Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-22
ON ALEAVE
BRING LIFE TO PARIS
Many Back From the Front Are
Seeing Lights of Ancient City
for First Time.

Correspondence OF the Associated Press.
PARIS, August In the Latin
quarter" of Paris the return of some
thousands of soldiers on leave of ABB
sence from the front has been like the
day of judgment in a cemetery. From
mournful desertion. the streets. the
cafes, the restaurants have taken on
new life. Little "midinettes" and ar
fists models have crept down from
their attic rooms in their improvised
f1nery of Sundays and holidays. and.
proudly leaning on the arms of their
student-soldier sweethearts. parade the
Luxembourg Gardens and the streets of
first time in a year.
For here, in the heart Of the Latin
quarter, a great part of the population
has always consisted of students in
the various art schools. in the ancient
university of the Sorbonne, in the
schools of medicine, law and engineer
ing, and in the College of France. With
the outbreak of war it was as If "A
great plague had swept over the quar-
ter. Almost no men were left.
Latin Quarter Alive Again.
Now all is alive again in the Quarter.
Tables in front of the cafes stretch out
to the very legal limit of the awnings
and beyond. In front of the cafes, In
the parks, but especially on the trans
and trains bound countryward, gay
parties of artists in earth-stained regi-
mentals and models in their bravest
best celebrate the respite from fight
ing that the war department has grant
ed. There is something odd in the
sight of young soldier, a girl on his
arm and paint box instead of KNAPP
sack strapped on his back, off for a day
| at the joyous work of creation, after
SO many months of the grim work of
death.
On the opposite bank of the Seine, on
the heights of Montmartre, the scene
created by the temporary home coming
OF so many of the country's soldiers is
very different, although no less ami
mated. Here, many of the permission
aires" as the soldiers on leave are
called, are seeing Paris for the first
time. People of the country, inhabit-
ants of small. provincial towns, whose
means have never permitted them to
visit Paris. seize the opportunity on
their way back from the front to pass
a day or two in the city. Sometimes
their wives and families meet them in
the capital. and together they make q
pilgrimage to the points of interest of
the ancient city. 1t Is the hour Tor
many French people to see France first.
Churches Most Frequented.
The churches seem to be the most
freQuented of historic spots visited by
these soldiers on their vacations Notre
Dame, the Madeleine, the new building
of the Church of the Sacred Heart OF
Jesus on the top of Montmartre, over
looking not Paris alone but the whole
Seine valley. are crowded from early
morning until darkness by long, shut
fling lines of uniformed sightseers.
Especially is this true of the Church
of the Sacred Heart. So recently COM
pleted that thousands of Parisians have
not yet visited it, the new cathedral 10
a point Of interest not only because OF
it's rare, ethereal beauty but also be-
cause of the commanding position 1t
occupies whence a magic-carpet view
of the city may be obtained. Within
the darkened basilica is a flame Of yell
low stars of candlelight. Here come
wives, sweethearts and mothers OF the
men in the trenches to burn waXen Of
ferings for the safety Of their loved
ones. To the right Of the altar, behind
the chancel railf hangs a banner upon
which is embroidered the legend: 'Sa-
cred Heart of Jesus, Save France!"
Before the fire of the candles and the
silent altar and the chancel and back
in the shadows of the church's lofty
pillars, all day long there are soldiers
kneeling in prayer.