Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-09
.RESERV|sTS REALIZE
GREAT CHANGE IN PARIS
Moro Like Tourist Visiting Capital
for First Time Than Man Who
Knows His Boulevnr1ls.
SEE NEW THINGS EVERYWHERE
Swarm Into Court of Care du Nori
Like Children Full of Picnic
Enthusiasm-Quie Amused Mt
Annoyances Suffered by "Civils."

PARIS. August s.-Thc reservist
home for the first time after n year at
the front realizes less the change in
himself than the transformation OF his
Paris. He has acquired his new color
gradually, and has built UP his hitherto
unknown muscles almost imperceptibly.
The blase Partisan. who left for tho
front soft and pallId. with STOPPING
shoulder and spiritless eye. indifferent
Il interested in life. comes back not
only strengthened. but frightened; his
mind has been reopened to Impressions.
The little revolutions that have trans
formed Paris gradually break upon him
all at once: he is more like a tourist
visiting the French capital for the first
time than n man who knows or knew,
his boulevards by heart
1t is curious spectacle to see the
reservists swarming into the court OF
picnic enthusiasm. They seem to dis
cover something new everywhere: first
Of all 1t is the civilian that gets their
curious attention. There is first the
surprise OF the man from the trenches
that so many men were left at homo:
then there Is unconcealed amusement
assured Of the concombatants read the
official communiqucs and calculate the
chances Of being safe in Paris another
winter. The absence Of motor buses,
decreased facilities for transportation
inspire all sorts of quips and gibes at
the evils: as for himself, the re-
servist has increased his stock of re-
sourcefulness. year ago he would
have tumed when unable to find q cab:
to-day he trots of to the subway, sat-
!shed and amused to think that the
evils" must be devilishly annoyed
When he sits down or the terrace of
cafe he amuses himself by ordering
prohibition drinks. and pokes fun at
the old boulevardier at his side who
takes his substitute for absinthe with
a grimace.
Having lost the habit OF soft bed
until or o'clock in the morning, ne
has discovered new Paris-the Paris
OF the early hours-that goes cityward
from i O'Clock on, and is rarely seen at
It's best by those who find 1t only when
submerged By the hustle OF the later
hours. The ordinary sewing woman,
with prickcd and stained fnger-ends
comes first. A little later the smart
class of mill;ners' models and seams
tresses. the shop girls, stenoyraphers
terminating with the manneauins and
foreladics. the aristocracy of the great
fur cloak and dressmaking establish
Nents.
War has reduced the number and
leveled conditions; the procession is
sun charming. but with new features
II IS long line OF white and black
NO Grape here. for their mourning is
democratic; rich bercavements alone
may wear the aristocratic weeds
Those that work content themselves
with black skirt and little jacket with
white collarette This little world that
files past in the early hours is witness
OF the tribute Paris has paid to the
"patrie." Conversations vary little.
One has a letter. another is anxious
because she hasn't one. Those in black
talk without bitterness. without a
sign OF revolt against what they en-
durc. Formerly most of them en- route
deVoured stories published by the
morning papers Now they are
plunged into the official communicates
from different belligerent countries.
which they comment with quite as
much perspicacity as the hald-hcaded
gentleman who later in the day wins
or loses dozen battles over his amer
ltif AT his favorite cafe. Stranrest
OF ALL these girls become assiduous
readers OF the Journal Oficiel-the
Congressional Record Of France They
look at once TO the pages containing
the citations in the orders of the day
Every one of them hopes TO find there
the name of some Of the boys at the
front. They generally have little
flower to spare. and this an early
morning reservist gets. along with one
OF the touching lessons OF wartime in
Paris.
"Sapristi! But Paris is dark" ts a
common remark. not that 1t bothers the
reservist. who has acquired something
OF the sight OF cat at the front, but
he wonders how the evils" can stand
1t. Knowing that the cafes were form,
erly closed at S. he wonders why thew
are not filled as in the old DAYS until
the present closing hour OF 1o:3o
That" the civil" tells him is SOME
thing in the nature of .acclimatation,-
like life at the front" He has acouired
the o'clock habit, and this habit baa
become as strong as the old O'clock ~
the morning habit