The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-31
TOP HAT is CONE
Paris Peace Conference Drove
1t From Diplomacy.
Lieutenant Wingart Writes of
Big Four Meetings.
ENGLISH POPULAR TONGUE
Gay Paris Is Again Taking on
Gay Appearance.
President and Mrs. Wilson Go
to the Races.

The Paris peace conference has
sounded the death knell to the top
hat in diplomatic functions, declares
Lieut.. E. w. Wingart. formerly of To-
peka and now on the staff Of the Stars
and Stripes. in a recent letter from
Paris. The American derby and un-
conventional Homburg hat have GUST
ed the topper" he says. NJ. Pad
erewslti being the only one of the
peace plenipotentiaries who clings to
it with undying affection. Winsart
was formerly with the State Journal
and Associated Press and went to
France with a heavy field artillery
unit. His letter follows in part:
The peace conference has been an
unusual body in many respects. The
use of English as basis for the nego-
tiations is perhaps the most uncon-
ventional turn it has taken and it has
greatly embarrassed and peeved the
Italians and small powers. French.
the usual diplomatic language, took a
back seat whenever the big three got
together. Clemenceau speaks English
almost as we'll as he does French;
Wilson, who is student of French
and can read and write 1t, is unable
to talk it with fluency; and Lloyd
English Popular Language.
"As a consequence. most of the big
questions of the peace conference were
settled in English. The final docu-
ment which was turned over to the
Germans was printed in English on
one side and French on the other so
that both languages will go down in
history as the media of discourse
between nations in the future. This
is the first time that English has been
practically the basis for a peace treaty
OF any magnitude. On the face OF 1t.
this feature of the peace conference
does not seem very important. but 1
have no doubt that historians will
make a great deal of it, showing the
influence America had in the making
another feature. of less Importance
than the first, but nevertheless piqu-
ing to the old diplomats. is the appar-
ent disregard American and English
delegates have had for the top hat.
AS a matter of fact. the peace confer
ence has sounded the death knell to
this we'll esta blished head gear for
diplomatic functions.
Paris is certainly poisoning out
these summer days. The boulevards
are crowded with gaily bedecked
women and spring-suited men. Much
interest is being shown in the races
which take place every day on one of
dent and Mrs. Wilson were. out at
Longchamps and the gathering was
described in the Paris papers as one
of the most distinguished yet seen at
the races.
Back to Prc-War Basis.
The fact that the peace terms have
been handed to Germany, the gradual
releage of the war conditions and the
exceptionally fine weather has put the
Partisan on his mettle and the city,
they tell me is taking on more of a
pre-war flavor than at any time since
the armistice.
I'VE are going to have big dinner
party here tonight. 1t will not be
such a dinner as you will have in the
United states after July I. o Mon
Dieu! That will be an awful condi-
ton after living eight months in
France where you can get a vermuth
now this is quite a drink, with a little
chunk of ice and a dash of Settler
water. Such is life in France"