffre,
when he had heard what had taken
place, for using the motor instead of
the telegraph
He endeavors to follow, as far as
circumstances will permit, the same
regular mode of life to which he has
been accustomed almost since his mar
riage. Every morning previous to the
war he would be up and dressed, hav-
ing previously had a vigorous ten min
utes in a room next toNhis bedroom,
which is fitted up as miniature gym
nasium, ending with cold showers
bath. An hour later he might be seen
trotting briskly on horseback through
the leafy bridle-paths of the Boise du
Boulogne, sometimes in company with
other officers, but more often with one
of his daughters, followed at discreet
distance by his orderly.
| ,n1 70, lin,
And if disinelined for music in his
leisure moments he would turn to his
books and spend an hour with military
works or the fiction cf Hugo, Balzac,
Dumas and Dickens-the latter being
great favorite. Or if friends dropped
in he might take a hand at bridge or
whist. The simple habits which no
imbibed in his youthful days at Rive
saltes still cling to him. His only sur
viving sister, Nine. Artus, says that
even after he became general the
Commanders Chief insisted on remain
ing to his friends plain Joseph Joffre.
He made a practice of paying frequent
visits to the family home at Rivesaltes,
and one of his great pleasures during
his brief holidays at home were long
card games in the evening with his
father and friends.
A favorite game was mouille," and
it was during one of these games, Mime.
Artus tells us, that he explained to his
father how to dig slanting trenches on
his property as protection against
the ravages of spring rains. "You
should father he said, "dig slant
ing lines of trenches across your farm
at Bompas. They will drain the land
and prevent floods in spring; and
think | can claim to know something
about trenches" he added, with a
laugh.