The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1918-08-16
PESSIMIST IN
PARIS IS SIREN
Gloomy Ones Are Named for the
UnWeIcome Air Raid
Signal.
OPTIMIsT IS A "BERLoQUE'
People Have Joyous Time While Wait.
Ing in Subway Stations-crap
Game Holds Interest Of
the Crowd.

Paris.-Two more words have been
added to that very growing dictionary
of war words. In Paris these two
words have achieved a new signifi-
canoe. Pessimists are now known as
'sirens" and optimists are "berloques."
The significance is self-explanatory
to those who have experienced an air
raid in Paris. Many dread the screech-
ing, weird, bansheelike wall of the
alarm giving siren more than the act
ual danger from the raiders, while the
''berloque," that lively little bugle
call telling that all danger is past
and that one may rest safely in ones
bed. is indeed friend welcome as any
optfnrst.
A Paris bookkeeper who suddenly
left the city when the raids over the
capital became too frequent and went
to Nantes has been sued by his EN-
ployer for $50 damage for leaving with
out notice. The case, not the only
one of its kind in the French courts
today, is attracting attention.
The bookkeeper's explanation was
that his nerves were upset by the
bombs and shells and that he thought
himself justified in getting out of dan
ger. The court held that lombard
ment by airplanes and long-range
guns could not be considered suffi-
cient reason for the breach of con-
tract and gave judgment for the
amount named.
The darkened streets of Paris have
caused many persons to roam around
town after returning from the theater
or visit because of the difficulty in
finding the streets and house numbers.
An attempt to improve this condition is
to be made soon by placing luminous
numbers traced. in little buttonlike mir
rors which reflect and magnify the
smallest glimmef Of light on the houses
of the city.
One would think upon descending to
one Of the large and centrally located
underground railway stations which
are used as shelters that a soiree was
in progress instead of an air raid.
This is what the correspondent saw
one evening during a raid when he
was obliged to seek cover in one of the
subway stations:
In one corner a violin, accompanied
by two guitars, was doing out tune
to which squadron" of youthful avn
ators were Waiting around, their part
ners being group of pretty danseuseS
who had hurriedly left neighboring
theater wearing their costumes, make
up and all.
In another corner group Of Poilus,
loaded down with their trench equip
ment, having been caught In the under
ground while on their way to the rail
road depot and to the front, were sing
ing "Madelon," their 'Tipperary," In
rather discordant tones. But it was
singing just the same.
Crap Game Holds Crowd.
An unusual feature Of this particu-
lar "sOiree" was genuine all-Ameri-
can crap game-not for keeps. 1t would
hardly be an eyaggeration to say that
half Of the crowd In the station had
edged around the half dozen spare
American doughboys-three of whom
were gentlemen of color-to witness
this contest in bone throwing
The colored gentlemen handled their
dice with dizziness that was delight
fully reminiscent Of Somewhere in
Harlem" to say nothing Of their pro-
flciency in the vocabulary of the game,
which Parisians have since learned
is a very essential adjunct to any skill
at it.
Investigation of casualties following
an air raid over the capital have
proved to the authorities that the
greatest number of casualties are not
the result Of injuries received from
the bombs of the raiders, but of care
lessness on the part Of the victims.
Parisians have become too accustom-
ed to air raids. They stay out of doors
to see the bursting of the shells from
the antiaircraft guns and others leave
their shelters and go home before the
signal.
AS result recently % persons were
injured, some because they did not |
keep under cover long enough, and |
others because they stood at their win
dows watching the bursting shells as
If it were an exhibition of fireworks |
The police have again warned the pop
ulation. ''The better protection of |
the city," says an order, "is no reason |
for neglecting the precautions dictated |
by common sense"