Evening journal., 1918-02-19

PARIS, Feb. i9.-"Say. What do you
think Of the French?"
"Finei They're immense
That's the regular question and the
enthusiastic answer. when Americans
meet over here.
What is the French attitude toward
Americans Confidence; calm conf
dence: a confidence as superior as that
which they have in themselves: Asd 70
isn't misplaced. Wen make good. That's
our pet passion.
on the steamer coming over, some
Of the helpful souls Sonceived and exc
cuted a counter irritant TO the appre-
hended danger zone. and a member OF
The medical staff OF the u. s army
whom we shall call Lieutenant Bill
was appointed chairman Of the com
mittee OF one on costumes and proper
Ties. from which time forth he was ig-
ANONYMOUSLY called props" He was
summoned Immediately after tho Lii
hretto committee, had held It's prelimi-
nary session, and his first and only
question was characteristics.
Well" he smiled, producing pencil
and paper, "give me a list OF what you
want"
They did They laid it before him,
then l0ftily left him alone I'm his stune-
faction With reckless disregard of war
time restrictions, they had planned p
grand. glitiering allegorical masque,
combined with a magnificent male bal
let, and all they wanted was costumes
for Neptune two golden-tressed he
mermaids. several other principals, and
fourteen beautiful wayeleis Of the At
lantic oceanl
Some Ave minutes later Lieutenant
Bill came brskly out Of that little sa-
Ion, and confidently interviewed The
six lady passengers Of the ship lie
finished those interviews a sadder and
a wiser man. Such ladies as were
aboard i'm these strenuous times were
on no frivolous errands. and they had
not, individually or collectively. enough
broad. blue ribbon 90 make a fllet for
fhe hair, a bow, a streamer, and "a wide
billow for even one beautiful wave Of
ihe Atlantic Ocean, let alone fourteen.
Thought on the part Of Props. lie went
TO the second steward, who sent him
10 the FIRST steward, who sent him TO
The linen steward who sent him to the
purser. The purser listened ateniiVely,
gazing the while on the unfaltering de-
Termination Of Lieutenant Bill and
mentioned the only ray OF hope. Among
the flags which were used for signals
and salutes, there might possibly be
some blue bunting. but the only man
who could give him permission to use
THAI il there were any, was the skip
per.
Where is the skipper" asked Lieu
tenant Bill
"Huhw The purser laughed and
shrugged his shoulders. "The captain Is
on the bridge"
II was a beautifully clear and starlil
night. and the sea was calmly glitter
ing its diamonds from horizon TO hori-
zon: an ideal night for submarines
had any chanced to cross our path; anc
we had Just entered the socalled dan.
ger zone Out on the darkened deck
where no smokers smoked and nc
gleam on crack Of light was allowed
10 be visible from within, went Lieu
tenant Bill. and considered. Up there
in the dimness was the bridge, with
the head Of the skipper motionlessly
silhouetted against the midnight sky
To port and starboard, amidships and
fore and aft, were the gun crews, in
their queer night uniforms like goblins
out Of some weird fantasy, and all
motionless In their cat-like walchful
ness. Equally motionless stood Lieu
tenant Bill at the bottom Of the narrow
eompanionwav, until at last duty droyl
him onl Slowly he climbed the steps
ON a sudden. like The crack Of gun
there came from out Of the cool at
mosphere up above the irascible voice
Of the nerve-strained skipper
who I'm blazes is that2'
Lieutenant William So-an-So,' re-
turned Props deferentially, standins
stiI In his tracks.
Lieutenant whatw rssped the skip
per.
zone OF the passengers, sir
What In blazes do YOU want
Well. captain" explained Lieutenant
Bill. drawing a long breath as he bracet
himself for the effort. were getting uI
a little entertainment. and il you coulC
let us have some blue bunting
Get to blazes down from there .
yelled the skipper, in a iustinabl'
rage
"Yes. sir" meekly returned Lieuten
ant William So-and-So. and, going ar
leaned against the rail for long Ions
minutes.
The deck steward came past by anC
by. taking in rugs and closing up FOL
the night
"say. steward, who's next In charg'
when the captains busy?"
"The first officer, sir"
where Is the first ofiicer?'
U;1I4oO DouIfrU Vordc