Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-08-23
Pdrisandfhe
A.E.F.
By G. A. Raudau.

kCHted freSS otaII correspondent
Paris, (By Mail) That American
soldiers are popular in France directly
inversely to their number is being prov
ed by the attitude of the French public
toward the rapidly decreasing American
soldiers. Not that the doughboys ever
were unpopular, but during the period
when the greatest number of ''Yanks y
were in France, the keen edge of the
traditional French cordiality was con.
siderably dulled. Two years ago every
American in France was acclaimed as a
hero. The ''crusadcrs from that little
known and far away g Amcrique' were
hailed as soldiers had never before been
greeted. 1t would be stretching things
to say that the American soldiers still
in France are equally as popular as
those first fortunate arrivals. On the
other hand, the doaghboys are daily
gaining greater favor with the French.
During the autumn of 1918, and after
the signing of the armistice, when many
Americans went out of their way to i'm
press upon the French populaee the part
that the A. Il. F. had played in the war,
the popularity of the American soldier
hsuffcred decided slump. Gradually
this is working back.
The reception given the first Ameri-
can battalion to parade in Paris on July
4, 1917, was memorable one, but judg-
ing from the reviying popularity of the
doughboys, the farewell which the last
battalion viii receive will outsrip even
that other historical event.
President indications are that soa,~
of the last members of the A. E. f. to
arrive in France before the armisticc
will 90 home the best st-informed about
places of historical Importance in Paris.
The early arrivals served during per-
iod when everybody had real work to
do and could not be bothered with sight
seers. Now, however, when many Of the
veteran organizations have gone home,
Paris is wide-open leave area and the
doughboys are reaping the benefit of
the elaborate sightseeing bureaus. Every
day large parties of soldiers are taken
on personally conducted tours of the
Louvre, to Versailles, and other points of
interest.
Though the Americans are practically
ll-bound for home, there are a number
of Partisan establishments that are
branching out along American lines. The
war has prevented business from ex-
panding since 1914, and now that peace
has brought somewhat normal condi-
ton, there is a rush to establish new,
up-to-date places. Americans in Paris
have complained about the service of
the average Parisien barber. Apparent
ly several of the BARRIERS have taken
these complaints to heart, for during the,
past week, at least two big downtown
barbcrshops have enlarged their quar-
tiers and one has put in American chairs.
The comforts of an American barber
shop with its reclining chairs, real hot
water, bootblacks and. wcil-infornt-,.
talkativc BARRIERS are almost unknown
in Europe.
Since 1867 an attendant at the Cha.
teau of Francis L. Saint Gernlain
Lave, where the Austrians were given
their treaty terms has waited one hour
each evening for the Emperor Napoleon
III.
During the summer months the cha
teau, which since 1867 has been used as
museum, is open to the public until 8
clock each afternoon and during the
winter months until O'Clock. Until
recently an attendant always remained
on duty for exactly one hour after the
museum was officially closed for the
day.
Investigation brought out the follow
ing strange reason. Shortly after the
museum was opened in 1867, Napoleon
III wished to make visit there after
the public had departed. He found the
chateau deserted and could not get in.
The emperor gave an order that in the
future an attendant must always remain
on duty for one hour extra, in order to
be on hand should his majesty happen
along. The reason for the strange order
was soon forgotten, but until this spring
the rule has been scruplously observed.
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