The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1915-09-08
FRENCH SOLDIERS ENJOY VAUDEVILLE
GERMAN SHELLS KEEP Time LIKE DRUMS
SING LOVE AND RAG SONGS, SAYS sImms

scraps Of lumber collected here
by n cavalryman on tarpaullns
which had served In the beginning
MS covers for boxes OF ammunition !.
tho sky and few walnut trees
played the part OF roof. while that
part OF the rcgimcutal band not
busy bearing wounded on stretch.
ers Off tho battlefield. furnished
the nusic-thcss men and young.
stoutish surgeon-lieutcnani. who
doubled on the piano when not
stage managing tho acts.
The bill was the regular bill.
II Was not specially arranged
for visitors. Since January -
this "house" has been playing
TO standing room only. two per.
formsnces day. AZ 2 p. m. and
at 9. soresimes--as often 40
posslbie--she bill changes;
sometimes the headilner fails
20 be on hand for his cue:
shell or . bullet has intcrfered.
But always. rain or shine, good
bill or bad, the curtain goes
Up" on time and the soldiers
on their repose week usually
they have q week In and q
week back Of the trenehes)
never rrlss performances.
As 6 .. m. drew near the plank
benches In front were creaking
under their maximum burden and
hundreds OF soldiers were standing
at the back and on either side. A
heavy rain began TO fall precisely
at 6 O'Clock. but the fat surgeon.
on opening the piano. turned and
shouted:
You don't mind a little thing
like a few drops OF rain. do your"
MOI" they Numbered back.
A. the curtains parted the
Germans began TO lombard the
French positions a short dis
lance away. The explosions OF
shells punctuated every spoken
line which followed and beat
time 70 the music as ~ jealous
Of the big bass drum.
A clown in costume and makeup
which only the ingenuity OF a
French soldier can account for
rushed out and began 10 sing and
grimace. The audience roared. II
was clear that he was favoritc
lie was Just back from the trenches
and ms he jabbered a comic patter
song. with grimaces and antics
/ like any Barnum a. Bailey star
one caught sight OF his matricula
ton number. bound by stee
chain 10 his wrist. for Identification
In case he falls TO dodge a bullet
some day. The clown sang on and
when he got round TO tho chorus
his comrades In front Joined In
! A captain OF dragons. occupyini
a seat on n bench reserved for OF
ficers, sang and laughed with tn.
others. freely and without rserve
yet | recognized in this captain I
count and member OF one OF thu
proudest families in the Faubouri
nobility OF Paris.
The clown with his Identification
tag gave way, amid applause, {,
an acrobatic soldier--in peac,
times professional-wearIng tn,
pink tights OF tradition. He. too
had tag on his wrist. A hort
zontal bar had been rugged up OF
the stage and as the soldier II
pink tights began TO girate upol
IL. the comic" partner came gu
and "comicked" In the way ever,
one who has ever seen a varlet.
show knows.
After him n British Red Cros
attendant. In khaki. sang ALEX
ander's Ragtimo Band" excrucI
a,ingly bad. TO much applause iron
his allies. And when he completed
! broke down as to voice he laughe
| good naturally and allowed hi
legs 20 do a not bad "buzzar
lope."
Last on the bill. save the movie
they have movies at many point
along tho front now--came
singer. an ordlnary-looking soldie
in an everyday uniform consider
ably the worse for trench YEA
He was OF less than average heigh
and not even his small blond nut
} tache could lift his appearance t