South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-03-30

something quite different from what
we have been used TO see before the
war, au entirely new type OF girl,
who amid many difficulties. with a
smiling face and encouraging words
for everybody.
THE American woman whom we
used 20 see going about in the Rue
de Ia Paix. walking from shop 10
shop. admiring the exhibitions OF
the 'courturiers.' has disappeared
and We can no longer admire her
golden hair and her smart clothes
al the Ritz or Colombat or other
fashionable tea shops where smart
society used TO congregate before
the war. What we see at present
and what We admire with a certain
respectful wonder, which is com
posed Of surprise, and awe, is a
busy looking. active girl. dressed in
khaki. with CATERS. a general look
Of determination about her and
set expression in her face.
Clad i'm Khaki.
This girl finds her way there
where French women generally
meet with rebuffs She distributes
comforts all around her, is at the
bottom Of every scheme Of relief
that is started. has always got her
numerous pockets full of sweets.
Bibles and wooden scarfs, with "a
sweater or two lurking somewhere
at the bottom OF a practical kind of
bag she carries about as easily as
If she had done nothing else in her
life She can drive an automobile
as well as an experienced chauffeur,
she can ride and she can swim. She
can work and she can cook.
She has an energetic manner
about her that gets the best of diff
nculties before which any one else
would recoil. and that though il
often provokes a smile on the part
of those whom she hustles about
with superb unconcern. yet inspires
them with the desire TO help her.
if only because they want 70 get rid
of her. and OF her (what shall L
call ito opportunities is not the
word. but entreaties if such a cour-
ageOus young person can stoop TO
cntreat
we call this totally new being.
the like of which we have never
seen before. TAmericaine de guer-
re-. and she it is who now holds the
pavement in our gay Paree. she
So is who rules us and she il is
whom we feel. now that we have
become acquainted with her. that
we could never muster sufficient
energy TO tackle half of the things
she works upon with such an ad-
mirable unconcern.
\ MerCifuI Helper.
You should JUS watch this new
importation when she starts for
some Of the devastated regions
where miserab BILE beings try 10 find
traces OF their former homes. As
soon as she arrives the whole ply
Siognomy Of the place changes.
She does not waste words she does
not think of lamenting herself on
~ hich cannot be helped. OF course.
30 is terrible 20 look upon the ruins
left by the Germans. but what use
is 10 10 CRY over split milk? The
one thing that our rAmericaine de
euerre' thinks about is how 20 help
the victims of the disaster She does
not care To hear about the COW or
starts getting them another COW or
another horse 10 replace the one
fhey have had taken away. and she
does 10. too. in that businesslike way
she has which no one can initiate
and which Is as great as all the other
things she performs.
She gathers the children around
her. she washes their dirty faces
when she thinks il necessary She
brings them toys and she occasion
ally cooks them a cake. She feeds
fhc babies and the cats and dogs
that are found crawling in the
ruins upon which she seats herself
with sublime Indifference which
lad something magnidcently pa
ghetto about IT, She appears amid
resc unfortunate French villagers
ke "a kind OF fairy godmother al
WAYS ready 10 shower blessings up
20 them. and half OF the time she
disappears as quickly as She came,
-o look out for other miseries and
other sorrows.
L'AmeriCdine de suerrC is never
sad herself. she understands very
asU that if she gave way il would
.nv add 90 the distress she applies
rerseIf 90 relieve and. therefore, she
has made 10 rule Go smile always
ID matter under what circum-
stances. What We would have done
.n oar poor France. without L'Ameri
I.ainc de cuerre' / shudder To con
template She is the one bright
SPOT in dark horizon. and she just
rings The one drop of say ety which
Ue require 20 prevent our hearts
from lrea king some people say
that she b. herself too busy 60 have
heart lut surely her manner OF
dealing with all the difficult prob
I.ms she Is called upon 90 tackle
l- tnc best one We require 90 be
encouraged. ana II da-- no' do 10