Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-16
BY STERLING HELLO.

PARIS, January 6.
w YE rode through foggy Paris
M at Z in the morning. The
= streets were still nearly
dark and almost deserted.
In the Rue Lafayette. soon to be SO
crowded and busy. only the smaller
cafes had their lights burning ana
humber shops were opening. 6u"
every minute. Paris was waking.
At the Care de FEST gave our taxi
chauffeur the shock of his life. Pull
ing out little pale green card from
my pocket, called through the WIN
dow:
ITO the presidential train.
He stopped abruptly. swallowed ms
gum, breathed heavily ana tneh
reached out a reverent hand:
Monsieur permits? he Whispeseu'
with gog-eyed worship. l let nm
take the card in his hand. He read:
Precedence of the Republic
Voyage TO Verdun tdatei
Permit to Travel in the Presidential Train
NJ Sterling Heiig of the Washington Star
The Secretary General
OF the Precedence of the Repupnc
l.. U. the Higher Officer OF Service
(scrawl)
Then there was a heavy enclosing
stamp: French Republic-The Presi-
dent"
they say that the Chinese worship
printed paper.
SO. doubtless. do Paris taxi chauf-
feurs. when the words ''Nerdun ana
presidential train" are on the ticket.
These cruisers of the Paris avenues
see everything. know every one, ana
dcspise both. They reverence the pol
luS the three marShalS, and just one
other human figure-the French presi-
dent; and this card made me the
companion of the bunch. He looked
son me with love. He trembled as he
took my money. He knew just where
the presidential train must be.
IN the left of the Eastern railroad
station, where the great building
ends. and where the tracks continue
from it. monumental forged iron
gate is kept regularly locked.
Now the gate was open Municipal
guards, police and plain-clothes men
stood around. \ gay red-and-white
striped awning hid all but glimpses
of train on the extreme left-hand
siding, and a little jungle of green
plants in tubs surrounded the en-
trance. Between them. into the hidden
space behind, ran a beautiful bright
red carpet.
Without showing my card desiring
to see if it could be done) I walked
cry. past all that force protecting
the French president. They let me
pass as if / were his cousin. And my
feat was foolish. Those plain clothes
men can see that you have a ticket in
your pocket. Inside, train of six
cars waited.
l was too early. It was still half an
hour before the time fixed for de-
parture. / returned outside the
greenery and awnings. into the public
rying up in taXis. We stood watch
ing smart company of the repub-
lican guard arrive, line up and ground
arms with a thump. Down the pas
sage a thousand clerks and employees
from the suburbs. fastening in
like my chauffeur Inside the gate
dense mass of travellers and railway
men crowded up to the red velvet
ropes.
Military music. Chatter of arriving
limousines. Rumors and whisperings.
beside the train. More republican
guards stood. lined exquisitely. beside
it. Up the red carpet came an aged
military figure. all alone. slow. painful.
in the ancient red trousers uniform
which is never seen any more-except
on Joffre.
Alas! He who, when on his memorable
trip to America, was the burly, rudy,
husky. happy Papa Joffre, came shrunk-
en-, pale. sick-looking. slow. panied, silent
in the cruel early morning. All
alone, Jofrre passed before the rolling
drums. He mounted into the train, slow.
btu unaided. Every civilian hat, was
off. The soldiers faces woEshiped. -
Up came Marshal Foch. brisk. if a
bit pale. surrounded by smart aides-de-
camp. A stir. The music Every hat
was off again. as without hurrahs, but
amid low rumor Of friendly respect
from the peering crowds beyond, Presi-
dent Millerand. short. ANONYMOUSLY
white-haired pink-cheeked. looking like
a lawyer in good practice, passed up
the red carpet with bunch Of unknown