The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-12-26
FRENCH STILL FEEL

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has not come, and for the fifth time
the French Riddles dream vainly OF
their fathers return. Christmas
failed TO bring the bearded poiius
home. The war has lasted longer Tor
France than for America and most
children scarcely remember peace,
when "enfant Jesus" brought real
! toys and goodies and mother didn't
LOCK worried.
Thus the first peace" Christmas
is similar to the war Christmas holt-
days, and even more SO. The soldiers
are still mobilixed. The newspapers
are filled with rumors OF new con-
hicts. The peace terms, as publicly
discussed. are vaguer than ever.
f, Thousands of soldiers will be kept
policing Germany The idea that
other thousands will be sent to Rus
STA is not yet wholly dispellcd.
Meanwhile. food is more expensive
than ever. Grocers will sell milk and
butter to regular customers only In
the morning. Candy Is forbidden.
rooms. which cost SO a pound. Con-
densed milk cost 80 cents for cans
| formerly selling for ten cents.
Butter and Milk Scarce.
/ Yesterday afternoon. / visited four
| groceries In an attempt to secure but
| ter and milk. 1t was an unsuccess-
! full attempt. Oatmeal is unobtainahle
since the American army took over
the shipments. Sugar cards allow
/ one pound for each person monthly.
, Prunes, of the poorest quality. are
seven francs ($l.20) per pound. COT
fee fetches five francs pound, and
is difficult to obtain. Eggs are ex-
trenieIy rare. and fetch IA cents
apiece. A glass of jelly sells for 80
cents, a pound Of honey for So. Flour
is unobtainable for private cooking.
Chickens cost three francs before the
war are now Is france. Turkeys cost
about $3.50 a pound. Peaches can
be obtained at about 81 a quart Or
| binary table wine. which used to cost
Is cents litre, now costs 40 cents.
| Metal wares are preposterousiy ex-
pensive. After searching in several
I department stores | found cast
iron coal CRATE which, before the war,
cost five francs and now 81 francs.
paid 20 francs for coal hod which
cost four francs before the war.
Clothing is equally dear A tailor
who two years ago made suits for
Z, so francs $500 now charges aoo
francs $500 for the poorest fabrics
The cheapest children's shoes are IS.
Toys, mostly military holdovers. OF
little variety and poor quality. sell for
absurd prices The cheapest box of
dominoes is / / francs. So 1t is hard to
understand why France is 'celebrat-
ing" another war Christmas. Coal
is scarce 1t costs $40 a. ton for the
cheapest quality and can be obtained
only on producing coal card.
Conserving Electricity.
The royal receptions being over
street illumination in Paris has again
! been reduced Electric Signs are
forbidden Hotel elevators operate
only a few hours each day to save
electricity.
The usual Christmas midnight rev.
clry has been forbidden. All public
places must close at $50 O'Clock
However. the churches viii celebrate
the traditional midnight mass. allow
ing the worshippers to thank God the
human massacre is ended. The sub
way closes at 1880 o'clock. Taxis
/ are scarce The streets are dark
Luckily. the weather is mild.
The only real sign of peace Is that
the bread is less black. How do the
poor people manage TO pay such
prices ," the correspondent asked Of
a newsstand woman. We live by the
hope that peace will come SOON, she
replied. adding; We have faith in
Wilson"
The Paris hotels. restaurants and
cafes are filled with nionied people
from the worlds four corners and.
Il despite the shortages, money seems
10 be able to produce everything. The
royal banquots and official luncheon
parties are making the poor people
talk.
Scrubwoman Expresses Herself.
I'VE cane find either flour, sugar.
i eggs. butter or milk. but / suppose
t these ssaaissss exssty s,Esrng,r;se9, ssey
could not entertain kings" said a
scrubwoman in the old Latin quarter,
i after making the rounds of the gro
ceries.
Nuts are plentiful, but they cost so
cents a pound Real oranges cannot
, be found. Measiy tangerines cost IL
cents apiece. bananas ten cents
apiece. The sale of bread is limited
by cards. but meat is more plentiful.
Roast beef costs a dollar pound,
roast pork s1.1o and veal s1.o0. Beer
sells for % cents quart Cock
: tails cost so cents, whiSkey so cents
per drink. Thus. only the rich can
afford much Christmas cheer. but
everybody is thankful the Germans
did not take Paris.
There is much urging that. after
the holidays. the peace delegates had
better settle down 10 work.
The war is over, but when will
peace Gomez" asks a newspaper head
line pertinently.
Twe~dle Dunn and Tweedie Dee.