The sun., 1918-09-22
Dicks Dream Comes True.

in wooden shoes or riding in their quaint
two wheeled carts. Dick confessed his
wonder at it all.
1've seen pictures Of this comedy
makeup and Old World stuff, but l didn't
think I'd ever see it in real life. Its just
like I hoped it would be, but yeas afraid
it wouldn't"
That evening it began to rain, and we
went to sleep on the ground, with the
water flowing all around US and into rs,
but nothing could dim the lustre of that
first day.
This Evening. This Evening".
My first journey into French vii
lage came July IA, the anniversary of
the fall of the Bastile. As | and my
two companions made our way through
circuitous tree clad alleys we could hear
the church bells ringing and over the fields
came the sound of band playing the
"Marseillaise'
We lost our way hundred times, Dick
and Ernie and |, and each time 1t was a
pleasure. The scenes through which we
passed bore few signs of war, for they
lay far from the front.
In one of the shady, hidden byways We
came upon an old, old man, bent and fee
Bile footed. He held us in incomprehensi-
bic speech, with many gestures, some OF
them wild in emphasis. Now and then
he lowered his voice, mysteriously, and
whispered: "Ce soir ee soir"
But what it was that was going to hap
pen this evening we couldn't make out.
We thought he was a little crazy, and
passed on after rolling him cigarette,
for which he seemed half inclined to kiss
Ernie.
Handkerchiefs and Kisses.
In the village, to which we finally came,
there was a picturesque old church, up
which grass and roses were growing, half
way to the steeple, and into which proper
looking peasants were moving; there was
a square on which abutted refreshing bou-
langeries and epiceries, and woman who
made us an exquisite emelette.
In wine shop we fell in with aged
civilians who insisted upon buying US
drinks and toasting them to Mr.. Wilson,
and a French sailor, who had the same
laudable desire. Besides all this, the pro
prietress held up her little Madeiaine, 4
years old, for me to kiss, and a Lieutenant
came in to buy handkerchief and didn't
know how to say so. l helped the Lieu
tenant purchase the mouehoir to wipe his
nose, and | did the same for little Made
laine by kissing her.
The Old Frenchman Again.
But more unusual adventure than that
befell us on the way back to camp. We
again met the old, old man, the one We
thought was crazy.
Again he talked with US, rapidly, now
loud, now in whispers, and led US along
the road like guide. We couldn't leave
him, for our attempt to do so caused him
TO burst forth in torrent of objection.
After half a dozen rickety steps he
stopped, regularly, to point out that
he owned that particular portion of the
landscape, and this, too, and then jerky
gesture that included practically all the
eye could encompass. With such num-
blings in his native tongue he led Us 10 his
house.
Through muddy farmyard We went
into crude stone and plaster building of
one story. A step down and we were in
the one big room, dim and like cellar,
with floor of earth and chickens walking
about perfectly at hOme-a mean enough
residence for 50 extensive landowner!
The Knife.
At an old wooden table our guide babe
us sit down. Behind US was a partition
of wood that looked like mahogany thick
with dust; to one side was bed shut in
by sliding panels, in front Of US was a
broad hearth black from many fires, q
sideboard and above it rack holding