The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-08-01

tants cheering, and waving friendly
adieuX. For the foreign force was
the first party of American permis
neutrality-suspicious. lenve-nnd the
city was AiXes- -Bnins, the first American leave
center in France. Here the French saw the
Americans at play and we're satisfied.
"Ax-lesBeans" the American boys pronounce
II. at the i'm Ninent risk of the name being short
ened to The beans Aka Jewel, clear-cut.
with brilliant facets set in a frame of gorgeous
moonlight and of wonderful Opalne sunsets and
sunrlses This Is the beauty spot to which are sent
the boys In olive-drnb. wearled by months in
trench mud. under bursting shells. And this Is
the story OF the frst permissonaires to Arrive In
Aix-the American soldiers Bllghty.
On certain bright Saturday cosmopolitan
crowd gathered mt the railroad station all in q
high state OF anticipation. One could easily pick
out the persons of prominence. the mayor, the
DOCTORS lawyers and others of small but as.
sured Incomes And 1t might be noticed that the
Older women kept watchfui eyes on the jeunne
dlies who. tense with expectancy, gazed up the
Iron road along which the first permissionaires
were to come For who could tell what romnnce
might not be on the way. romance excusing the
nuttering Of eyelids and the extra nicety of
dress! ~
AS special effort to make the Incoming Amer.
leans feel right at home. the crowd featured a
negro bnnd and the local baseball nine composed
or small boys In scarlet jerseys and linen trous-
ers. with legs bare only a French boy ever
dares wear them. The lads had small American
ruttlinE with the cold for the snow lay on the
mountain sides and refrigerated wind blew
down from there.
:. In the crowds also American oficers and
visitors. Y. NJ C. A. secretaries. canteen workers
aud uncatnOgued spectators. Before the AmerI-
cans arrived dozen British avIators on their
wny to Itnly changed trains and seeing the
throng. asked the reason. On being Informed
they exclaimed with heartfelt approval:
Wish we were American permIssionaires, ;"
Ar,.N.
In the happy days before 1914 had attracted the
discriminating visitors Of all nations was In more
than cnia dress this day, painting the lily while
military and civil representatives had assembled
there to give welcome to the boys who had come
from the west shores of the Atlantic to fight
shoulder to shoulder with the French.
These are the early arrivals OF the American
expedltionary force which landed in France Inst
aummer-regulars and volunteers. They had come
from the trenches with scarcely hour to pre-
pare
They wore their trench helmets. their packs
were their backs, their clothes and boots COW
cred with mud. their faces grimy. their hair dis
ordered Their train two hours late, but the
crowd has been waiting that time and the cold
winds have not chilled the enthusiasm which
greeted the appearance of the Yankees.
''1t certainly did make an impression" said one
old regular of this reception. 1--WE didn't know
what kind of place 1t and of us
sore because couldn't go Paris, while
half of didn't have the money to It
through. the right outfit. But l guess Uncle
Sam had an idea 1t would be just well to let
the French people know the American troops
weren't kept in bandbcxes and tissue paper, but
were In the fight"
There doubt IN the minds of those who
watched the boys getting out Of the that
they had been Mt the front. They were hungry
and tired, having been 30 hours on the way with
only stop-over, where the Red Cross unit had
breakfast ready for them. But they too ac-
customed to discipline to resist speech-making
and hospitality they listened patiently to the
provost marshai's friendly ndmontIons shun
wine and women. No ban placed song.
Then-on with the welcome!
The negro band erupted into jazz and raggy
noises, taking the Americans back home in spirit
at least, following which French orchestra
swung gracefully into the strains of Suite de
Massenete" and the permissionaires es-
cortec to their temporary homes. They were led
through streets fianked by fag-draped balconies,
from which pretty girls cried with familiar greet
ting:
"vive rAmerque vlve la France! vive Oncle
Sami"
sonaries came to the A. f. F.s Blighty with a
blare of trumpets, a waving of flags, cheers,
smiles. sparkling eyes and welcoming speech. Be
fore them lay eight days of clean. delightful
recreation nmd beautiful scenes and-probably
best of all-unmited baths.
We've fed mud said happy permis-
sonaire. "The rats come and sit on the edges
of our straw and give morning salute. We
haven't Ind n real wash for long that We've
almost forgotten how 1t feels TO have that sense
of sef-respect that comes with the morning tub
AK with its famous waters. baths and casinos
needs no Introduction many men in the Amer
tcnn expedtionary force. In the days before the
war It attracted thousands of Americans each
season among them the late ]. Pierpont Nor