El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-02-21

variations its fertile vitality may per-
| FORM it relies always upon the be-
I lief that the cannons of human intel
| iigence are not relative but absolute
absolute at least for this world. and
the French spirit really cares for no
other. Nor does one see any great
faith in the French life weakening.
French vitality is not diminishing.
Though the French people are living
a much faster life than they were
even a decade ago-but aren't We
also Nthe family is the same strong
unit it was before. 1t is true parents
have a bit more struggle to keep
their authority. still they keep it
The greatest change is found to-
day in the social spirit OF France.
Prior to the war she was like a happy
child, ever eager to grasp all the
pleasure and enjoyment she could
find in life. The true Frenchman was
never the man of vice he is supposed
to be. Legends Of France given up
to brilliant vice persists abroad in the
face of Frances unassuring heroism-
Barton Blake says among those who
misunderstood France the biggest er-
TOR comes from having so long mis-
translated Paris la Villa Lumiere' as
Paris. the light city instead of
Paris the city of Light Truly, she
was the city Of light with her beau
tifully illuminated buildings and
Of Darkness'-her authorities take no
risks with zeppelins-but the spirit
Of her people has not grown detected.
All cafes close at o'clock and every
one lives a quiet life Of industry and
service. They do not need or want
praise for what they do Enough can
never be said of the noiseless courage
Of the working class in this war.
Not a murmur has been heard any
where though the hardships have
been great.
France never lived the all-exterior
life of boulevards and music halls
that tourists took for real French
life. The average tourist has seen
the France which purveys the light
amusements to still lighter tourists,
but the French philosopher and
French family would feel as strangers
in a strange land in these places.
The authentic France has made
herself felt these last three years and
not on battlefield alone. Even Paris
knows itself better and understands
itself better. The only tourists now
at the cafes are the British and
respondents. This new Paris is a
very quiet and resolved Paris and for
the first time wholly French. Paris
is calm, but her spirit Is not subdued.
Paris has her sense of shame and does
not make holiday while her sons are
= y
A paper on the life of o. Henry, or
William Porter in private life, and a
writer who spent many eVentful years
in Texas, was prepared by Mrs. H V.
Watson and read, in her absence, by
Mrs. J. W. Lorentzen- Despite the
tragedy that came to him in his being
unjustly convicted of embezzlement !
from an Austin bank. the sunlight |
was on his face when he died and re-
mains on his name and fame wrote |
Mrs. Watson, "and a wreath Of laurel |
was at the head of his coffin and e |
wreath Of lilies at his feet"
Mrs. Lorentzen read a delightful |
short story, Sisters of the Golden Cir |
cle," by this best known short story |
writer Of America, and prophesied |
proper recognition for him in the |
world OF letters.
Walter Davis added to the enjoy |
ment Of the afternoon by two vocal /
umbers-Puccinfs When the Stars 4
Were Brightly Shining" from /
'Tosca," and negro dialect lullaby |
by Neidlinger.
Mrs Hal Christie presided. Noni. /
nations from the literature and cur
rent events department were reported /
by Mrs. A w Foster, as follows: |
Mrs Stanley Bevan, chairman: Mrs. A 1
R. Burgess, vice chairman; Mrs Vol 1
1ey Brown. secretary: Mrs. P. W. |
Williams, treasurer.