Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-23
SpRT OF POESY RUNS
HIGH AMONG P0ILUS
Newspaper Published in Train
ing Camp Is Mirror of
His Gentle Art
sAMMEES TO OPEN CLUB
uore Comforts at Reasonable Prices
to Be Provided for Men
of y. S. A.
BY HENRI BAZIN

"oO the American Army in France
AMERICAN FIELD HEADQUARTERS
IN FRANCE, Oct. "a.
certain French division aiding in train
,rg the first contingent of Sammees pub
,,sbes a newspaper of its, own. 1t Is a four
aga affair entitled lie Diable au Cor"
.,sanng, in as full a translation as pos.
.,hie The Devils Horn. 1t is supposed to
no published daily. but often the editors
and makeup men are busy at more serious
york so that, now and then, few days
mass without an issue.
Recent numbers have had articles In
rneIlsh always in prose. Since the French.
-, ,s essentially n poet, there Is very often
.nr,e,bing in the form of French verse. In
recent issue appears n poem of six stanzas
Sadlcated AUX soldats Americans" ito
snsrIcan soldiers" I have taken the first
cd last and put them into rhyrfed Eng
ish. The swing is not as stirring as in
rrench. but the sentiment. the really es-
sentia remains:
,,,,u comrades, When you march along.
You Of the great inheritance,
We seem to n hear H. a1"tasr is6s 81 SoFT; FT,rco
The hwSo mu;G ;oowad 2i our rafagettss high trail
when ''Scry Comrades. E2r IN haIii rf'rea''
.Hal comrades, When 9t last appears
rhsn Ine yoa GaT hat L now a huhdred years
And forty had us for ally,
iCF From s which YOU made the Boche turn tail.
Hall comrades! Hail."
In the ancient town. where correspondents
are auartered, we of the typewriter were the
nrst in khaki to enter, a little less than
three months ago. We were the objective
OF all eyes. and our uniforms, particularly
our campaign hats. the source OF gossip and
wonder That is now of the past, since the
cap,p,ee his khaki is all over the plapp
EVEN BARNS ARE POPULATED
Accommodations in this town are meager,
because in piping times of peace half a
dozen travellers at the one hotel make a
crowd Now everybodys spare room is
filled. and everybody's barn also. With the
influx of American officers, the matter of
a service club was recently discussed. and
the idea met with enthusiastic approval
from the French officers attached to a train
Ing division.
The result Is the Lafayette Club, that
throws open it's doors in few days, II is
situated in a delightful old building that
has been an Adrian barracks upon the main
street. The buildings are almost old as
the town. are in the form of a quadrangle,
and have been thoroughly renovated and
painted. There will be "A cafe, n mess hall,
4 reading room with papers and magazines
In French and English, a writing room.
several really truly bathrooms luxury
heretofore noneXistent in this rural section
Of France, and a number of bedrooms for
transient officers. The whole IS being fur
nished anew. and to be electrically lighted.
Upon the opening night vaudeville and
stunt night is announced and 1t Is whiS-
pered that a lot of hidden talent among
the khak-clad army of the United States
will make their foreign debut
There Is to be but one class of member
ship and that active. There is to be no
initiation fee. but monthly dues amounting
to one per cent of officers pay and allow
ances Civilians resident in the town and
adjoining sections, as well as others at
tached to the army in any official capacity,
are eligible for membership. In this class
come accredited correspondents. The dues
for this type of membership are SO
month Every service received in the club
Is to be paid for at the time rendered, since
the working capital is as yet small. Club
membership will be shown by card.
The Lafayette Club, the first in France of
purely American origin, is destined to ce-
ment the friendship between American and
French officers. and to fill niche in the
lives of those far from home that will also
do much to strengthen mutual ties.
NOVELTY IN FRENCH BANDS
Every band attached to a French regi-
ment has in addition to specified military
band instruments, q fanfare" of trumpets
These take up the refrain at stated intervals
while the rest of the band remains silent
and they begin with an indescribable flour
lsh or their instruments, raising them to
the lip. with a quick concerted movement
and lowering them to the side in equal
rhythm as the band proper takes up the
air.
With the single exception Of the marines
no American army or navy band follows
this custom, one full of interest quite apart
from the music itself. The other day
happened into the marine camp where the
colonel and the three majors of a certain
regiment are my friends. Just as I ar
rived the band was beginning the usual
afternoon concert in the public square Of
the town.
The trumpeters stood rigidly as IL on pa.
rade their trumpets at their sides. And
from each hung small square fanion.
upon which were embroidered the colors
OF the regiment. With the trumpets at the
up, these fanions hung straight and almost
rigid as the musicians played. And then
IN the flourish that have not described be-
cause 1t is quite indescrbable, they hung
imp as the instruments were brought down
IN quick movement, while the music con-
unued from the band proper.
Why, that's a French stunt you have
copied isn't it, major?" said to an officer.
French stunt nothing" he replied. 1--WE
oo that years ago in this outfit! We are
the only branch of American military serv-
ICE that did 1t long before this war. and
mat continues 1t still. 1 have been kept
oasy explaining that fact to a number of
rrehch officers and people who have eX-
pressed surprise at the knowledge. I have
wlu them never to be surprised at the ma
ilnes. who have envable records in many a
nuIe nght under our flag, and who are
Aeen 10 show their caliber over here. They
shG all OF us are just itching for the chance,
ana we hope it's coming soon"