Evening journal., 1918-03-11
BY GEORGE RANDOLPH CHESTER
and LILLIAN CHESTER.
Copyright. ieiS. by the Newspaper
Enterprise Assoclation.)

Enterprise Associaiion)
PARIS. March Ito make boots so
renowned as the Tsbourdeau boots have
been Through half a dozen cenerafions.
one rises very early. especially when
one has achieved that degree Of pros
perity which enables one 10 own ones
little place in the suburbs. where the
air is pure and the air is fragrant. and
the flowers bloom and the birds sing.
and where one eats the eggs from ones
own chickens. and drinks the milk
from ones own COW. and is driven %
the station In the early dawn by a
merry, buxom Madame Tabourdean, be-
hind ones own sleek poney Reynard.
One rises very carly. and Is happy in
deed 10 do SO. and leaves the crisp air
and plunges into the smoke-laden city.
o.sa wipn a ncait which stlll sings.
makes boots with the uplifting purpose
OF making each boot such O boot as VIII
not only keep alive, but enhance the
Tabourdeau reputation
Tabourdesu. Pcre et Fills. father and
three sons on school holidays, did this.
and had a shop which was very elegant.
though small, and had workrooms
which were very comfortable. and had
pride. FOR one gentleman Of degree
wore the Tabourdeau boots. and had
lusty appetltes when they were met al
the station in the evening by Madame
Tabourdeau. her round, pink face
wreathed in smiles and her bright eyes
dancing.
A happy woman. Madame Tabour-
deau, ami happiest at the great crown
ing event Of each day when the four
hungry boot-makcrs. after a vast deal
OF splashing and scruDbing. sat at din
ner. Papa Lucien Tabourdeau presid-
cd o. course, truly handsome with the
touches OF silver In his black hair, and
In his neatly trimmed Napoleon
Just beyond the Medoc the first born.
Leon. who was slight and strong like
his father. and would be stout in his
maturity. and already had quite a prom
ising mustache; 10 the LEFT Of Papa,
Marcel, who was thiok-boned and heavy
like his mothers father: between Mar
eel. and the Maman at the foot Of the
table. sat Young Rene, who was slender
and promised 10 be tall, and was the
handsomest OF the three; straight as an
arrow. with black eyebrows and black.
curly hair, and pink cheeks like a
girls, and a smile OF great tenderness.
Rene, being scarcely IS. was perhaps
the least passionate In his intention
10 make good boots. and, II the truth
must be confessed, there were moments
when Rene, clamping a wet sole in the
iron clamp 70 give 4 just the perfect
shaping which was one Of the secrets
OF the Tarboudeau excellence, went
a-roaming into far distant worlds clad
IN shining armor and rescued princesses
from the spells Of wicked magicians.
But II must also be said that the
boots which came under his hands had
In them a certain touch OF elegance
which bespoke the true artist
Thus were the happy Tabourdeaus
when, one hot day In July in 1919, there
came the certainty OF Germany's real
intention; to kultur the world and to
begin with the capture and destruction
Of long-envied and long-hated Pafisl
Lucien Tabourdeau was one Of the
tlrst TO Join the mobilization. for he
was an officer. Leon wished TO go also.
but Lucien said no from the fervor
with which France was rushing TO the
oolors there would be moro than enough
10 stop the Germans. without using the
boys OF 90 and Leon. being the eldest,
should for the time, be The Tabour-
deau Of Tabourdeau Pere et Fills
Marcel, who was a philosopher, and
always suppressed his thoughts when
IL would do no good TO speak them
kept silent. but Rene felt personal
agrieyement.
It was war and he was born too late
to have any part in it Those were
hard days which followed Tor Rene.
with bands playing everywhere, and
people shouting and patriots Of all ages
hurrying away to the war, singing
Rene was still a romantic boy. and his
rich Imagination was constantly at
work with the vivid colors in which
glory Is painted.
Rene was depressed.
There followed the most colossal trag-
edy in the history Of civilization. Shud-
ders OF horror swept over the world,
as hundreds upon hundreds Of thou
sands OF Germans were hurled al the
defenses Of heroic France, 70 be slaush-
tered Ike so many sheep; and for hold
ing them IN leash. France paid thou
sands OF gallant lives a day; one Of
them was Lucien Tabourdeaul
Fortunate Madame Tabourdeau 70
have. in her bereavement. three such
good sons as Leon. Marcel and Rene
They did their best to alleviate the
grief of their mother and they pre-
pared TO keep alive the fame OF Tabour-
deau, Pere ct Fills; but daily the great
war assumed increasingly frightfui pro-
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