The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-02-21

I'm sorry I'm not through with
it," she apologized What direc-
ton are you going? ?"
We told her.
Splendid" she said. "My place is
right on your way, and if You don't
mind waiting while I run in to buy
this chauffeur pair of Christmas
gloves-he's been so .nice-you may
take me home, where l will pay him
off, and you may have him from
there on"
She smiled again.
"Taxls are so difficult to secure.
We must all help each other"
That fact was further illustrated
in the bureau where we had the
important business. We had few
minutes to wait, and the concierge,
one of the most pleasant and af-
fable old men to be met, explained
with extreme politeness and ex-
IRENE volubili-v. that monsieur
might smoke il he liked. that there
was positively no rule here against
smoking, and that monsieur must
make himself perfectly at Tome.
Monsieur did not at all feel like
smoking at that moment, but. being
further urged. saw the point and
brought out the cigaret box.
o. course. the temporary host was
invited to have a smoke, and the
pleasure with which he accepted it.
added to the fact that he would not
light it then. bit saved it after dim
ner. brought sharply 70 mird that
ciparets are luxury in Paris.
For fully twenty minutes the con-
cierge. v-hoso1 we cane tn know vnrv
well as Philippe. entostained us with
- L
with himself, now that he was put
ting everv fran" into war loans and
we left him with a feeling that the
rs comfortable and happy while in
his little room.
1t was not until afterwards We
learned that Philippe has lost three
sons, one son-in-law, folr nephcws,
and seven cousins in this war.
We went down to the Louvre. with
MANY mis~ivinGs, to find if quaint
iewelrv shop we had known of old
was sti(l'in existence Still there. and
the little old ieweler. not much more
coonizzed us at once and came for
ward radiant with greeting.
How was business, we asked after
a while. There was none to speak
TIE different no;s's on leave
bought occasional tr;nkets. and the
shon nri~ht as we'll be closed as Omen
until otter the war, except that it
was not rood for Paris to have blind
windows. so be kept the shop run
nine. while his former constant corr
nanions, madame and the dor. lived
in the country, where living was
cheaper.
q brave and heInful spirit in the
little ieveler. for in every word. N
every GLANCE. in every smile. there
was the ora thought. to pass along
a cheerful feeling: and. by reason of
that particularly French idea, Paris
is still gay.
A now terrible test has proved the
irresistible buoyancy OF the ParisiaS
The dire dav came when it was or
dered that there be no more cakes.
Only those who know Paris pastry
can realize the depth of that
calamity.
War bread had long since replaced
the fiakv white huns and rolls and
various bakery delights in which the
alike. but there had been no COM
plaint. The panos of that depriva-
ton could be alleviated nice lit
tie gateau with the afternoon tea
or coffee. Now what was to be done?
done.
The tea hour was an Institution,
and the cake it's bulwark. Did Paris
NOPE. and close its tearooms and
cafes? No.
The Frenchman is verv fond of his
cafe. 1t is more than a feeding place.
1T is a place for the meeting of
frier ds. which is why luncheon needs
an nour and a half and dinner from
two to two and half hours. Not
food occupies al the time. but the in
dulgenece of pleasure which this
nation of ali others has not lost; the
joy of conversation.
So Paris has its afternoon tea o~
coffee just the same. and, without
even a crust of bread, makes up IN
paietv what it lscks in cakes.
"Mais. oui. c'est IA guerre."
L is the war. That's the catch
word of Paris. one hears it every
where It is the excuse for everything,
particularly for a deprivation.
The next place we heard it was
at dinner, when the lights winked at
OILS. There came an immediate lull
in the chatting vivacity. It was at
that DELIGHTFUL coffee period of the
dinner. when the long cigars are
lighted, and the human system is full
of peace. and the conversation, how
ever serious it MIGHT have been be-
fore. turns to drollerv.
For a moment after the lights
winked. there was a silence, almost
glum, then the shrug of the shout
ders and the cheerful smile. Checks
were paid, wraps were donned, and
chatter was resumed as We all filed
out.
At $50 every dinner place in town