Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-09-17
THE BUSINESS
OF LIVING
PATTY TELLS THE FOLKS AT
HOME OF WAR TIME SCENES
IN PARIS.

HOME Or War TIME SCENES
IN PARIS.
Dear Absent Loved Ones:
"Twenty-four hours have passed
since LETT my letter unfinished to 20
ON duty. was just introducing my
two godsonA Jack Douba was from
the farming country near Marsailles
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
tall him about America. The other
was Erancis Poindexter. He had been
q carpenter in a town in southern
France and had a wife and q three
yeer-old son. He told me many things
about his home and family and it
seemed to do him good to talk about
them. In turn told him that my
husband was an officer training with
the 'Sammies' for the trenches and
| that was a Red Cross nurse. l did
enjoy the afternoon with them so
! much. They were grateful for every
| thing and easily pleased. They were
such perfect gentlemen too, though
you could see that were from the
peasant class. We enjoyed a dinner
| at one Of the fashionable restaurants
and then we went to the show which
1 was good. But what I 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. It must
have been hard to see the other men
with their families while they were
only having a physical rest, but they
made no sign Of discomfort. shall
never forget that walk. The war has
made the people so unconscious of
everybody about them. They are en-
Toying their soldier with such complete
abandon.
THE cafe where we dined was near
one Of the big railway stations and
there were many affecting moving
pictures to be seen from our outdoor
table.
First ! noticed a fine bronzed man
Of about thirty-fiye walking between
q gray-haired cid 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
4 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 on the old
mans face was almost as pathetic.
Jack followed the trio with sympathe-
tic eyes. thinking no doubt of his own
old mother.
1.-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 it all! But not all of the
sights are sad. i saw one bronzed
young fellow coming out of the station,
) his clothes still covered with the
trench mud, while close beside him
walked his pretty wife stylishly uress-
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. l hope ii
was not their last meeting. My god
sons and l sat talking in the friend
lest manner about the people we saw.
Everything was so interesting.
Suddenly a closed cab stopped In
front of the place where we were eat
ing. The traffic had become con-
; gested. and it could not go on for a
time. Inside q woman dressed 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 was wet
with tears. His face was 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, wit
nesses OF such grief.
u told my godsons that I would like
to 20 to the door of their sixday home
, and bid them goodbye, so we started
Off When we were crossing a street
on which the street cars run--they
call them tram cars-I saw a curly
brown dog running along after the cal
] barking furiously. When the cal
halted at the corner he caught up with
1t and tried to climb aboard. Then
noticed q 'poilu' standing in the door
q Of the car. pack, gun and all. He was
telling the dog to 30 home, but the
faithful fellow would not be deferred
from seeing his mater off to the war
"T have q dog like that at home.
said Francois gently.
I'VE walked along in silences for q
few minutes. then the pleasant chat
J. was resumed. ! babe them good byt
at the door. shaking hands and wish.
, Ing them good luck.
Il have strung this letter out Of al
0 bounds. but you are patient people
! besides, know you are interested II
what concerns
3l YOUR PATTY"
Go be continued0