South Bend News-Times, Volume 32, Number 204, South Bend, St. Joseph County, 23 July 1915 — Page 2

"i I'HIDAY, JULY 2.1. 1015. THE SOUTH BEND NEWS-TIMES Pari rl urave (I 1

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By Mme. Catulle Mendes The Distinguished Parisian Poetess and Feminist Leader. ONE yoar of the greatest war In history, and we ?ee a Parisian life that no stranspr who knew it only beforo the war 'would recognize. The payest of cities, tho community of pleasnnvsflekra and pleasure-makers, has been transformed into a. community of earnest men and omen, of Sisters of Mercy, of wounded oldier3, and cf solemn citizens, weighed down with their responsibilities. Th calm and Krave attitude of Paris sinco the war lias astonished many foreigners. AU they knew of Paris was an exterior of luxury and pleasure, theatres, restaurant?, cabarets, cafea-concerts, the hill of Montmartre ornamented with the sails of its Moulin Itouge and Its ahort-skirted dancers. Such people cannot understand how all that could disappear at a stroke and how another Parle has replaced the Paris which they supposed to be only a city of feasting, a place of Joy, where people came to amuse themselves from all ends of the earth. In other wars, such a transformation was not seen. Even in the cruel siege of 1870, much l-iety was maintained and many a noted Parisian wit made merry over his scanty banquet of horse meat. Paris was never before extinguished, never ceased altogether to laugh or to dance. That is because all other wars were different from this. Every Parisian Hat Lost Someone. To-day there is not a human belnj: in Faris or In all France who Is exempt from the effects of the war. Every man is a soldier from 20 to 4o years of age, and there is practically no one who ha8 not close relatives in the war. Moreover, the present war is so terrible that hardly any one returns unhurt, either from actual wounds or from Injury to his health. The dangers and the suffering to which they are exposed are so atrocious that It is not possible for one who has not seen them even to imagine them

What human heir.?, thpn, however Parisian h or ?h might be, could have the heart to auiuse himself when he knew that the soldiers of hi country, all the men of France, are exposed not only to shr-Ps. to bullets, and to hand grenades, to savage haud-to-hand fights with tho bayonet and the knife, but to the horrors of asphyxiating gFes. which corrode th eyes and the lun?s. and of flaming li-iuids. -which burn men up alive! Even the elemits have been more territle, for never has war been pursued with such a complete disregard to the tufferinR caused by the cold, frost, snow and the floods. Among these who came back -to Paris untouched this Spring by bullets, many had their feet frozen off from prolonged exposure to cold in the trencs. while perhaps as many will go mad from unrelieved exposure to tho tun in Summer. You ask me what has become of all those who whirled in the gay luxurious life of Paris now transformed, still beautiful, but in another fashion, in its gravity, so poetic under the moonlight that no artificial radiance disturbs or to mysterious in the cloak of its nocturnal mists? A3 far as the women of society are concerned, the answer is simple. Tney are all nurses or hospital workers, or enrolled in some patriotic organization. We may state that, thanks to them, the laboring population of Paris, suddenly deprived of work, has, up to the present, not suffered from misery. Our women have founded societies to relieve those about to become mothers, to take care of the babies and to help families too large to be supported by poor parents. If there had not been a terrible influx into Paris of refugees from Belgium and the invaded parts of France, the foresight and the devotion of Parisian society women, acting in co-operation with the Government officials, would have been sufficient to prevent all distress In the city. As for the "artistes," their duty wa3 distinctly marked out from the beginning. They gave their help to patriotic matinees, organized for the benefit of patriotic societie3, or they went to the quarters of the convalescent soldiers, to sing or recite patriotic poems before the wounded, who listened to them with en

