The sun., 1919-04-20
BY N. E.

TIME thing that most impresses
one in Paris at this moment
is the intense desire to live!
The tendency is to forget yesterday
to forgive even those who have tres
passed against us. People are willing
to let the Peace Conference take heed
OF tomorrow. and to live. The ac-
tivity in every branch of endeavor Is
something tremendous. France is like
a splendid blesse. like a great levithan.
its sides filled with harpoons and
spouting blood, but which risen on the
crest of the wave sees the goal of VIC
tory ahead and feels still within her
the vital strength to overcome the
past.
You can read attentively four news
papers a day and still you can scarcely
keep abreast Of the times. New pub
locations are coming out and new
books being printed in spite of the
scarcity of paper. New theatres are
being founded, the. old ones are all
open and crowded to the doors; new
plays succeed one another with such
rapidity that you cannot possibly at
tend all the premieres, to say nothing
OF some celebrated revivals: as for
conferences, these are so numerous
that one is obliged to specialize. con-
fning oneself TO those most interest
ing to their line of thought: as for
art exhibitions. there is no question
of being able 10 visit them all, and
here again 1t must be decided by max
ing judicious selection.
Food Gan Lifted.
All restrictions have been removed
from the use Of milk, butter, cheese,
chocolate and patisserie; bread cards
have become a joke and the news
papers are having great fun with the
new municipal revictualling booths and
the special municipal menu added to
the bills of fare in restaurants. Of
fetal steps are being taken to lower
the price of clothing and shoes. and the
day OF judgment Is rapidly approach
ing for those who have amused them
selves during the past four years hid
ing behind the moratorium and not
paying their rent. The moratorium lie
being lifted and people have got to
pay.
All the foregoing forms the back
ground, the still life In the picture, but
1t Is social amusements. sports, air
plano feats and the revival OF all sorts
of folderols such as Paris saw before
the war that Eliminates and gives
vitality to life everywhere. Que rou-
leg rous? 1t is the springtime, the
chestnut trees are bursting into bloom
beds OF flowers are shining brightly
along the Champs Elysees, the sun Is
shining. daintily gowned women are
appearing in the streets with theii
short skirts and transparent hosiery
and the spring hats are masses Of
bright color.
Oficers in uniform of every nation
except one-add to the brilliancy o.
the scene, and II there were no othei
llmousines except those requisitionet
nv the delegates OF the Peace Confer
cnce there would still be enough t.
reech in an unbroken line from thu
American headquarters. Hotel de Grill
ion, Place de la Concorde. to the Are
de Triomphe. That forms the excuse
for all the rest.
The world is undergoing a great up
heaval. and those who do not recog
nize 1t make a mistake. Old ideas ant
old maxims. old precepts of life and o
religion even seem TO be lettering OF
their base, and IL William Cullen Bry
ant were still living and a young maj
of eighteen II is doubtful II he woult
now find inspiration for the closinl
lines of his immortal "Thanatopsis'
For lack OF better word TO describ'
the present mental attitude OF tn
world we have to resort to that ter
rible but expressive epithet-Bolshe
,vism. Perhaps the ship OF civiliza
ton will shift her ballast back int
more eQlable proportions with tim
and when the shock of this war is
little older.
The wilson's fn Paris.
The French public have permitte'
the President and Mrs. Wilson to sill
as quietly into Paris and take posses
sion of their new quarters in Place de
Etats- Unis as IL they were old Pari
slams. which. after all. Is the creates
compliment that could be paid them
One OF the greatest joys Of worl'
celebrities when they settle down II
Paris IL that courtesy enabling them Il
10 about just like ordinary mortall
and to lose themselves in the crow