THE FRENCH SOLDIER-ON AND OFF DUTY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3188, 12 September 1917, Page 7

THE FRENCH SOLDIER-ON AND OFF DUTY

ON LEAVE HE GOES TO

One of the most,striking characteristics of tho French soldier, says a French correspondent, is the way ho has of throwing aside his uniform and returning to fie employment of bis civil state, whatever that may. be. during his few dnvs' leave. "Not mobilised—reforme" (exempted), T said to the young- cobbler working vigorous/? amJd a pile of boots and shoes. '"Penifissronnaire," was his laconic reply. By dint of questioning I. learnt that the man wiiSfcsh from one of the great attacks—from tho first fighting line. He had seven days' leave, and all except the Sunday wore spent, from morning to night, at his cobbler's bench. "Is your pate good?" I asked the charcutiere. "Excellent—made by the master;" "But the master is at the front?"

"Just been home on leave." . . . 4nd during the week that followed his return to the trenches the good woman's customers at better pates, more delicious sausbgas. than usual in these war days, ainflo by the hand that had not lost its Mulinary cunning in the trenches. A week or two later he was carried from the battlefield, a dozen bullets through his thigh. "Never mind," he said to the stretcher-bearers, "I'll go back to my tTade." But he died that night. "So your husband's home I" it- was remarked to the wife of the daring young aviator. "He's at work," was the reply. The man had four days' leave, and they were spent serving customers in the little restaurant hard by, where few guessed that the white-aproned waiter was accustomed to soar above their heads. For these men never spontaneously speak of their exploits. And yesterday my modest joint of meat was cut and weighed and served, by a hero' of the Marna on convalescent leave. He hobbled about his shop supported by a stick, but, his convalescence over, he will go back to the fighting line. And ho asked no better way of regaining strength than to wear his butcher's apron and serve his customers. . , . And so it is all along the line.