New-York tribune., 1919-03-16
French Accepting
American Habits
Shown by Soldiers
Col. Frederick Palmer Tells
of Popularity of Tooth.
brushes and Baths Since
U. S. Army Gave Reason

said, in talking with Tribune reno-.'
yesterday, "but nowhere, perhans 49,.
one 1eei this more than in the sanitarv
improvements which are being raa.
In some of the small towns whor.
American soldiers were auartered 49,
sale Of toothbrushes increased enor
mously, not because Americans bouvbt
them, but because<the French adm;rsa
the white teeth that cleaned bacl "a
an American smile. Like Kin,ine,s
child, they naively asked 'why?' and tbo
inevitable answer was a shrug and an
admitted toothbrush, I guess So tn.
French invested in this little com
modify, tout de suite.
"It was the same in regard n b.o.;n
systems, bathing facilities, etc. Amer
leans were not backward about arow,-
ing over inconveniences engendered bv
customs different from their own. and
the French are quick to adopt improve
ments which in the end mean a greater
thrift. e''a'er
And speaking of thrift" Colonel
Palmer said with an amused chuckIe
III wager that the mothers of o,,r
American boys who are returning with
French wives are going to welcome
them with open arms when they see
what excellent homemakers the French
girls Ss'e. They have thrift worked out
TO an attractive science. They help
their husbands to save money. and thev
nave Keen business sense. The French
women are the business confidantes of
their husbands, and the congenialitv of
nome ilfe in France is contagious.
The French girl enjoys less free
dom, perhaps. in her friendships with
the other sex. than does the American
girl. In France, before the war. if a
French girl walked in public with
man, 1t was assumed that the couple
were engaged. But when our bows
came, and assumed the delightful and
easy camaraderic with French girls
which they had been accustomed to as
sumo toward Americans, the French
mother. quickly understanding our at
tltude, loosened up bit Oh the rigid
ity of her chaperonage."
Colonel Palmer has been in the war
for four years. He served with the
British army for two and then Joined
Pershing's staff when the latter sailed
for Europe.
"The women of this country owe
vast debt to General Pershing,D
Colonel Palmer said, "in that he in
sisted upon a moral army He fought
to keep American ideals high, and with
conditions what they are it was 10
easy task; but he succeeded.
A great factor toward his success,
however, lay in the Americans honor
and love for his women folk. | think
more wives pictures were worn out
IN France than anything else. The
boys have hauled from their pockets
that home photograph in the very wet
test of trenches, on the field, in the
hospitals, in the Bois, on the hearth
stone of a French home offering its
hospitality - indeed, whenever and
Wherever they were seized with hun
cry longing to see the original of the
photograph and the good old U. S. A.
And, believe me-" Colonel Palmer add
ed with a marked reverence, "those
times were many
practically every boy over there is
counting the minutes until he gets
home. And I know how they feel,
Tor when | arrived here | felt as if
had suddenly been given wings with
which to fly. | believe very few of
our men Will remain in France, for
there is no place for them except in
dong distinctly manual labor In ad-
d1tlon, the climate of France makes
little appeal to the American tempera-
ment. More than one boy remarked
to me while over there-both in France
and England he had never been
so good an American as he had since
landing on the other side of the At
lantic.
But he has learned an invaluable
lesson over there, and seen a sacrifice
OF self that will endure in his mem
ory always. The French are wonder
1ul- Their women are beyond COM
pare IN the manner in which they have
endured devastation of property and
loss OF friends and relatives. The
way they have quietly and systemat-
lcally gone about reconstructing their
lives since the signing of the armi-
stlce is superb. Until houses can be
rebuilt in the devastated areas they
are using army barracks. According
10 government estimate, the live stock
OF France has decreased very little
SINCE the war, and with their cattle as
foundation and their indomitable
perseverance as a constructing force
self
The contrast between the suffering
which French people have endured
and that felt by the Germans is
marked. Everywhere in Germany
buildings are standing, for the war
was fought outside the country. For
TINS reason, our boys quartered in
Germany are being given greater COM
iorts than they ever knew in France;
but 1t is because the Germans are
ordered to provide the best for the
army of occupation, and in no wise due
to German generosity.
Il was remarkably impressed with
the vast number of children in Ger
many. The streets literally swarm
with them-an amazing number-and
they were by no means so attractive as
the little ones of France. German
women are, as we all know, considered
decidedly inferior to their husbands,
and do not share with them the re-
spect and companionship that fall 10
the lot Of French women. Wherever
| went / was impressed with the bit
terness German women feel in their
deteat-far more bitterness than the
men feel.
I'm passing" Colonel Palmer said,
Il want to add my tribute to the
splendid work of our women over
particularly the army nurses
who worked through the fiercest OF
our battles, seldom getting an even
ing off. laboring double time and ur-
der fearful strain, and never Tagging
in their efforts. They were soldier
women, magnificent in their courage
and something should be done here
at home to honor them. In fact, l
think sill our nurses--those abroad