chantment. How do these "artistes" live during the war? They are for the most part, both men and women, in a very distressed condition. But they bear their poverty nobly. We have organized many societies to help them privately for they are too proud to be the objects of public charity. Performances, which bring in very little, are given for their benefit. They content themselves with the existence of the proverbial grasshopper and never complain. Many a former ornament tf the Pari6 stage is to-day cheerfully consuming a dinner worth ten sous. And. then, you rr.ay ask, what has become of the women who are not really "artistes," but only what we playfully call "foolish virgins"? That Is a question about which I have not thought much. We women have thought abovt all of preserving the French race, which is iu oanger the men who 2ght, the women who produce children, the children who are the future of the country. But we must not, after all, neglect any of the good seed even if it has fallen among tares. The "foolish virgins" themselves have indeed given many examples of devotion to the fatherland. How a Flighty Girl Became a Fine Nurse. 1 had a touching proof of this one day when I visited a public nursery of children. It was 8 o'clock in the morning, and I was going to the Necker Hospital, where I was on duty, and where we had many dangerously wounded men. As I was crossing the Rue de Sevres I saw a poor woman with a sick baby in her arms and two others hanging onto her skirt. She appeared to be uncertain about her way. I asked her what she was looking for. She answered that she wished to go to the Hospice for Sick Children, which happened to be just alongside the hospital to which I was going. What was ray astonishment to find In her a former chambermaid, who had been in my service, a very pretty girl, who had left me to lead an erratic life. In vain 1 had remonstrated with her at the time. All my arguments had been useless. She blushed when she saw who I was, but I tried to relieve her embarrassment and asked her what she was doing now. She told me she was connected with the "Hospice," a large children's nursery, established during the war. Feeling a great interest In the change in her ways of living, I accompanied her to the nursery. All the children stretched out their arms to her when she entered and she was received among them like a

Grown true mother of a family. The Parisian women whom the war has thus changed are numberless. Many who had fallen to the most unfortunate condition have begun a new life by working for the public relief organizations. They undergo thus a kind of regeneration by becoming a part of the nation, by adding their humble effort to the splendid effort of our soldiers. They, too, have some one in the war a father, a brother, perhaps a former fiance, whom they have disdained because he was poor and wha now represents all that is lest in themselves and binds them to the general sentiment of the nation. They feel themselves no longer Isolated and under a stigma. A Skittish Actress's Splendid Devotion. I have witnessed myself more than one striking example of this. I knew about ten years ago a very pretty young woman named Helena, who had played a small part In a piece by 'my husband. She was very young, altogether wild, and her life, In short, was a scandal. I had not heard of her for years until a few months ago, wten she called on me and asked to speak to ms privately. I r e-celved her. She brought me te!ve hospital shirts, which we call "p!&tro.is," for my wounded soldlera. She handed them to me, timidly, caying: "Madame, mix them with the others. Then they will not know that they come from me." I could only answer, "Come with me." I took her to my "Vestiaire," a sort of hospital and clothing bureau, where there were a great many wounded, and I said to her: "Distribute your 'plastrons' yourself." The poor girl could hardly recover from the happiness which thin caused her. She handed out her "plastrons" to the soldiers and kissed their hands as she did so, which astonished them very much. She wept and said to me repeatedly: . "Oh, I do not deserve this." I answered, "Yes, you do; but go on working, and we shall think even better of you." In the course of the Winter she sewed for me no less than eleven hundred "plastrons" for the wounded. So you see how even the most frivolous Parisian element has raised itself up, has shown a "grave and silentheart." Some people have indeed struggled against this tendency. Certain "cafe-concerts" endeavored to resume their former type of spectacles and even pasted up before their doors alluring

