The Topeka state journal., 1919-05-10
YANK saw IT ALL
Nothing at Peace Palace at Ver-
sailles Escaped DOughbOy.
Has Signed, Sealed and Deliv-
cred Treaty Several Times.
''OLD GEORGE" HIMSELF THERE
Yank Pleased with Picture of
Washington and Lafayette.
Writes Letters Home to Folks
on Very Table, Etc., Etc.

fCorrespondence of the Associated Press
! Versailles. France. April 6.-That
much discussed peace treaty has al
ready been signed. sealed and deliv-
pred in spirit scores of times from the
historic chateau here. if. indeed, the
good intentions of hundreds of ener-
getic young American soldiers count
for anything. 1t would be difficult to
find a Yankee warrior who. having got
as near as Paris, has not come to Yer
sailles to express his approval or dis
approval of the place where the real
treaty will be signed. and to subscribe
his name to a peace document of his
own for the folk back home. Having
sought out the winderful Hall of Mir
rors, doughboy and officer alike in
vRriably make their way to the table
upon which it is said the treaty will
be signed. and with much linking of
fingers from leaky pens indite post
card memorials which begin:
This is being written in the famous
Hall Of Mirrors in the Chateau of YER
sailles, upon the very table,, etc.
Versailles a Mecca.
The doughboy is by no means alone
in his desire to see the renowned pal
ace in which the world peace Will be
concluded. Thousands of French peo-
pie have been flOcking to Versailles
In fact. Versailles has become a sort of
Mecca which is drawing the national
5ties of the world who wish to worship
at the shrine of peace.
All the pre-war splendors are RAPID
lv returning to the palace under the
Dracticed hands of expert Workmen
who are renovating the vast halls and
replacing the priceless relics Tor tne
advent of the peace delegates. WheH
the Germans were threatening Faris
fhe Chateau was stripped OF all port
able valuables, which were taken 70
Bordeaux and other places for sate
keeping. During the past rev Gays
ancient tapestries of untold value ana
furniture worth the ransom of king
have been reappearing in their accus-
tomed places. and the dust of many
months has been cleared away from
walls and floors.
Today being Sunday people flocked
20 Versailles in great numbers, for II
was the first really sunshiny holiday
of the season. Hundreds of American
officers. doughboys and nurses were
among the pilgrims who filled the
huge chateau and oVerran the lawns
and already green woods of the beau
tiful grounds.
The Doughboy's Impression.
The doughboy for once was seeing
something which had no counterpart
at home. The Woolworth building
was higher but-well, they could
hardly be compared after all, they
were so different. His first impress
grandeur. and the thought came to
him: What a lot of money it must
have cost" Then he got interested
art for arts sake.
The Hall of Mirrors, where the
treaty will be signed, held him long,
as he gazed in awe at the myriad re-
Elections and the superb decorations
of the ceiling. He found his way to
the exact spot where in 1871 stood the
dais from which the foundation of
the German empire was proclaimed.
and heard his guide say that for rea-
sons of sentiment the table upon
which the treaty will be signed would
probably be located in the same place.
The great hall, the doughboy was
told will be reserved for the treaty
makers, but the ceremony will be wit
messed from adjoining rooms by MEM
bers of the press from many countries
and by some distinguished guests. The
wife of President Wilson will prob
ably be one of those who will see the
president and other delegates place
their names to the most important
document of history.
DOughboy saw it All.
= There was little the doughboy didn't
see today. The apartments of King
Louis the Fourteenth, and the council
chamber of that monarch and his
successors, all of which will be used
for conference purposes, proved at
tractive to his imaginative mind. The
boudoir of Madame de Maintenon.
which also is to be sacrificed to COM
mittee work, drew many wise Shak-