South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-29

All sorts of unexpected faculties
and habits come in useful in war
time. The most distinctive feature,
to a northerner Of a Latin town or
village, whether Mexican, Cuban,
French. Spanish or italian. is that il
possesses a plaza and has the boule-
ward habit. Both of these institu-
tions are ostensibly intended for spe-
cial functions OF their own, the
plaza being a formal, central square
or park for the grouping and en-
hancement of public buildings and
official residence. while the table
covered terraces Of the boulevard
are a mere overflow from the cafes
which border it.
But the real function and excuse
for existence of both of them is their
frank recognition Of the eternal
truth that the darling study OF man
kind is man, and the superb facili-
ties which they furnish 10 the entire
community, from the lowest to the
highest, TO enjoy freely that keenest
and most lasting of pleasures. to see
and to be seen, to talk and listen, TO
show and feel oneself warmly and
actively in touch with all the cur
rents and interests Of ones kind.
Here one can stroll and be looked
at or sit and pass judgment, can hear
the freshest gossip, pick up the most
confidential of news, and SAVIOUR the
spiciest of scandals.
So important, in fact, do most
Latin communities hold this side of
life that they deliberately devote
not merely all the dangerous summer
evenings, but from two TO three
hours in the middle of the day, to
this form of intellectual exercise and
development. And a mans standing
in the community, even in so busy
and busting a city as Paris, is often
determined almost as much by his
social gifts or powers of elOquence
and reasoning in these public for
ums, as by his financial standing or
his political or professional abilities.
This disposition and tendency is a
wonderful asset and advantage when
il comes to providing entertainment
and recreation for an army in the
field. In the French army camps
the form al entertainment and educa-
tional features are taken care Of by
the Foyer des SOldats or Soldiers
Hearth a very cheerful and useful
mems club. with not so extensive
and complete an organization as
either the Y. NJ. G. a. or the official
English lecture courses. But the
major part Of the amusement and
entertainment is spontaneous and
unofficial Everyone who lives
among the French people is struck
by the fact that they have a much
greater capacity for entertaining
themselves than have we more
chilly and self-contained northern
races. They are less self-cOnscious,
are better conversationalists, and
with much easier and more natural
social gifts and manners. So that
the mere society Of their kind is to
them a perpetual feast, and a pack
age of hayseed tobacco. with a
couple of "mazagrans' of coffee or
light wine. and a dozen or Is Of
their comrades and cronies viii pro-
vide never falling entertainment and
delight $50 nights out of the year.
And the conversation in many Of
these campfire causeries and dug
out debating societies is excellent
some OF the most entertaining and
informing that / have ever-listened
to. even under tine handicap of an
imperfect apprehension of all the
subtleties of the eloquent but elu-
sive French tongue.
Every grade of intelligence, every
type of interest, every social view
point is represented in the rank and
file OF the French army. The shaggy
poilu. in faded blue tunic and
ploughbOy boots. who sits on the
cracker box, opposite. may be a IA
nous artist with a score Of successes
in the salon 70 his credit. The trim
young sergeant. proud OF his honor
stripes. who sits next TO YOU, may
be a rising poet and darling OF the
cafes OF the Quarter Latin, while
the bury, grizzled major On your
left may be a lecturer at the Sor-
bonnie or an eminent authority on
international law.
Nor IS this a mere fancy sketch.