The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-18
BUSINESS OF LIVING
Patty Tells the Folk at Home. of War
Time Scenes in Paris
By MRS. EVA LEONARD


Patty Tells the Folk at Home. of War
Time Scenes in Paris.
Dear Absent Loved Ones:
''Twenty-four hours have passed
since 1 left my letter unfinished to go
on duty. 1 was just introducing my
two godsons. Jack Douba was from
the farming country near Marseilles
and had lived with an old mother and
an aunt. They raised fruit and vege-
tables in the days before the war.
He was very quiet and seemed much
interested in my hating attempts to
to tell him about America. The
other was Francis Poindexter. He
had been a carpenter in a town in
southern France and had a wife and
three-year-old son. He told me
many things about his home and fam
lily and 1T seemed to do him good to
talk about them. / in turn told him
that my husband was an officer train
ing with the 'Sammies' for the trench
er and that 1 was a Red Cross
nurse l did enjoy the Afternoon
with them SO much. They we:e CRATE
full for everything and easily pleased.
They were such perfect gentlemen
too, tho you could see that they were
from the peasant class. We enjoyed
dinner at one of the fashionable
restaurants and then we wait 10 the
show which was good. But what 1
enjoyed most-was the walk about the
streets of the city; lovely in spite of
the sights and sounds of war
They showed such sympathy with
the soldiers, the 'permissionaires'
with whom the streets were filled. 1t
must have been hard to see he other
men with their families while they
were only having a physical rest, but
they made no sign of discomfort 1
shall never forget that walk. The
war has made the people 20 uncon-
scious of everybody about them. They
are enjoying their soldier with such
complete abandon.
The cafe where we dined was near
one or the big railway stations and
there were many affecting moving
pictures to be seen from our outdoor
table.
First 1 noticed a fine bronzed man
of about thfrty-five walking between
gray haired old gentleman and lady.
He was going to the station. You
could have told that, even If he had
not worn a soldiers uniform by the
way the old woman chung to his arm
and walked with uneven, almost tot
tering step. She was leaning heavily
on the arm of.the young man. The
look of patient resignation OF: the old
mans face was almost as pathetic
Jack followed the trio with sympa-
thetfc eyes. thinking no doubt Cf his
own old mother.
The next group that attracted my
attention was a working woman and
her husband in faded blue. The man
was carrying a Growing baby close UP
to his thin, tanned face. The wife's
face was red with weeping and. she
hung despairingly on his arm. Oh.
the tragedy OF ii all, But not all of
the sights are sad. L saw one bronzed
young fellow coming out of the sta
ton, his clothes still covered with The
trepch mud. while close beside him
walked his pretty wife stylishly Dress
ed. Their hands were clasped; they
looked steadily into each others eyes
as they walked along 1t was a mo
ment never to be forgotten / hope it
was not their last meeting. My god
sons and sat talking III the frIendliest
manner about the people we saw.
Everything was So interesting
Suddenly a closed cab stopped in
front of the place where we were sit
/ ting. The traffic had become con-
gested, and it could not 10 on for a
time. Inside a woman drussed in
heavy mourning sat with her arms
clasped around the neck of a young
officer. Her head was resting on his
shoulder and her face SO deadly pale
| rigid and desperate They were not
! in the world in which we were living
He was on his way to the station. None
OF US spoke as we rose from our table,
/ witnesses of such grief
Il told my godsons that I would
like to go to the door of their six-day
home and bid them goodbye, SO we
started off When we were crossing
street on which the street cars run
! they call them tram cars-I saw a
4 curly brown dog running along after
the car barking furiously. When the
car halted at the corner he caught up
with il and tried to climb aboard.
Then / noticed a 'poilu' standing in
/ the door of the car, pack, gun and all.
! He was telling the dog to go home,
but the faithful fellow would not be
deferred from seeing his master off to
the war.
! - have a dog like that at home
said Francois gently.
I'VE walked along in silence for
few minutes. then the pleasant chat
! was resumed. I babe them goodbye at
the door. shaking hands and wishing
! them good luck.
I Il have strung this letter out Of all
bounds, but you are patient people:
besides, know you are interested in
what concerns
/ YOUR PATTY"
ITO be continued.)