posters. One of thesa pictures In p&rtlcnlar displayed a favorite Parisian star of that truly Parisian spectacle, a "revue" we call her a "commere de revue" with a dress exr5ire1.r decollete, both at the top and at the bottom. It did not please the people of Paris, but they did not become angry, for that is rarely their custom. Every day the passersbj- treated the poster to a new form of ridicule. On day they wrote in large letters across the poster "Hide your legs." The next day they adorned' the head cf the singer with n well-executed picture of a Prussian helmet belonging to the notorious "Death's Head Hussars." Still another d"ay they spoiled the poster by disSgurln; it with an enormous exploding bomb. At the same time practically everybody avoided lh performance, bo that the establishment as obliged to close In less than a week. The only public performances which dravr full houses are those where they recite goc 1 poetry or where they play classical French music or where, some crater speaks with w!dom and sobriety upon the national feeling about the war and the future. Every other kind of spectacle Is condemned in advance. Nearly all these performances, by the way, are matinees and are held for tho benefit and the entertainment of wounded soldiers, which is. one of the principal reasons for their success. Theatrical manager have Indeed tried to produce several new pieces, which a year aga would have brought all Paris and the cream of the visiting population running to see them. They have absolutely failed in consequence cf the general indifference. The favorite actor of Pari?., a true spoiled child of the public, M. Sacha Guitry himself, could not succeed. He wrote a piece in the style of those who have brought him tremendous success for several years past. He played It himself. Before the curtain rose he camo forward and made a witty speech, exrUini:;i; that Paris, in spite of the war, should not os - its gayety, that its dash and Its joy were themselves a form cf courage. People ii?tonpi to him politely. They even applauded him because they liked him, but his work coul 1 no? touch the soul of the Parisian public In its present state, and after a very few representations it left the theatre empty. Yes, Paris Is and will remain grave and ralr.v In this attitude It finds the accomplishment of Its duty. It gives a supreme lesson to those who calumniate it. But what will it be in the future? Let no one be uneasy about that. It will become again Joyous, full of dancing, and feasting, and laughter, hut we hope that no one will be deceived about us again, that they will understand henceforth that under its arb r.f gayety Paris carries a great heart, sublimely human, whose atrength and dignity are ia vincible.

Robertson BroSo Co

SECOND FLOOR

00 New Summer Dresses

On Sale Tomorrow

at 1.50 and

1.95

These dresses were sent us bv our New York representative with this comment: "They will not last a day if you mark them at $1.50 and $1.95." That's what we have done.

These Dresses are made of dainty Sheer Tissue Mulls, Woven Colored Stripes with trimmings of dainty laces and embroideries; skirts are beautifully made with 3 and 4 inch hems and full tlare. All sizes to 44. We advise you to come earlv in the morning to get your pick of these money saving dresses. They certainly won't last through the day.

Summer Corset Sale Tomorrow at 79c and SI. 2 o

Mail Orders Attended Promptly

Tea Room Luncheon, 11:30 to 5:00

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Wayne Knit Silk Hosiery Sale. Seconds of valuts up to "c, in black, white and colors at, pair, itfo

We received some good bargains and some firstclass meats and are gladly sharing with our many customers the reduction of these high grade meats.

OTEELEE

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ITXLsT HAMS, ubi:d. AT ONLY ISo riCXIC HAMS. SMALL A X D LKAX P-V i:TBA CHOH i: BACON. AT ONLY U'c We :ir" in a position to rui-fv you on Buttcrinc xi m carry Bu nuM rvllahlc Brand-, uhlch i always IVt'sh Cliurmil Mo-k.

Man' Items litcl lioiv ofToriiu special clearance prices for July mercliaiMllso to lit any nctxls tlurliu; vacation or to those .spending the .summer at homo. Women's Union Suits. Made 1y Carter' of lino mercerized lisle: broken sizes only; CM value up to $1.75 Women's Union Suits. Light weight lisle with tight or umbrella knee; rf'Ru,JL.CnrCQr out sizes; special value JU du Boys' Union Suits. Tint weave with elastic li.sle band at waist line; low neck, knee Cf)r length and .sleeveless ilUWomen's Hosiery. The Wayne knit and Iron Clad brands of white lisle ho; seam

n the back or without scamjOr uedium or lipht uclKht . . L O

Department of Ribbons, Gloves, Parasols. Wo are offering special inducements that are interesting. Htbbons for hair bows and Fashes ur trimming, 4 to 7 Inches wide of fancy Dresden or plain color brocades that usuually sell at 0c to syc. per yard. 115c and Silk Gloves at $1.00 Made by Kaysrr's. are made not onlv to tit but to wear; 16 buttons. In black and white, double linser tips: a remarkable glove at a popular price. Special Silk Gloves. 16 button glove with double tip In black and white, special Cflc price July clearance sale... UUCearance Sale of Parasols. Beautiful mcssaline and taffeta, black and white stripes, plaids, fancy combination and novelty in all the new tut shapes. Special Sample Unc. Offered at prices 1-3 to 1-2 the regular cost.

