Omaha daily bee., 1919-11-16

is a relief for my father to chat
about books and literary folk.
Books, newspapers and magazines
have always been his great passion;
in fact, he is never so happy as
when he gets into a publishing Of
flee, looks over manuscript, and
hears the whirring of the presses.
Having edited five newspapers, he
still has deep love for journal
ISM"
Grateful to United States.
In discussing the war and its
aftermath, Madame Clemenceau-
Jacquemaire said: "In common
with all our people, l have felt
deeply grateful for the assistance
given to France by the United
States, and fully appreciate all that
the American people did for the al
lied cause. After the American d.
visions arrived in France l heard
glowing accounts of them from our
French officers. They had every
confidence in the Americans, and
knew that when American soldiers
set out to do certain thing they
would surely do it. They could be
absolutely relied upon to gain their
objective or perish in the attempt
Consequently we felt convinced that
the final defeat of the Germans
would soon follow"
Madame Clemenceau-J auquemaire
remarked that she had heard of
stories derogatory to the French
people being circulated among the
American troops at the end OF the
war. She was inclined to believe
that many of these stories were the
result of German propaganda. 1t
was impossible, however, as she
pointed out, for an army from an
other country to see the best side
of French life in wartime, because
everybody that could leave the war
zone had fled, and those who re-
manned were chiefly people OF the
poorer classes who had undergone
long privation and suffering. "In
every country" said Madame Glenn
enceau-J acquemaire, there are
hosts of people among the lower
grades of the population who would
not appear in the best light after
experiencing want and desperation
for several years. As the result OF
these conditions, it is not surpris-
ing that many American soldiers,
seeing only the dark side of life,
received an unfavorablc impression
of France"
As already mentioned, Madame
Clemenceau Jacquemaire hopes
that her lectures will do something
toward correcting these false i'm
pressions, and by giving American
people a clearer idea OF France,
may help to revive the cordial re-
lations that have always existed be-
tween the two countries. In her
lectures, she will also have some
thing to say about the differences
between French and American, So
cial ideas, and especially the status
of women.
Her Hobby Needlework.
Although she is a progressive,
Madame Clemenceau-J acquemaire
believes that many features of the
French system of courtship and
marriage, which are much criticised
by Americans, are we'll suited to
France. The American system, she
thinks, is admirable for Americans
but not for the FrenrA, on account
Of tradition and social and racial
conditions. The dowry system, the
control of marriage by parents and
other matters have received her
careful study, and on these sub
jects she has very decided views.
In referring to this subject,
Madame Clemenceau-Jac quemaire
observed: II was much interested
in the movement started, about a
year ago, for an exchange of young
women students between France
and America. A number Of French
girls were sent to the United States
in order to enter various American
colleges, and it has been proposed |
that an equal number of American
girls should enter educational insti-
tutions in France. Although have
taken no active part in this move
ment, it has received my earnest ap-
proval, and should like very much
to see it developed and extended.
Intercourse of this kind between the
two countries cannot fail TO have a
good effect, and it will help to re-
move many misconceptions that |
exist. If the French people only
knew Americans as I know them,
and especially the American soldiers
who fought for the allied cause, they |
would have only the greatest admir-
alton. The same is true of the
French. If the great masses Of the
American people could only know
the pvsnch as they are at home I'M
der peace conditions, they would es-
TEEN and respect them"
Speaking of feminine hobbies,
Madam Clemenceau ) Jacquemaire |
remarked that her favorite diver
sion is needlework, and especially |
lace work, in which she has become
quite proficient. This turned the |
conversation to the modern woman
and the athletic girl with her craze
for golf. Madame Clemenceau-
Jacquemaire is not opposed to out
door sports for women, provided
they are not carried to excess,
though she prefers a less strenuous
method of employing her spare
time.
Son a War Hero.
This interview took place in |
Madame Clemenceau-J acquemaire's
apartment near the Bots de Bou-
iogne i'll Paris. Behind the desk at |
which she was seated was a large |
portrait of her son, Renee, who |
served with distinction in the war.
When the German invasion began
in 1914 young Jacquemaire was fn-
ishing his medical course and could |
have gone into the medical corps,
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