The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-09-21
Topekan Went to a Famous
Paris Hotel.
English Friend Said 1t Was a
Gay Old Place.
Topeka GIRL WAS IN CHARGE
Hotel Had Been Converted INTO
WV. G.. A. Quarters.
Workers Entertain With Open
House Once a Week.

A Topeka girl, Miss Anne Sweet, is
behind the clerks desk in the famous
old palace of a hotel-the Petrograd
i'm Paris. Everybody who knows
Paris, knows the Hotel Petrograd. 1t
used to be the st. Petersburg, but its
name changed when the whole map
of the world was changed in 1914.
The story goes that when our boys
went over" Topeka man one day
strayed into the city in search of the
old hotel. He was accompanied by an
Englishman who was also an army
officer, and both of them-American
and Englishman, were judges of in
spiriting moisture and patrons of the
Bacchanalian rites, however good
Kansan the one may have been.
The Englishman knew Paris as he
knew London, and he knew something
of the most resourceful. many-sided
liquor cellar in France, which was To-
Gated beneath the drawing rooms, the
kitchens and "des sales de manager"
of the famous old hosiery that in the
old days, before the: war turned the
world upside down, was the scene of
a large. brilliant section of the gay
night life of Paris.
Escorted to Famous Place.
1t is recorded by one who was pres
ent at the old inn, that one evening,
the Rainbow division, a French gen.
darme escorted two officers to the
door of the hotel. The gendarme went
away richer in American gold than
when he came, and Britisher and
American entered the door of the Pc
trograd.
A little maid came forward, advanc-
ing under heavy curtain of French
language. The dry tongues of the two
men were all but hanging out of their
mouths, now that they believed them
selves so near the point of desire-the
rare old Burgundy and the sparkling
champagne.
The gestures of the maid failed to
bring any more enlightenment to the
visitors than her words had done. So
a woman rose from back of the desk
to get line on the commotion out in
front. She wore a plain, grey blue
uniform. Her clear. level eyes and
her firm mouth were American, and
to anyone not intent on the quenching
of an insistent thirst, it was plain that
this woman belonged to the sort that
forbade any special privilege to the
lips that touch liquor" But the Eng
lishman and the American were seeing
a mirage, and they were looking in a
vision at fragile glasses and a tall de-
canter.
The Englishman spoke: II say now.
We know it's after selling hours, but
Tor the sake OF OLD times, you can set
us out table"
No Liquor Sold.
The girl behind the desk spoke In
measured tones: Liquor is not sold
here. and men are not expected in the
house at this hour"
The Britisher didn't seem to get the
trend of events, nor did he look we'll
at the young woman before MIN.
Don't YOU call to mind" he went on,
Iii, ho
this place. No use getting uppity now.
Be the kind little one you used to be
and bring out the drinks
He tried to stop on the last word for
he saw on the sleeve of the coat the
girl wore the significant letters, 'Y.
w. c. a" The men listened with
chastened souls to the rapier-like re-
marks the young clerk uttered, and
before the lecture was done they had
begun precipitate retreat that could
not be dignified by the name of stra-
tegic retirement. The Kansan had not
felt so much at home since he crossed
the Missouri river months before, and
at every step of his exit he looked
about for the officer whom he expect
ed to pinch him. Bone dry-bone-
head" he kept muttering as he leaned
on his British comrade for support till
he had crossed the No Mans Land of
the hotel lobby.
1t Is Big Change.
THE change in the face of Paris
writes the woman behind the desk, is
nowhere so strongly marked as the
transformation of the old hotel
headquarters for the gayety of ma
tions-into a hostess house for the
Young Woman's Christian Association
in war work in Paris. The gay maid
ems who once served the wines to the
travellers, and occasionally drank with
them. have given place to a tailored,
business-like, capable sort of woman
who wears flat-heeled ground srippers
and pours tea for the martyrs of de-
mocracy. On Thursday evenings,
when the hotel keeps "open house"
these efficient women dress in soft
gowns and frizz their hair, and receive
soldiers and sailors and girls. Some
times they call in the band to regale
the astonished' Parisians with the
wonders of q iazz command"