Evening star., 1932-09-28
HENRI GU|LbEAUX
. GIVES UP IN PARIS
Returns to Face Sentence of
Death Passed 13
Years Ago.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
PARIS. September 28.-When a SEN
tence of death has hung over ones head
like the sword of DamocleS for 13 years
1t undoubtedly becomes irksome. Henri
GuilbeauX found it so. He walked into
the Palace of Justice the other day and
gave himself up. A few hours later he
was locked up in Cherche-Midi Prison,
waiting for the Paris court martial to
decide what is to be done with him.
Guilbeaux was modified in the
French army in 1914, but discharged a
few months later on account of health.
He had been radical and pacifiSt jour-
nalist and promptly went to Swltzer-
land, where he joined Roman ROLAND
and other eXiled pacifiStS. Subsequently
he associated with Lenin and Trotzky
and was instrumental in deciding the
former to return to Russia and seize the
power from the flabby hands of Ker-
ensky He went to Russia himself, but
apparently was not given the reception
he expected, for he now says with some
bitterness: If you want to be we'll re-
celved in Soviet Russia it is better not
to be a BolSheVik Sympathizer."
In 1919, when the Paris cortmartial
was dealing with the numerous treason
cases that had accumulated. GuilbeauX
was condemned to death by default. The
charge was that he had tried, from for
eign soil, to provoke a revolution in
France, and to that end had conspired
with enemy subjects.
Since the sentence was pronounced he
has carefully avoided entering French
territory Now. however, he says he is
homeSick and furthermore that he was
unjustly condemned. He asks a new
trial and chance to clear himself.
It is understood that the court
martial will reopen the affair in about
three months. The usual procedure in
such cases-there have been several since
the war-is to convict the accused of
less grave offense already covered by the
amnesty law. If this plan is followed in
Guilbeaux's case he will then be re-
leased.
The taxi, not the tramcar or the auto
bus, is the democratic mode of convey
ance in France. Strangers are often
surprised to see the readiness with
which working-claSs families hop into
taXis. During the vacation period it is
a common sight to see half dozen
happy members of the proletariat bowl
ing along the road in taxi, looking for
a picnic ground.
The fact is that for three people or
more taxi costs less than any other
mode of transportation. Bus and tram
fares have been hoiSted repeatedly in
recent years, but taXimeter rates have
scarcely budged And there is no extra
charge for extra passengers.
A working-class family can take a
taxi 10 miles into the country. keep it
waiting an hour while they eat their
lunch and then ride home in it, all for
less than $3.50 at the regular meter
rate. and in the case of drivers who own
their cabs it is often possible to bargain
for a reduction, particularly if the driver
is invited to share the lunch.
Nearly every French workman, too,
has a cousin or a pal who drives taxi
and asks no more than the cost of the
gasoline for a Sunday outing.
One of the favorite jibes of Paris
used to be at the American custom of
going coatless in hot weather. Pictures
of shirt-sleeved New Workers were
source of great amusement to the
French, who stuck to coats and vests,
no matter how hot the weather.
This year, however, August broke all
records for intensity and duration of
the heat-wave and after a few days of
courageous sweltering Parisians threw
propriety to such winds as they could
find and boldly confronted the boule-
wards in their shirts, with or without
suSpenders.
Montparnasse has always done much
as it pleased, but it pleased during this
hot spell to do more than usual in the
way of undreS5. The II o'clock break
fast hour at the Dome saw many of
both sexes in pajamas and slippers, just
as they rolled out of bed. The cop on
the corner in his heavy blue uniform,
just mopped his brow and envied them.
Copyright, 1922