Evening star., 1926-12-05

w YE Americans in Paris are
~ having our own Sesqui-
wv centennial on the 9Th of
December. On that date
in 1875 Gust $50 years
ago) there arrived in France as en-
voy of the United American Colonies
who had declared their independence
on the Fourth of July-Benjamin
Franklin.
Now, the annual dinner of the
Anglo-Americap Press Association of
Paris-110 members, of whom more
than 70 represent the press of the
United States through 80 American
newspapers, agencies and services
is fixed for that date. With it's nu-
merous and brilliant entertainers, it
is an all-night banquet and. of it's
kind, the most notable of the all
Paris year.
Benjamin Franklin foresaw such
love feasts-he who inaugurated the
American press along it's great lines
and was himself the first and most
famous American newspaper man
and Paris correspondent.
This year there are 200 places at
the banquet for the members of the
press association, associate members
and particular guests chosen for
some valid reason to be present at
this feast Of three nations.
The American and British Ambas-
sadorS are presidents of honor. The
prefect of police of Paris Important
in national government and inter-
nationality is the guest of honor.
Yet more Franklin tradition en-
velops Paris at this time of year.
All the Thanksgiving observance of
the present American colony in it's
many institutions has something
that comes from Benjamin Franklin
and his arrival in France, after six
weeks stormy sailing, off the port of
Nantes. -
Il am old and good for nothing" he
told Congress when they voted to
send him to save the Revolution. AS
soon as his seasickness was over, he
proceeded to show what he could
still do for nine years in this foreign
land %"
He came to set France and
America working together, buying
ana selling to and fro, quite as much
as to enlist the King and his forces on
the side of our independence.
Two years later France officially
recognized the Independence and
entered into war to obtain it. Then
FRANKLIN became officially our com.
mercial envoy.
Today the American Chamber of
commerce In France has it's spacious
oinces, nails and library, with about
l'VUV resident members in Paris.
Inc american Club. which has
managed the official Fourth of .IuIv
and Thanksgiving banouets for an
years back, is made up, mainly. Of
members of the chamber.
There are others!
Inc American Legion this wear bs q
lts usual Thanksgiving dinner. and
the american art students have an
other. The American Women's Cluh
IN nne building, has another. and
the University Union of Americans
Following French schools, to the mum.
Der OF more than 1000. distributes
itself in yet others! The latter have
tnelr center In the Paris branch of
the Carnegie Institution.
After these $50 years Americans
are stii all over the place in Paris,
and there are few Of them. indeed
who are not receiving BENJAMIN
F'ranklin's blessing. Even the Ameri.
can churches hold separate services
this year, because in their combined
celebration Of last year Davis, the
Democratic candidate for President Of
the United States. could not get in
for the crowd.
Benjamin Franklin would have en-
ioyed that-~"e have lived up to his
expectations!
In the old American arithmetic ALL
quot parts were taught as well as
fractions. They apply to the Ameri-
can colony Of Paris as it has grown
to be -. sesquicentennially. It is
an aliQNot- -part-not Amere outlying.