Evening star., 1918-01-20
ny ANNE R1rTENHoUsE.

mDoM does the perusal Of the
S var news bring entire satisfac-
~ tion to American readers these
~ DAYS. The peace parleys OF the
bolsheviki. the gravity OF the situaeioh
in Italy, added to the steadily enron
fcled submarine sinkings and the stories
of delays and incompetencies at nome.
are enough to cause our war rolls anu
our unsweetened coffee to stick In our
threats.
Yet among all the accumulated glooms
there are little nuggets Of cheer. though
some of them are so deeply imoeddeo IN
the clay of disaster that 1t Is nara IN
deed to find them. One of these is the
undoubted improvement of what might
he called the general atmosphere OF
Paris. Every arrival from that Guy
eyery fashion letter. even the more ser1-
ous chronicles, speak of the intangible
change which has come over the mu-
nicinal conscience. Apparently. nothing
ia changed; yet in the restaurants ana
hotels the menus are more appetizing,
the diners are gayer, the theaters are
fuller and the pieces played there are
more interesting and better mounted.
At the opera, at the conferences OF
fashionable lecturers, at the few con-
certs, at all the places where society
gathers, the same story of better dress
ing of increased interest in clothes ana
ali that pertains to them. OF the dis-
Greet temperance of jeWelry, is toio
by so many witnesses that we are 1oIceo
by mere weight of numbers to believe
them.
paris itself wonders. But make IN
ouiries as to the reason. and after more
or less deliberation you will receive
from all quarters the same answer.
America is responsible. Not our nome
part Of it; but the small representative
body of the great potential possibllltles
of our country which has already I'M
pressed itself upon the consciousness OF
Paris SO effectively as to give back to
the people a faint reflection of their
antebellum gayety. Ever since the nrst
Stetson hat was seen on the boulevaros
the imagination of Paris has been stimu-
lated by the picture of khaki-clad mil
lions in similar headgear, swarmtng to
her rescue. She may have been olsap-
pointed by delays in realization, out ner
faith in us is unshakable. I'VE snail not
be abandoned-we shall not have to en-
dure to the point of exhaustion. America
is behind US, America with her m1ll1ons
of tall sons and her endless resources.
The first contfngents were welcomed Tor
their own sakes, but also as an earnest
of what was to come.
And Paris has given her newest allies
a royal reception. Recently the cables
bore the story of superb gift to the
allied officers of America, England.
Italy and Belgium Baron Henri de
Rothschild has placed his palace-for 1t
is nothing less-in the Faubourg Saint
Honore at their disposal as club. Be
hind the high walls which shut it OF
from the curious lie spacious grounds,
utterly unsupported from the street.
like those of SO many of the older man
sions of the French capital. The house
itself is very large, wonderfully fur
library, private theater and-best OF
all from the English and American point
of view, great swimming pool. All of
these wonders are at the disposition of
any officer of the allied nations who has
been passed upon by the committee.
rectors. and it's president is the popular
Admiral Fournfer.
Besides this splendid gift, many Of the
French clubs have opened their rooms
to visiting American officers, after
proper introductions. But there are many
other Partisan institutions where the
khaki-clad Yankees are welcomed with
out any introductions at ALL These in
clude the salons of the great dress
makers. Returning Americans bring
travellers tales of unusual clients in the
gray and mirrored reception roome of
the buildings which bear sartorfally IA
nous names over their doorways. The
jewelers. of the Rue de la Paix might
confirm the tales were they so minded
IT is whispered that many a Christmas
box from "over there" contained femi-
nine finery with famous names en-