World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives, American
I stayed last night with the bunch and saw them off this morning. They
congratulated me on my nerve, and said they wished they could do the
same. There was much picture taking, and good-byes. I hated to part from
the bunch, for they were a fine set of fellows, but there are good
friends everywhere. After attending to several things, which they were
forced to leave undone, I took my things to the hotel. The Cécilia is a
clean little family hotel occupied by Americans. It is in a nice
neighborhood, within half a block of the Etoile. The Arc de Triomphe of
Napoleon is in the Etoile and forms the hub of a wheel from which
radiate many beautiful boulevards and avenues. I will send a circular of
the hotel. It seems that it will take a week or ten days to hear from my
application. What could be better? Had I remained in the A. A. C. I
should have left the city immediately. As it is, I am forced to remain
ten days and get an introductory insight into the wonders of Paris—and
it has its wonders. To further my luck, I find that the LaFayette Fund
pays twelve francs (two dollars and forty cents) on our keep while we
are waiting acceptance. That makes food and lodging cost me forty cents
a day. As soon as we are accepted, we receive a commission of two
hundred francs a month (forty dollars) and all expenses.
Maybe all things come around to those who wait, but that does not prove
that those who seek shall not find.
_Sunday._
I slept late and then took a walk in the Bois de Boulogne. It is
beautiful—a park which resembles a forest in the density of its
foliage—a wondrous, natural feeling retained in spite of the finish of
it all. I made a sketch of the Arc de Triomphe, and a woman came along
and charged me two cents to use a park bench.
In the evening I met a French gentleman who walked about six blocks
helping me look for a store to buy a map of the city. Most obliging! His
name was Crothers. He told me of an English club that I would probably
enjoy, and said if I needed help to call on him at his office. I invited
him around to my hotel without smiling. The movies were all right. _The
Hunchback of Notre Dame_ was playing.
_Monday._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account