Evening star., 1918-01-27
,orrespondence of The Star.

PARIS, January II. 1918.
a NEWSPAPER photographer had
M sudden need of pictures OF
~ Sammies in the streets of
e = Paris. Instead of taking time
to arrange with willing subjects at the
provost's, he attempted to accost lads
passing on the boulevard-and tackled
two lieutenants!
.Pardin, but we are fellow Amen-
cans" said the innocent pruneau.
would you object to me taking snap
shot?"
Ciel, Neutenants, Better try colonies!
How could you?" asked.
"They looked it," he answered. I
was out for Sammies. Now l know how
bunko operators feel-or beggars. mo.
thanks they tossed me, with mock1ng
contempt. Sure, they took me for a
bunk. Five minutes later I frightened
an honest Sammy. Here's your mega
tiyes. got them in the end, but
wouldn't take the Job again for $780,"
A dozen turned him down-with their
hands on their pockets. They did not
protect their faces. Surely. they have
been warned. men and officers.
Is bunko bad in Paris!
On our return from French port TO
meet transports. a gay young ser sergs,ans ant
on the train (where he had no business
to be) and began to count big money
out of all his pockets.
''See that! The poor young man, T.
whispered a London correspondent.
perceive his termination.
tut. tut" answered a Partisan re-
porter, nobody in Paris will try 70
get it from him. Nobody In Paris
Which is just. of course, where
Americans fool them.
A rookie at the Grand Cafe told me
that nine men of his company have al
lowances Of from slSo to ssot ,ees per
are merely men whom he happens to
know. A naval warrant officer affirmed
that six boys of his gun crew Qf got
it righD receive S2oo apiece TO ouln'
every thirty days. The rookie who ap-
peared to have no limit. was setting up
egg fiips at 40 cents each. The guam
tity was several.
'It's almost a soft drink, and a favor-
ite with soldiers" he explained. ITS
lust a little port wine and an egg, to
keep our strength. We've also got to
keep our heads Che Wagsed ms. omi, !,
niously), on account of all them bunks.
.Bunks?" l said.
He Wasged again.
THE girls protect u.s." he added.
Red Cross" 1 said.
"Yes." he answered, "haW-haW. tney
tell us everything the hunks are say
ing, SO we're all the time wise to their
Combinations. See that bunk. there In
the cornerF
"Hes q waiter" said.
"That's it. They're the hunks OF Paris
All the others are fighting, except these
SIN Doth shaved. hoary-headed old repro
bates with their teamwork. At the
x restaurant (not here) they said
right out in French, because they knew
we could not understand: What? Aren't
you going to have champagne-with
American soldiers? His partner was
We turned 'em down. Anyhow, you
don't get the buckets-they use them
over again!
They've discovered you have money!"
sure, Mike. The hunks we were warm
ed against don't exist. The real ones
don't seek up-we seek them! All the
old steerers are in the trenches or de-
pots, or guarding railroad tracks in
Mesopotamia Paris is like the Garden
of Eden-set with spring traps"
think he alluded to restaurants and
places of, amusement.
Just to prove 1t. as I stepped into
the "Knickerbocker bar" attached to the
cafe {but you've got to hunt it) heard
a broad-gauge American voice drawl
ing:
would have thought so. OF course.
spend most Of my time at the uniyers-
l communed with myself It sounded
like old-fashioned bunk.
'tOr else the accents changed" medi-
tated. 81 shall rubber"
Now, all kinds Of men can matrdcu-
late at all kinda OF pntYeratties, but