The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-08-15

gan, who spent his birthday, April II, there year
after year.
Pictures and descriptions of AK have been
printed often enough for those who never have
been there, but the picture which lives in the
memory of the first party of American permits
sfonaires is more vivid and alluring than any
other. If you take collection of clean, bright
well-built villas, with broad sidewalks and as
phalted streets, such constructed in pros
porous American mountain and lake resorts
deck them with charming French or Italian gar
dens. place them on the slopes of hills and the
eOge OF an emerald lake, frame the picture in
ranges of snow-capped mountains through which
run zig-zag roads, and you have idea OF the
vista awaiting the American boys
Several of the Americans were housed in the
Hotel Lamartine, the edge of the Lamartine
woods where the celebrated author wrote
Raphael" The philosophc, intellectual fighter
will be sure to find on the outskirts of Chanbery
a suburb of Aix-les -Bains LES Charmettes," that
delightfully."- located home where Jean Jacques
Rousseau lived romance with Madame Warens
received royalty his friends and wrote books
The permissonaire cannot escape history in
AK for he passes a crumbling Roman arch when
he takes his way to the great bath establishment,
In which special rates had been made for his
plunge and shower. If he does not seek to elude
but to study the past, soldier may find
plenty of Roman relics In the museums. There
also are relics of when a mountain top
pied over, burying Is hamlets and partly filling
Lake Bourget, from whose depths the treasures
have been retrieved
He across the lake to Hautecombe abb
bey which stands on the sole bit of ground in
this province still controlled by Italy. It con-
tains 200 marble statues and the mausoleums of
the dukes of Savoy. He will see where Han
nibal, 200 B. c.. started his passage of the Alps
He will walk where walked Charlemagne Henry of
Navarro the khedives of Egypt Elizabeth of Aus
tria, Marie Pia of Portugal, kings of Great Brit
ain, Sweden Norway, Belgium, Spain and the
kings Of high finance.
So much for the historic and scenic features
The permissionaire, however, may be seeking less
classic relaxation his leave, and 1t is in abun.
dance In AK. Leave does not mean license TO
him, and among the many good things that may
be said to his credft-lOyalty, amiability, good
lOoks-let not forget to give him q good mark
for this, and have it the word of the in
habitants of AK.
Temptation may follow close, and not always
the boy 5000 miles from home resist but to
his eternal glory be it said that he does not seek
it. Also to the credit of AK and the department
of Savoy be it added that all possible precau-
lions are taken to safeguard him. A few gam
bling houses there will always be, few women
will follow army anywhere; there viii, in
word be lawbreakers ready to lure him and, in
spite of warnings, there were grocers who
reptftiously sold bottles of hquOr-not much, be-
cause the customer, rendered loquaciOus,
fessed the place OF sale and the vendors were
hailed to the bar OF justice.
It is not the intention OF trying to represent
the permissionaires Sunday school boys. But
they alive with health. Quickened by the
sense of liberty, and the paths Of this lead nat
urally TO sane recreation. Few Of them cared to
or Illicit resorts when they could enjoy the beau
ties of nature and the wealth OF healthy enter
tainment made available.
The boys did not have to be herded into the
straight and narrow path either. A few second
neutenants were sent with the men, but the off,