New-York tribune., 1918-02-17
more discreet, although it is notice
able that all the prettiest girls are
with the English.
Sergeant Tells
OF His Romance

Romance will go on.
! A sergeant chauffeur told me thi.
I story:
"There was a girl he said, "that
used to pass by my automobile every
morning about 10 o'clock. She was
mighty pretty, and learned bon jour
to say to her one morning when she
went by. She smiled and said the same
thing, and one morning about a week
/ later | handed her an apple and said
Pour vous, just like had been taught
you very much And Pm son of a
gun if | didn't find she spoke English
Just as good as l do, and I'd been doing
bon jour for week"
One reason why Paris seems less a
part of the front than London is its
comparative immunity from air raids.
1he recent German attack was almost
the first big raid which the city had
experienced. The last one before that
was in July, and on that occasion only
one plane came over the city.
There were many theories as to the
reasons for this immunity. Some per-
sons said that the defences of Paris
were too strong, while others believed
shat the Germans had political reasons
for not bombing Paris. The city has a
fair amount of light at night, though,
Of course, it is surprisingly dark to any
one who knew it before the war.
In addition to actual raids. there are
occasional alarms in Paris. The signal
that German planes or Zeppelins are
coming is given by the sirens of fire
engines which speed through the city
1t is a fearfully mournful siren, with
wall suggesting all sorts of horrors.
The signal that everything is over is
bright little tune on the trumpet.
Since raids have been few and until
the last one comparatively harmless,
iarisians do not pay much attention to
the banshee notes of the siren.
Theatre Audience
Ignores Alarm
l was in the opera house one night
when the alarm was sounded, and no
body left the theatre nor did Chenal.
the young soprano. sing off the key any
more than usual.
People who were at home left their
houses and went into the streets to see
the show. No planes appeared on this
occasion, but there was a brilliant dis
play, as some Illuminating shells were
fired and all the defence planes, carry
ing lights, scooted up above the city TO
see what they could find
Much more annoying and almost as
rare as enemy planes are Paris taxi
cabs. Chautfeurs are the one exception
to the universal politeness Of tho
French. Each driver holds himself
within limited circumference during
the evening. and he will not go beyond
it except for the most fabulous sums
He also takes great pains to avoid rail
road stations and other points where he
is in danger of being hired One must
doubt the story of Gallieni's saving
Paris by rushing troops out in taxicabs.
It seems inconceivable that he could
have found chauTeurs who were will
ing to go.
Paris life except in very cold weather
has annoyances rather than discom-
forts, and the present temper of the
people is excellent except when the cold
comes. Fortunately, this winter has
been fairly mild, and the suffering of
last year probably will not be repeated.
OF course, there are thousands who
are tired of the war, and most of the
hurrah is gone. They do not say anv
more. 81 want to get back and get at
EN-" and things like that. But any
body who thinks that they will stop
lighting short of clean peace is mis-
taken. AS far as the temper of Paris is
concerned, they can go on as long as
need be.