The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-10-12

Phi Delta Theta fraternity. This let
ter shows how much the French ap-
preciate the American soldiers.
"Well, here goes for story of my
permission. I left here on the third,
and arrived in Paris in time to go to
the office in the afternoon. I spent
the entire afternoon at the Office talk
ing to different headqu lrters officers.
In the evening went to the theater
with Buck. who was also on permits
sion by arrangement. The show was
no good, but it seemed good to see a
show anyway. On the morning of the
Fourth We saw the big parade, and it
was great. There was nothing too
good for the Americans that day. Peo-
pie would stop US on the street and
tell us how they liked the Americans
and all that stuff.
THAT night there was a big show
given by our service for the wounded.
We had singing, military band, prize
fights, a free-for-ali, speeches, Elsie
Janis and in general a great time.
The next day I spent in trying to find
my trunk, which 1 have not seen in
ages, and in looking up a brother of
one of my sergeants.
I'VE left Paris that night at $3.50
for AK les Balm. Before the train
started 1 talked to- a Frenchman, and
which is an excuse for berth. I told
him did not, that the seats were good
enough for me. A little later he came
in and gave me coupon for a couch
cite, for which he had paid fifty
francs. I did not know what to make
OF 1t, but he insisted that L accept it,
so did. The next morning I invited
him to come and have lunch US the
next day, and he said he would. The
afternoon that we arrived we took
trip up Mont REGARD, which is one
mile high and straight up. I looked
over the edge and believe me, have
never seen anything like it. 1 have
been up in aerop1anes, but that is diff
ferent. I did not look long. The fol-
lowing day my friend from the train
came to lunch, and imagine my sur
prise, when everyone in the dining
the salon afterwards and he intro
duced us to quite a few people. It
seems the bird is rich, owns a tin
mine, etc. From then on it was
great. People invited us to eat at their
table, to take excursions, to go fishing,
to the opera and in fact everything
there was to do. Believe me, we need
ed a social secretary. We met some
wonderful people. A baroness. who
had travelled all over the world, in
vited US to stay at her chateau when
we came to Paris again. Her husband
was on the committee to meet the
American mission, and she has started
a plan to give the Americans permits
sions with French families, SO need
less to say she was nice tG is. 1 met
a gent from the Paris stock exchange
who took us fishing with his niece who
is learning English. I met the man
who owns the Astoria hotel in Petro-
grad, and who knows an ambassador
from Chicago by the name of Murray.
never heard of him but didn't men
ton the fact. We had dinners at
mountain resorts. took some wonder
full trips, and thoroly enjoyed our
selves. 1t was the first permission in
France I have had with people who
took it for granted that I was a regu-
lar person, and believe me, they were
not disappointed. 1t was hard to re-
member my manners, but I got away
with it.
1--WE finally had to go back to Paris
where we found that Mcclure, who
used to drive with me in section eleven
was to be decorated. We took that in
and it was quite an affair, which took
place out at the Longchamps race
course, many moving picture gents,
and much posing by the participants.
After we went down to the officers
club which was formerly Rothschild s
place, and in the evening had lunch
or rather dinner at Maxims. Major
STEELE invited us and he sure put out
nice feed-Set him back ABOUT three
hundred francs for five of u.s. The
next day was-the 14th which is French
Independence day. We took in the pa
rade in the morning and just watched
the people in the afternoon. 1t was
too hot to move around much. i came
back the next day and when ! got on
the train 1 said, Well, my adventures
are over for awhile but 1 was mis-
taken.
II got into conversation with an ell
derby French civilian. employing my
miserable French. When we got to our
destination, I asked him If he knew
where the Major de Cantonment was,
as wanted to telephone. He said to
come to his place to use the phone
and agreed. We got off the train,
and 10 and behold. every body saluted
this bird, and he led me, to a huge linn
CUISINE driven by a soldier. I couldn't
quite figure out what I was getting
into, thought for a minute 1 might
be suspected of being spy. but l trot-
ted right in We rode to the edge of
town to a big chateau, got out and
met this mans wife and went into a
big old dining room and ate supper.
Then 1 found out where 1 was. This
man was the project. which CORES
ponds to our governor. except that he
has bigger districts. We couldn't get