Evening star., 1920-03-14
First Tourists of a Great
Tidal Wave Arrive in Paris
They Are Seeking the Sights of France as
Told of by the Soldier Boys---The
American WOmQn,s Club.

bedroom, the womans library and
writing rooms on the cntresol tcun-
/ ming low story or "halffloor' be
/ tween the ground floor and bel etage)
arc always quiet and restful. AND one
thng ] am going to quote teNtuaiiJ-
! The words are before my eyes:
"All American men and women arc
| welcGme to the large dining room
every day. regardless of whether OF
| not they have friends staying at the
J club to 'vouch for them The oni9
requirement is that they are Ameri-
| cans. American men are welcome 10
the salons and downstairs rooms
where "a smoking and reading room
! has been furnished for their use al
though. of course. the other floors
are reserved for women
The American College women
Club has here its social seat. The
French Homes Society makes the
| cub it's headquarters. ut was formed
!, by Nine. Joffre to introduce American
soldiers to French society The
Tuesday Evening club, for all Ameri-
| can women in Paris. is the greai,
crush. 1t has been addressed by we'll
known war correspondents
What. for example. is a young.
unmarried captain in the adjutant
generals office. however socially ior-
tunate. to do with a little golden
nan Cu p'uC-tS GU siIi W ioui -
come all the way from oklahoma City
to spend the winter in Paris with
her soldier brother?
They sett.cd her at the club. The
woman guests were delighted to have
her around. as there are rot many
attractive youngsters travelling about
Europe nowadays. and they Wed WIN
each other in showing her every big
sister friendliness. They take nor
TO the opera. on sightseetn trips. 10
l. l.. lie c
is Il familiar figure in the club draw
ing rooms and at dances. musica!s
and entertainments. Big brother is
always in the background. thought
full. conSiderate. !
4 blind American woman had been
stranded week in Paris in n room
without heat or adequate food. or
any care but that of her daughter.
4 child of twelve. They kept to
their cold. lonely room most of the
staff secretaries of the club found
them and brought them to the club
next day, ito be warm and CHEEKY"
and all the hotel guests and club
visitors treated them with the same
naturalness as Golden Hair and
brother.
The woman was a graduate Of one
of our largest universities. In 1898
she married and went with her hus-
band to live in certain European
city. In 1914 she returned to the
States with her little daughter. to
receive treatment for the eyes: but
they became steadily worse. until
she practically lost her sight. Mean
while the war was on. and 1t was
impossible to return to her husband.
Letters came through and he fire.
auently cabled her. Last September
the State Department issued her a
passport, and. after a fatiguing voy-
age. she finally arrived-to find the
home which she had planned and fur
nished with her own means and
hands occupied by another woman
and strange children about the house.
Her husband was changed man: the
situation was intolerable. and she
had enough money to reach Paris.
in revolted pride to confess her state!
Now. at the club fblessed balm to
mingle with her owno passage money
was promptly and quietly found by
American men. in their own pockets,
and after a short recuperation moth
on their way to the boat. accompanied
by Y. w. C. A. worker to install
them. like returning tourists.
And can a pretty and stylish Ameri-
hotel in Paris? Are these flirting
French boys just the ones to have
fun with the situation?
No; I mean yes. For three hours she
wandered in the darkening streets.
inquiring of police and passers-by the
she had the sense to boldly step in
side a famous hotel, favorite with
AMERICANS. to put the situation to
the desk. and the head clerk. who
courteously understood. looked into
directory. called a taxi and gave the
chauffeur the address of her hotel
But it wasn't. On arriving. all was
strange; none recognized or-under-
stood her, and again she wandered on
the Paris sidewalk.
***
One of those iirty French lads. at
this moment (smart. well groomed and
gay-eyed) touched his hat, put on a
nice frank and impersonal air. and
asked in English: Are you lost?"
She trusted him. Yes that's it. This
is history.
He thought a moment: then: There
is an American hotel for women near
by. I saw the name as l passed." he
said. "I'n take your' She went. Yes.
The young lady secretary was clos
ing up the clubs Information ior the
evening. The tourist girl sank into a
big leather chair, ouf. Half hysteri-
cal she told how she had become
separated from her people In the
crush In front of the PrIntempS. Win
out money, without language and her
,, wandering adventures amid taxis that
cost nothing. hotels that change their
clientele and personnel in an after
noon. and young Frenchmen who turn
out to be Galahads. The young
i Frenchman stood there. half sympa-
thetic. half amused" And realizing,
! suddenly" says the girl secretary.
! herself young. pretty. yet so capable,
the hazards which might have be-
fallen,i IL shook hands with him warmly
for his goodness Of heart-much to
his surprise"
| They easily found the name Of the
lost hotel in the directory; found 1t
ten times, in fact. for there are ex-
actly ten hotels of that name. Did
she know the street, the neighbor-
hood Yes, it was a new hotel. just
opened. Bang! And the directory was
more than one year old (the new one
J is late, with these war changeso They
called up the prefecture-and were
laughed at as jokers: Has any one
lost young lady?' The poor child
was so scared that she could scarcely
sign the register They put her up for
| the night and tucked her in. Next day
| they found a friend Of the family in
| his offices near the opera. He knew
| the hotel and everything. And. so. the
curtain fell on all united and happy.
STERLING HEILIG.
ISECEDED BLOCKS SOUGHT
! BY TAK0MA PARK, ND.