Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1915-08-13
STUDENT SOLDIERS.
ENL|VEN | A I IN
QUARTERS DURING
LEAVE Of ABSENCE

Suol tSA Va Oils Tic ISIuiu VI oOl1C
thousands of soldiers on leave of alb
sence from the front has been like
the day of judgment in cemetery.
From mournful desertion, the streets,
the cafes, the restaurants have taken
on new life. Little "midinettes" and
artists models have crept down from
their attic rooms in their improvised
fnery of Sundays and holidays, and
proudly leaning ON the arms of their
student-soldier sweethearts, parade
the Luxemborough Gardens and the
streets of Montparnasee in radiant joy
for the first time in year.
For here, in the heart of the Latin
Quarter, great part of the population
has always consisted of students in
the various art schools, in the ancient
university of the Sorbonne, in schools
of medicine, law and engineering and
in the college of France. With the out
break of the war it was as ii a great
plague had swept over the Quarter.
Almost no men were left.
No wall is alive again in the Quar-
ter. 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 coun-
tryward, gay parties of artists in
earth-stained regimentals and models
in their bravest best, celebrate the re-
spite from fighting that the War De-
partment has granted. There is some
thing odd in the sight of a young SOL
der, a girl on his arm and a paint-box
instead of knapsack strapped on his
back, off for day at the joyous work
of ceration, after SO many months OF
the grim work of death.
The opposite bank of the Seine, or
the heights of Montmartre, the scene
created by the temporary home-com-
ing of so many of the country's sol
diers is very different. although no less
animated. Here, many of the permits
sionaires," 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 t.
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 &
pilgrimage to the points of interest oil
the ancient city. 1t is the hour for
many French people to see France
first.
The churches seem to be the mos.
freuuented of historic spots visited by
these soldiers on their vacations. Nc
tire Dame, the Madeleine, the new build
ing of the Church of the Sacred Heart
of Jesus on the top of Montmartre
overlooking not Paris alone but the
whole Seine valley, are crowded from
early morning until darkness by long
shutting lines of uniformed sightseers
Especially is this true of the Church
of the Sacred Heart. So recently conf
pleted that thousands of Parisians
have not yet visited it, the new ca
thedral is a point of interest not only
because of its rare, aetherial beauty
but also because of the commandins
position it occupies, whence magic
carpet view of the city may be obtain
ed. Within the darkened basilica is q
fame of yellow stars of candle-listt
Here come wives, sweethearts and
NJ, thers Of TIE men in the tren o!ies tC
burn waxen ofc' ings for the sa-".y OF
heir loved oaes. To the right Of II {
altar. behind the chancel rail hangs a
banner upon which is embroidered the
legend: Sacred Heart of Jesus, sava
France!" Before the fire of the can
dies, 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.
He1sa.!!!Q!!:G!:!:.,.,