The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-08-05

ne had ample opportunity to observe
the "poor misused and abused" ne
gro at his best.
Then all of sudden we heard the
cannon firing and we knew that the
Boche had signified their intention to
accept the peace terms. AS we came
out of the dining room we met two
engineer officers, who suggested that
we walk down town and see the peo-
pie and sit down at one of the side
walk cafes and perhaps drink beer.
Everybody was agreeable so we start
ed out. The subject of conversation
was how much each one of us hated
to leave Paris and return to the Unit
ed States where there wouldn't be
any more beer and where if you
smiled at pretty girl they'll put you
in Jail for life almost. For instance
in Atlanta, where they soak you for
$50.75 if you Sc much as look at a
girl. A Second Army Aviator Lieu
tenant joined US on the Champs Ely
sees and notwithstanding all this bunk
from the A. E. F. about wanting to
get home at once it may interest you
to know that of the five of US not one
really wanted to 60 home except the
Boston lieutenant. He said that if
he weren't married he would not
leave for anything. It's the same
everywhere over here. They all say
they want to go home but talk to any,
one of them who has just received his
travel orders and you'll hear him say,
"Well, after all is said and done I,
certainly hate to leave".
You see, cherie, it Is really won
derful place. And at this season of
the year it is simply beautiful. You
can also say what you please about
cur superiority in manufactures and
railroads and our hustle and ability
to handle big jobs and get things
done in a hurry and all that sort Of
junk but after all is said and done
they've got US. lashed to the mast in
one thing and that is how to live and
be happy. No one who has ever been
over here and taken the trouble to
observe a wee bit will contradict the
statement that real happiness and
pure joy of living (as well as the per
capita wealth of the nation) is more
evenly distributed here than any 9TH
er place on earth. Our French teach
er says that it is a matter Of pride
and good manners Of the Parisiens
(and particularly the Parisiennes,
which of course is the female of the
specie) to show the happier side Of
their life to the stranger within the
gates. But we have been here long
enough to see both sides and my own
observation is that 'the happier side"
is not much different from the other
disc.
Let me tell you little story. One
day I was passing the Champs Elysees
metro Subway station. Most al
ways when you come out of metro
station you are confused bit to get
your bearings. There were several
American girls who had come out
as I passed, I saw that they were
momentarily lost as it were, so L
stopped, saluted, and asked if might
help them. For my trouble, 1 got an
icy stare and a curt "Most assuredly
not" Needless to say, I didn't vol
unteer any further assistance. was
cutting across town towards the Care
St. Lazare where there were no sub
way or surface lines. Paris, you
know, is. a difficult place to get a.
round in on account of the Irregular
ity of the streets. / got mixed a lit
tie bit and was standing on the corner
with my pocket map out trying to
orient myself when two well-dressed
French women of the better class
Il know that because they were
neither rouged nor powdered) stop
ped and asked me where I wanted to
go and instead of telling me where it|
was, insisted on walking block with
me and pointing out the place. The
two incidents coming so close togeth-
-. 1of+ r. 10th nv vivid iYoprocSion On