EXCEPTIONAL VALUES TOMORROW Offered in our Garment Section for Women and Misses, Second Floor. ONE HUNDRED DRESSES AT $5.00 Exceptional in material, workmanship and prices; made of quality voiles, fancy crepes and lawns. Dresses that usually sell at prices far in advance of this sale price. Plain colors, figured or the popular stripes, full skirts in pleats, dainty net collars and vests; ribbon girdles. Colored Summer Dresses at $1.00 to $3.50 Large variety of pretty styles for afternoon wear at home of a vacation morning dress. Not house dresses. Materials in stripes or figures with bands of plain color trimmings; full skirts and dainty waist effects. WHITE VOILE DRESSES AT $5.95 A limited number of dresses worth much higher prices are offered tomorrow. Voiles, embroidered or plain with tiered tunic or pleated skirt; lace trimming on waists and collars; silk girdle.

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Gabardine Tub Silks $1.00 Tomorrow only, 100 shirts regular $2.50 values, white gabardine, thoroughly shrunk, all new models, including patch pockets, belts and button trimmings. Also a large variety Oi: Pique and Rep Skirts in white, tan and blue, popular models for outings at $1.00, $1.50 and $1.95. Silk Taffeta Skirts at $5.95 Beautiful models in tiered accordion pleats or box pleated, all black or black and white. Wool Poplin Skirts at 5,95 Smart models with the new fall styles of belts and pocket effect. Black and navy.

The New in Outing Blouses New models, just arrived, of white galatea with wide

sailor collars of brown black and navjr stripes. Plain khaki cloth with white braid trimming. Plain blue with white bolero effect

CONVERTIBLE SPORT BLOUSE, $1.50. In white Soisette with convertible collar; can be worn high or turned down; long sleeves and patch pockets. Tub Silk Blouses

at $1.00 Splendid range of black and white stripes, checks and white with colored figures and dots. Lingerie Waists Special 59c

STAMPED LINENS SPECIAL FOR SATURDAY At half regular prices: scarfs anJ center pieces. Children's Dresses, stamped, ready to work and made up ready to wear. Made of pique and rep; values to to S1.50; Clearance Sale, 25c each. 45 inch Pillow Cases, stamped linen furnished, each 49c. Crochet cotton, Bucilla, highly mercerized and washable; in colors; onlv sizes 3, 10, 30, 5( and 70; per hall, 10c Royal Society crochet cotton, per hall, 10c. Embroidery Stilettos, made with adjustable guage, 10c. Porch Pillows of Felt and Leather, regular SI. 00 Values, 50c.

Big Sale of Columbia Summer House Dresses

Continues todav and Sat-

urday. The greatest bargain event of the season; all sizes.

1.00

Big Millinery Clearance Sale Tomorrow Saturday Trimmed Hats 25c, 50c, $1. 00. Untrimmed Shapes 50c, $1.00 The greatest opportunity for buying millinery for the future use. Many of these hats will be worn this fall. Shapes are cheap enough to buy and lay away for next season. Summer Party Lunch Cloths Japanese stencilled cloths in beautiful designs of blue, pink and green; 36 x 36 at 69c; 45 x 45 at $1.25; 54 -x 54 at $1.50. Also 12x12 napkins to match at 75c a dozen; 18 x 50 dresser scarfs, 25c; toweling 10c a yard, bolt 85c. HEAVY TURKISH BATH TOWELS 23 x 46, full size, 25c quality at 19c.

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