Gilpin observer., 1915-05-27

E... c,..L met the soldiers
of France who,
making a stand and then assuming
the offensiveS drove the German lines
back slowly and in fair order. but new
erthelesNin retreat.
1t Is the iron times which have laid
bare the soul of the Partisan people.
Like other Americans I had thought OF
Paris as being place largely OF gilt
ter and gayety. Paris in its lighter
moods perhaps approaches the frtvoi-
Gus, but now what was mask Is on
and one sees the solemn and perhaps
severe intention Of these men, women
and children Of the republic. The real
seriousness Of the nature of Paris
and Paris is typical Of Francis In
evidence before the jury Of the world.
Paris, colorful Paris, today is robed
in black The setting Of all the street
scenes is somber. The footlights are
turned low. Paris works. goes about
fits daily routine as II its strong men
still we're within its borders. and 1t
does it apparently with as high
heart as 1t carried in the day Of peace.
Slt8 IN SemtOdTkuSoo
Like London, Paris sits at night in
>eemidarkness. The army of France
guards the frontier and the inner line
to which its foes have pierced. Paris
itself is guarded by its reserves of
troops, men far beyond boyhood, and
by its vigilant watchmen OF the night
who make their rounds in swift and
steady fight over home of poor and
rich.
| have just looked on a review of
several regiments of the reserve
guard of Paris. The place chosen for
the marching by OF the troops was the
Esplanade des Invalides, the great
parklike plain outlying the huge struc-
ture of the Invalides built by Louis le
Grand as home for the aged and the
permanently disabled soldiers of his
monarchy. Since that day France has
been a monarchy. empire and repub-
lie, but the Invalides still stands and
still shelters the defenders OF the
land.
There were many thousands of the
guards of Paris In the review. The
younger men are all at the front, but
these men of the home guard have
not passed the years OF hard service,
even II time has touched their hair
with white. They are sturdy-looking
soldiers, and many of them show in
the erectness OF their carriage and
their peculiar and Enthusiastically mill
tary stride, that they have not for
gotten the training in camp or in field,
in France, Algeria or Morocco, when,
as youths of nineteen. they entered
their country's service.
Proud Of Its Defenders.
The Partisan is proud Of his defend
ers It would be nearer the truth
today perhaps to say that the Paris
ienne is proud Of her defenders, for
Paris today largely Is q city OF wom-
en-, although one must not forget the
children. In England soldiers march
through the Strand and down through
Piccadilly on their everlasting way to
Tipperary, for SO the bands proclaim
the line Of march. But in England the
troops pass through lines OF seemingly
apathetic onlookers. giving no cheer
and on inspiriting or commencing
word. OF course, Englishmen feel. but
they do not show their feelings. In
Paris, how different 1t is! Today,
with the shadow of war over 1t, Paris,
as has been said, is serious, but the
sight OF marching. uniformed French
men and the sound OF music bring
Paris out Of its solemnity. 1t cheers
and God speeds" its defenders.
Another thing Paris does, a thing al.
most unknown In England and Amer
ica. When the colors of a regiment
pass the unlocking throng,- the head
OF every man and boy is barred, and
every man ana child does honor to the
nag. Soldiers OF all lands salute the
passing colors. and In Germany, in
Austria, and in Russia I understand
that the civilians do likewise. France,
however, l believe leads the world In
civilian honor to the emblems of gov.
ernment and its regiments.
Paris has been visited on several oc-
casions by the aeroplanes and Zeppe.
Inns of Its present enemy country.
The Psrisian has taken these calls
with certain appearance OF indiffer.