Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-26
CHILDREN OF FRANCE
PLEAD DADDY RETURN
Although the War Is Over, the Men
Are Still Held :or Police
Work.
IN MEANTIME, PRICES SOAR
Common Coal Hold Sells Now mt
Twenty-Five Francs, While Il
Tailor Gets $50 for Suit Which
Once Cost $50.
By ROBERT wELLEs nITcHlE.


PARIS. December o5.--"Please. Pere
Noel. let father como home" has been
the Christmas prayer Of every French
child for four years and each year
they have been told the next Christ
Daddy" home. "Perc Nocr is the
French equivalent for Santa Claus.
Though the war is finished. peace
the. French Riddles dream vainly OF
their fathers return, Christmas failed
10 bring the bearded poilus home. The
war has lasted longer for France than
ly remember peace. when Infant
Jesus brought real toys and goodies
and mother didn't look worried.
Thus the first peace Christmas is
and even more SO. The soldiers are
still modified.
Thousands of soldiers will be kept
policing GERMANY The idea that other
thousands will bc sent To Russia is not
yet wholly diSpclled.
Meanwhile food is moro expensive
huttcr to regular customers only in
the morning. Candy is forbidden.
Cakes are unknown, except macarroons
which cost 50 a pound. Condensed
selling for 10 cents.
Yesterday afternoon visited four
groceries In an attempt TO secure but,
ter and milk. ], was an unsuccessful
since the American army took over
tho shipments. Sugar cards allow ono
pound for each person monthly. Prunes.
of the poorest quality. arc . francs
tS1.2o per pound. coffee fetchcs >
francs a pound and is difficult to OBJ
tain: Eggs arc extremely rare and
fetch Is cents apiece. y glass OF jelly
sells for - cents. a pound OF honey
for 81. Flour is unobtaiuabic for pri-
vatc cooking. Chickens, which cost
francs before :hc war. arc nov. 10
francs. Turkeys cost about $50 q
pound Peaches can TIC obtained AT
about 81 Il quart. Ordinary table, wine
which used to cost I : cents A litrc now
costs 40 cents. Metal wares ar: pre-
ing in several department, stores
found a casi-iron coal crate which
before the war cost francs and now
% francs. paid - francs for 4 coal
war. Clothing Is equally dear, = tailor
who two years ago made suits for $50
francs S3or now charges 800 francs
$500 for tho poorest fabrics.
The chcapest childrcn'S shoes are So
Toys. mostly military hold-ovcrs Of lit
tie variety and poor quality. sell Tor
absurd prices. The cheapest hoX OF
dominocs is II francs SO 1t Is hard
TO understand why Franc" is ''celebrat-
ing another war Christmas. Coal Is
scarce. II costs $40 Il ton for the
only on producing u coal card.
STREET ILLUMINATION IN
PARIS Is REDUCED
The royal receptions being over,
street illumination In Paris has again
been reduced. Electric siEns arc for
hidden. Hotel eleva tors operate only
Il few hours each day TO save cleo
tricity.
The usual Christmas milnish, rev
clry has been forbidden. A-ll public
ever. the churches will celebrate the
traditional midnight rnass. allowing
the worshippcrs TO thank God the
human massacre Is ended. The subway
closes at 80 o'clock. TaXiS arc
scarce The streets arc dark. Luckily
the weather is mild
The only real sign of peace is that
the bread is less black. 'IIow do tho
prices?" the correspondent asked Of a
Newsstand woman. we live by the
nope that peace "ill como soon" She re-
piled. adding: We have faith in VIII
son"
The Paris hotels. restaurants and
cafes are hllcd with monied people from
TIC worlds four corners. and, despite
the shortage, money seems 10 be able
TO produce everything. The royal
banqucts and official luncheon parties
are making the poor people talk
Nuts arc plentiful. but they cost GO
cents a .pound. Real oranges cannot
be found Mcnsly tangerines cost II
cents piece. bananas 10 cents "A piece.
The sale OF bread is limited by cards,
hut meat is more plentiful Roast beer
costs 81 pound. roast pork. SID. and
veal. *l.2o. Beer SELL; for oh cents u
quart. Cocktails cost Go cents: whisky,
SO cents per drink. Thus only the rich
man 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 bet
ter settle down to work
The war is over but when Will
peace come? asks newspaper head
line pertinently.