Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-09-15
THE BUSINESS
OF LIVING
PATTY BUYS TWO coDsoNs AND
IN A LETTER HOME EXPLAINS
WAN

I'm A LETTER HOME EXPLAINS
WHY.
Dear Folks at Home:
I have Just returned from Paris.
whore went to meet my two god
sons. Now don't laugh. I mean 1t.
One day doctor from our hospital
came home from Paris fun of the
pleasure he had had from entertaining
his godson. We asked for an explana-
ton. for he was an American. and 1t
did not sound reasonable that he would
have q French godson.
Why, haven't you heard about the
adoption Of soldiers7' he asked in
amazement We owned our ignorance
and he proceeded to explain. Every
three months the French soldier is
given six days at home. or course IL
the regiment is fighting critical bat
tie when his leave falls due he does
not get 1t. 1t Is postponed for months.
perhaps, but short and uncertain as
this leave is. it is something to look
forward to and makes the grind en-
durable, notonly for the soldier but for
much as 1t is longed for. Is often a
very eart-breaking experience for
there Is always the shadow OF the part
ing that may be forever hanging over
a little group like the sword of Damo-
Giles. l know ali about 1t, you may be
sure. The French have learned to live
in the present. can tell you. and SO
they keep sane. The husband and
father comes back from the front glo-
rified with his sacrifices and sufferings
and the whole family spend the time
adoring and worshiping their hero. The
wife has planned to have some little
becoming thing that Is new. How we'll
| the French understand the art of
dressing, even the humber folk. The
house is decorated and the meals
| planned so that the six days shall be
| perfect. I have heard men say that
the wonderful thing about this fright
fun existence at the front Is the sense
it gives one of being intensely alive.
As If each had decided to get the most
out of life, the span being so uncer-
tain. There is nothing stupid about
these six days, you may be sure. There
| is no hiding the deep delight in the
home coming for fear people will see.
One sees it everywhere In Paris, for
Paris life now is made up mostly of
| these 'pefmissionaires.' i was so deep
ly touched with the things 1 saw. 1
| could fill 20 letters and some day l
will sit down and write it out; some
day when l have time.
But you say, what has all this TO
do with godsons? Just this: The'per-
| mission is to visit homo If it is no
| farther away than Paris and the mon
ely and time to visit places at great
| err distance are not to be had. Are
| those unfortunate men from the south,
too far away to reach home. to lose
their leave2 Not so. The French have
arranged a plan by which any one can
buy O godson, and they are remarkably
cheap By depositing $2.64 with this
organization you buy the happy privi-
lege of becoming sponsor to 'poilu'
on leave; for this small sum pays for
his board and lodging while he Is in
| Paris. SO sent SEES to 40 Rue Vau-
| ginard u Deuvre des Saldats de la
| Guerre for thought while l was buy
| ing godsons / would get couple. The
use of this building is donated by the
| owner. There are baths and a night
shirt for every one of the poor fellows
who have slept in their clothes for
months. There Is q big dining room
where they are served three square
meals day, nndt here is a living room
with books and papers where he can
rest whenever he wants to do SO. Two
hundred men are cared for at a time
in this place.
Il thought I would take godson
to the CINEMA the French for movie,
and blow myself entertaining them. l
found two smiling bronzed fellows
and we managed to make ourselves
understood. My French Is improving
for most Of our patients are French
and we talk 1t most of the time among
ourselves for practice.
There, the clock has Just struck
and must go on duty. will finish
my letter tomorrow.
| LOVINGLY PATTY"
fTo be continued.)