The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1919-07-05
RANDALL EXPLAINS SENTIMENT
~:. TOWARDS AMERICANS IN PARIS
BY c.. A. RandOu.
Omitted Press correspondent

BY c.. A. Randou.
Omitted Press correspondent
Paris. (By Mail.)-That Ameri-
can soldiers are popular in France
directly inversely to their number,
is being proved by the attitude of
the French public toward the rapidly
decreasing American soldiers. Not
that the doughboys ever were I'M
popular, but during the period when
the greatest number of "Yanks" were
in France, the keen edge of the ira
ditional French cordiality was con-
siderably dulled. Two years ago
every American in France was &C
claimed as a hero. The "crusaders"
"Amerique'*A were hailed as soldiers
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 doughboys are daily
gaining greater favor with the
French. This reaction follows a
period when Americans were just a
bit grating to the French.
During the autumn Of 1918, and
after the signing Of the 'armistice,
when many Americans went out of
their way to impress upon the
French populace the part that the
A. E. F. had played In the war, the
popularity Of the American soldier
suffered decided slump. Gradually
this is working back.
The reception given the first
American battalion to parade in
Paris on July 4, 1917 was a memoir
able one, but Judging from the re-
wing popularity of the' doughboys,
the farewell which the last battalion
will receive will outstrip even that
other historical event.
Present indications are that some
Of the last members of the A. e. F.
to arrive in France before the armis-
tice will go home the best-informed
about places of historical importance
in Paris. The early arrivals served
during a period when everybody had
real work to do and could not be
bothered with sightseers. Now, how
ever, when many Of the veteran or
CARNATIONS have gone home, Paris
is a wide-open leave area and the
doughboys are reaping the benefit Of
the elaborate sightseeing bureaus.
Every day large parties of soldiers on
leave are taken on personally con-
Quoted tours to the Louvre, to Ver-
sai}les, and other points of interest.
Though the Americans are practi-
cally all bound for home, there are
a number Of Partisan establishments
that are branching out along Ameri-
can lines. The war has prevented
business from expanding since 1914
and now that peace has brought a
somewhat normal condition, there is
a rush to establish new, up-to-date
places Americans in Paris have
complained about. the service Of the
average Partisan barber. Apparent
~ several of the BARRIERS have taken
these complaints to heart, for during
the past week, at least two big down
town barbershops have enlarged Their
quarters and one has put in Ameri,
can. chairs. The comforts of ar
American barbershop with it's re-
dining chairs, real hot water, boot
blacks and well-informed talkativ<
BARRIERS are almost unknown if
Europe.
Since 1867 an attendant at tn,
Chateau Of Francis 1. Saint Ger
main-en Laye, where the Austrian
were given their treaty terms haE
waited one hour each evening for thu
Emperor Napoleon Ill.
During the summer months thu
Chateau, which since 1867 has beer
used as museum, is open to tn
public until five o'clock each after
noon and during the winter month";
until four O'Clock. Until recently al
attendant always remained on dut!
for exactly one hour after the muse
UNI was officially closed for the day
Investigation brought out the fol
lowing strange reason. Shortly afte
the museum was opened in 1857, Ma
poleon Ill wished to make visi
there after the public had departed
He found the Chateau deserted AM
could not get in. The Emperor CAV
an order that in the future an at
tendant must always remain on dut,
for one hour extra. in order to be OF
hand should His Majesty. happel
along. The reason for the strang
order was soon forgotten, but unit
this spring the rule has been scrupu