The Washington times., 1932-09-22

beg you to receive warmest greetings" The
sum involved small; the flower of courtesy was
blooming.
Not Ant-French
I mention this because correspondent has written
to inquire whether my recent trip abroad has made
anti-,European. He read, gather, something I had
written about the policies of the French government
particularly of the foreign office which has seemed to
little less than noble in the past few months He
mas not made the distinction, which have to make,
between the rulers of nations destiny and the writers
OF nations letters. How you be angry at people
letter?
In the few weeks in France felt keeny the in
difference of France to all American hopes and pro-
the hard-headed, dsabused and cynical attitude of
mind which had made France the ruling nation of
Europe not for the first time, and which it seemed to
me, was doing all of Europe incaculable harm Read
today s papers for the detais) At the same time
went to lunch at the Medicis Grill. This is restau-
rant opposite the lovely Luxembourg Gardens; its side
walk tables have been famous for generations if any
cafe had the right to be spoiled by English Ameri
can patrons the Medcis had the right It is still cut
tered with foreigners including japanese and Germans
but it refuses to be spoiled. .
Personal Welcome
Eight years ago went there frequently once in the
company of two other Americans unched there every
day for week. But in the last six years had been
there only AS it is restaurant of modest prices
had spent in ten years grand total of hundred dol
lars Since my last visit two years ago, hundreds
OF countrymen had been constant patrons and the
cafe had received thousands Of customers
Yet when arrived and waiter got for his
table, three OF the old
and inquire for health and happiness and to say they
were glad had returned. The proprietor's
up and told us that he would write to his father
retired to the Vosges that had to lunch and
assured us his father would be desoate at missing us
in the meantime he whispered something to waiter
and two glasses of port brought to the house.
Ut is illusion of the French that English and Amer
lunchers like port before their meals but the port
represented the probable profit lunch, and the
gift charmng Finally the gay and affabe Georges
the wine waiter sped and dropped his customers to
run over and cry out in despair that the Burgundy
used to like existed in the cave but there
was an excellent Pommard-and would we, this time,
have the kindness to stay long in Paris?
Personal Hostility
have had drinks the house in American speak
easies-usualy after five rounds had been paid for;
have also been we'll received returning to old haunts
But the warmth and cordially of this reception
extraordinarily personal and it is this quality of deal
ing with you If you yourself and important
a person that makes life with the French delightful
and at times difficult Because of course when the
cordially turns and the personal touch remains
life become terrible. You want if you can't get
friendiness indifference; the French give you
vicious hostility There was for instance the telephone
operator who told me, "You phone too often' and
fused to answer for half hour. There another
to whom after hour of desperate teephonng friend
of mine sad Il sorry to bother you so, but my little
daughter is terribly sick and must get doctor. =.
please keep your eye my Signals and the operator
answered II not put here to get doctors for people,
and rang off In all the days have spent buying stamps
and registering letters have only met friendly
official But out of Officencudng the offices of state
the French wonderful.