The sun., 1918-12-15
A Soldier Poet in France
of Lieut. Charles Divine Author of City Ways Company

mOrrow's notes on Paris in Wartime.
The University Union was in the Rue
de Richelieu near the Palais Royal. That
was the address. As a matter of truth,
however, it was down a black street,
around two blacker and smack into five
lieutenants and two captains in the re-
volving door. Anybody can bump into
a captain in the dark
The club was full NJ. But a boy would
take you TO hotel three doors away. Its
name was the Hotel des Hautes Alpes. 1t
boosted an elevator. 1t even Dragged
about it, in gilt letters on the door plate
But why shouldn't the Hotel DIES Hautes
Alpes have an elevator? Just the thing
to mount the High AlpsP
Monsieur, the proprietor behind the
desk, after promising TO call me at $50
gave me room IL and a ride in the ele-
vatOr. The room was a dream of happi-
ness after the mud of rural France. 1t
was large and high ceilinged; it had a
French window giving on an air shaft, it
had red lined portieres at the window,
and lace curtains; it had electric lights,
mahogany furniture and bed-but the
bed mustn't be dismissed so quickly.
We Climb Mont Blanc.
The bed was important. 1t was one Of
those high French ones With box springs
and two huge mattresses superimposed,
like layer cake and twice as soft, and
bringing the top Of it all so high that you
could scarcely look over the rim of it. Its
white robed expanse floated deliciously
above ones head like clouds. No wonder
the French could go over the top. Here
was where they got their early training.
Next in importance was the question of
how TO get up there. Was one supposed
to grab the cord of the portieres and
swing up to it, the way Daniel Boone did
with the grapevines! Or to build steps
out of the dresser, the washstand and the
two chairs? Probably this was why they
called the hotel the High Alps, after the
bed.
Eventually grasped leg of the bed
stead and by sheer brute strength climbed
hand over hand until | reached the first
story, where, gaining foothold which en-
abled me to rest long enough TO recover
my breath, l pushed on and up, past the
second mattress, and at length, just when
the superhuman task seemed too much
for me, attained the summit and Topped
over exhausted.
| stretched out in the middle of the bed.
Suddenly began 10 sink. l sank deeper.
What luxury! I kept on sinking. Fear
came: was to drown in these billowsf
In the nick of time the sinking ceased.
Earnest Preparation.
l opened little guide book entitled
Paris in Week and began TO brush up
on some of the facts had decided to use
in Paris an Wartime / intended that the
sketch should scintillate with an intimacy
with the gay capital. Ny own all in
portant impressions | would begin gather
ing at the dawn's early light. In the
meantime there were smart little maps in
the guide book TO study and terSe descrip-
tiOns of historic places, the best restau-
rants, the finest boulevards.
At the end of a half hour I put the
book aside, disappointed. 1t had failed
to make mention of one of the grandest
monuments in Paris-this bedl
"Oh, you big beautiful bed" / soIilo-
quized. Il am afraid of you. fear Your
comfort and seduction fear l will never
be able to get up again in time to sec the
war end"
And so sleep came
The light was poking gray fingers be-
tween the dark portieres. A knock came
on the door, and the cooling voice of the
maid:
''C'est six heure ct demi m'sieu!?
1t was spoken with ineffable sweetness.