The New York herald., 1921-01-16


French connections, whose presence is not
considered menace by the French Foreign
Office.
There is. however, always a host of Ger
man visitors in the capital, ostensibly buy
.ers. but with the mark at it's present low
ebb they do little buying and spend most of
their time visiting the Partisan theatres.
drinking champagne and light wines and
regretting, with undeniable sincerity that
Wilhelm failed to make good his slogan of
Mach Paris" But the German in Paris to-
day is not the boasting, arrogant, ultra
patriotic flag waving insulter of 1914. 1t Is,
in fact rarely that one of these German
visitors will confess his nationality. He fills
in the slip handed to him by the hotel clerk
on his arrival. and either ignores the detail
or nationality or unblushingy inscribes him
self as either Dane Luxemburger, Dant-
ziger> or Alsacien.
1t is only when inspired by the sparkle OF
real French wine he endeavors to discuss
the war and it's origin with other clients OF
his hotel that his real nationality as well as
his incorrigibility Is discovered. Such incl
dents, however, are so numerous that they
are no longer reported to the police; the
very proof of the German character is con-
sidered by most Frenchmen as meriting some
license.
But while the Boche, as such, has disap-
reared he has been replaced by hundred
thousand refugees of the starving countries
Of eastern Europe and Asia Minor, who for
tunately keep to their allotted colonies, and
are rarely in contact with American visitors,
except on. stunning tours"
To the American visitor it is very agree
able to note the growth of the American
colony. which from less than 5000 in 1914
is now said to have reached total of at
least IL, 900, with enough tourists and busi-
ness visitors arriving to bring the total or
Americans in Paris to $4,000.
Before the world conflict it was infre-
uuently that Americans made the acquaint-
ance of their countrymen in the cafes or
restaurants of Paris. To-day even the resi-
dent families participate more in the chang
ing customs of the epoch. They dine with
friends at the Cafe de Paris or praise the
gories of Fredericks famous duck. after
imbibing their aperitifs at the Cafe de la
Paix or la Napoitain with all the abandon
of a prewar art student or journalist.
American Twang Recognized
and Casual Acquaintance Sought
The resident American recognizes \ his
national "twang" from far corner OF the
restaurant, and IL he catches your eye will
nod In his friendlest manner as IL to say,
Welcome. brother; / don't know you but
you seem to have found how to enjoy your
self" Before the war a restaurant born
friendship was considered a dangerous ex-
pertinent usually terminating in a request
for few dollars until the next ship came
in" but to-day the spirit of nationahsm
seems to have been strengthened, and thou
sands of American tourists can no doubt tell
of the perfectly nice family they met at an
obscure dinner rendezvous somewhere be-
hind the Quarter Latin.
Probably no phase of Partisan life reveals
more insistently the change which has been
worked In French habits and psychology
than the character of its theatres. In the
year just before the war Paris and her
guests were uncertain whether to give their
favor to the revue or musical comedy type
OF performance. Both catered to the sense
of mental repose by stressing the idea of
exhilaration, but the musical comedy offered
greater possibilities of artistic presentation
so dear to the French audiences. than the
scattered scenes Of the revues, and managers
were on the verge of nervous prostration In
trying to decide whether the public favor
would last out the year.
During the four years OF war, with tired
soldiers seeking recreation after sleepless
weeks in muddy trenches, the balance or
favor was fairly well maintained, thanks TO
the millions of allied troops who visited the
French capital and who. desirous of tasting
the cup of Partisan pleasure described by
their predecessors. sought only the lighter
vein of amusement. The more serious the
atres reported a constantly decreasing ellen
tele. the overflow OF the popular houses
resorting 20 the cinemas. which.~by dint OF
offering American films within a year after
their publication established themselves
firmly for postwar theatrical competition.