The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-18
Our American Boys Splendid
Says Actress Who Sang Way
to Their Hearts.
CANNON NAMED FOR HER
She Fired One Too and Knows
She Landed a Few Boches
= Good and Strong
sp.c,a, CovAsposdsncs to rnE Sos.

there. We lived ant fed with tne oui-
GERS all the time. but the boys were my
real friends. One OF them came. to me
one day after a show. -
Say, Kid he said, 'd'you know why
II Is you 60 so well with US boys? 'Tsfft
you're a great artist, or any OF
that stun. It's just because you're
real girl
II felt nervous, thought he was
going to say that was the finest actress
he'd ever seen. the usual stunt, ana
that would have spoiled 1t; 1t was the
incest compliment I've ever had"
She laughed. Elsie Janis, Just arrived
in London. from a six months tour OF the
camps behind the lines. is as brown and
tanned as . Texas cowgirl. .....
Never felt better in my life she de-
clares. 1T was some time And here
was I. a year ago. turning down offers
at the London ,Hippodrome because OF
the two shows a day; and out there Il
was giving nine Forty-five minutes to
each of them and wanting to get ,on
to the next. But. what audiences You
simply couldn't resist them. And now
I ind 1t the hardest job in the world
to settle down 10 the old theatre life.'
she concluded with q sigh.
Saw Balloon Fight Airpiane.
More than a thousand miles in six
months, playing to the boys-from the
cowtruck Of an engine. on ammunition
wagons. baseball grounds, aerodromes.
anywhere and everywhere, as occasion
demanded, and always in the open air.
Once. over her head, a. abe was sing
ing. q Bochs aeroplane tackled French
captive balloon.
ut was some fight." she declares. "Of
course We stopped the concert. They
wanted me to get under cover. But not
for Elsie; she wasn't missing anything
like this. j had stin neck for months
afterward. And all the time heard
myself mumoling. He's got him TO he
no'-and he didn't either! The two fell
lows In that balloon came down and
Joined the audience afterward."
When they arrived at American head
quarters. Gen. Pershing said to her ::
Now. Elsie. don't forget you're under
orders. like the rest OF the troops"
Troops. gee! That was fine "Ali right,
sir" she said, carry on" IS
He smiled. You are worth an army
corps to u.s.
They have named a big gun after her
the Big Elsie" 1t carries on its little
popping shells into the Boehe Inca
And my compliments 90 along with
EN-" says Elsie. But didn't tell you.
did I, how Joined the artillery? Yes.
I fred more than ESQ shells from French
'seventy-fives.' There was always a
terrific din; but Think I must have hit
the Boches all right. and good and
strong"
She must have entertained more than
a million French English and American
soldiers In the tour. The American boys
used to Foil UP In their hundreds; audi
ences Of as many as two and three thou
sand at a time. When there was not
room enough for them on the ground
they found convenient tree or Skinned
UP on a wall or the top OF an ammuni-
ton wagon.
zone day Just before left" she said.
II was singing to 1900 men In a
pouring rain. managed to continue
except when fearful gusts of wind
drowned the sound of my voice. Then
the boys helped me and sang Wait til
the sun Shines Elsie till was able to
60 on.
What did I sing Oh. mostly the
chorus OF the marching song Over
There I have my own version Of it
couldn't very we'll sing Over There
when I was Over Here could i? Here's
my version: listen!
Over here. over here, over here
Eend a word. send word. we are here.
We all are working. you bet we're working,
And that includes the officers.
Not one Is Sinking. never fear.
Dry that tear. mother dear.
Your worries will soon disappear
We are over we're glad we're over.
And We won't 60 back I'LL it's over over
here.
she's From Colum bus Too.
IT saw one boy" said Miss Janis with
tears in her eyes. who was brought in
with both legs shot away. crying bit
terly because he couldn't go back and
have another go at the Huns"
At another hospital there was a poor
fellow groaning and tossing in his
agony. Say. son." she smiled at him,
I'm from Columbus. Ohio too-some
town" Instantly the tortured express
sion relapsed into a broad smile. Gee
whzz!" he said half rising in the bed
land I'm going back there-some day."
The way the American boys have got
together with the French Ia marvellous.
THE English are a bit shy at showing
their linguistic powers" says Miss Janis,
but not so with our boys. They make
no bones about II. Ecoutez.' I heard
SSNp '"iNS cooi"he ot6u tIO Walls VI
the estaminet, where we were putting
up one night. at most uncomfortable
early hour. 'Apportez moi du cafe, du
pain ct du beurre-viter and quite un-
ashamed Of it. He got what he wanted
wife
After being In the trenches some time
at 81 day. the boys get a bit of none j
in hand. but they know the right thing
TO do with II. One afternoon L strolled
into a large jewellers shop in Paris
where great bronzed giant OF an in
fantryman was buying a ring TO send
home to his wife. The shopkeeper-as
shopkeepers will all the world over
was trying to stick on the price. So l
thought this was Just the right moment
for Elsie to pop In. Americana l asked
right. but he might have felt ANNOYED.
"Sure" he beamed.
$50 got to 1t, and told him Just how
much the thing was worth. Between us
that ring left that shop at Just rs Der
cent. less than demanded"
But perhaps the thing of which Elsie
Is proudest OF all Is getting a white pass
out OF the British military authorities
to go up as near to the firing lines as
she wanted. Few women have shared
that privilege-postibly none. But, as
she says. THE compliment. was to
America. not to Elsie Janis"
Gen. Pershing has asked her to Join
the American Army as regular-for
the duration. And don't be surprised
II do she said at parting. ITS the
camps for me; the theatres lost nearly
all its attractions"
Boarding House Union Formed.