The Lamar register., 1918-08-14

"AppOllnarls, L." and "Schweppes
Soda, 0.S0," but It occurred to me that
the mere fact that / selected some
thing that was listed In English might
attract attention to me and something
In my pronunciation might give fur
ther cause for suspicion.
1t seemed better to parrot the Bel
gian and order Book" and that was
what / decided TO do.
One item on the bill OF fare tanta-
lized me considerably. Although 1t was
listed among the "Prizzen der
dranken," which 1 took to mean
"Prices of drinks" 1t sounded very
much to me like something to eat,
and Heaven knows 1 would rather
have had one honest mouthful of
food than all the drinks In the world.
The item / refer to was "Dubbel Ger
stein de Flesch (Aiichaux)." A double
portion of anything would have been
mighty welcome to me. but l would
have been content with single "ger-
sten" II / had only had the courage
to ask for 1t.
To keep myself as composed as pos
sible / devoted lot OF attention TO
that bill-of-fare. and think by the
time the waiter came around / almost
knew IL by heart. One drink that nl-
most made me laugh aloud was listed
as "Lemonades gazeuses." but l might
us well have introduced myself to the
German officers by my right name and
rank as attempt 10 pronounce 1t.
When the waiter came to me. there
fore, l said Book" as casually as
could, and | felt somewhat relieved
that had gotten through that part of
the ordeal 50 easily.
While the waiter was away / had a
chance TO examine the bill-of-fare and
/ observed that glass OF beer cost ~
eentimes. The smallest change had
was a two-mark paper bill.
Apparently the German officers were
similarly fixed and when they offered
their bill to the waiter. he handed II
back to them with remark which
took TO mean that he couldn't make
change.
Right there l was In quandary. To
offer him my bill after he had just
told the officers he didn't have change
would have seemed strange. and yet
couldn't explain to him that l was In
the same boat and he would have to
come TO me again later. The only
thing to do. therefore, was TO offer
him the bill as though hadn't heard
or noticed what had happened with
the Germans. and l did so. He said
the same thing to me as he had said
TO the officers. perhaps "A little more
sharply, and gave me back the bill.
Later on, he returned TO the table with
a handful OF change and we closed the
transaction. / gave him % centlmes
as tlp-I had never yet been to a
place where 1t was necessary to talk
TO do that
During my first half hour In that
theatre. to say l was on pins and
needles Is TO express my feelings
mildly. The truth of the matter is |
was never so uneasy in my life. Every
minute seemed like an hour, and
dozen times l was on the point OF get
ting up and leaving. There were al
together too many soldiers In the place
to suit me, and when the German Of
ficers seated themselves right at my
table l thought that was about all l
could stand. As 1t was, however, the
lights went out shortly afterwards and
In the dark | felt considerably easier.
After the first picture, when the
lights went up again, l had regalned
my composure considerably and took
advantage of the opportunity to study
the various types OF people in the
place.
From my seat 1 had splendid
chance TO see them all. At one table
there was a German medical corps Of
heer with thraa Red Gross nurses.