WOMAN'S WORLD

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 161, 27 March 1918, Page 3

WOMAN'S WORLD

(Continuod from page: 2.) SOLDIER'S LETTER FROM . FRANCE PARIS IN WARTIME. Whon Lieutenant Ronald Buchanan, of "Rankawa," Asliliurst, was spending a well-earned week's leave in Paris, after serving tliroe months iu a "pillbox" at the front during the winter months, he wroto the following interesting account of his trip to his people, under date January 21, 1918:—"I havo been having a week in ' Gay Paree,' and having joined up. with some other New Zealanrlers (Lieutenants W. W. Dove, Cielarid, Marshall, and Sassafras), we toured around all tho places of interest, and did everything from grand opera to eating 'frogs' legs I' lam sending you tho bill for five of us at one hotel—it cost us 6s. each—and the menu consisted of oysters, snails, frogs, lobsters, and ice creams; but thoy weredelicious, for we wanted to experiment with them all. ' Another day wo went to the oldest restaurant in the city. It is famous for tho way it cooks ducks. The number of durduck was 43,000 odd, but it cost each of us (six in number) £1 55., so they must make i huge profits. • You would not think i there was a war on here—everyone ,is jso gay, and food is plentiful—not at ,'all like England, where the food prob!lem is* acuto. New Zealand and Aus- ■ Iralia seem to be the only places where we can get good food from, so please (send 'the boys' butter, sugar, ' and I cakes moro than anything else. HarI rods, in London, sent 'bully beef in their last packages for tho boys, and" apologised for not being able to send their j;iwd cakes and sweets, as they cannot get the ingredients. ~• Now, as for tho opera. Wq saw both 'Faust' and jßoma' in the Paris Opera House, winch is said to bo the finest in tho world; and, indeed, I don't doubt it. for a moment. Tho interior is gorgeous, and all the staircases arc of coloured marble. It cost £4.000,000 to build. Tho stago is a3 big as a football'ground, and the scenes superb. Another big music hall lins uniquo performances. AVe saw a wonderful play enacted by dogs. Thoy performed a wedding, each dog dressed for its piece., and the wholo thing was carried out/so perfectly that ono would think people wore acting. Then a' burglar dogbroke into a house through a'top-win-dow, and a dog-policeman, caught jt, and took it away by the back at' tho neck. It- was. a piece of wonderful intelligence. We saw. all tho places of interest;'but the ono we liked best was tho great courtroom in the I'alace of Justice, whore Droyfus was tried. AVo could not tear ourselves away from the beauties of this place. Words will not convey any idea of its beauty. Some of the tapestries cost thousands of _ francs, and are ' like beautiful oil paintings. Each employee is a highclass artist, and can only do a square inch of work by hand each day. An oil painting is made of tho piece to bo done, then the artists do the tapestries, some of which have taken twelve years to complete. No wonder, the Huns 'i't'eu to- take Paris.' Think of the they would have! The Senate and' the Chamber of Deputies are great places, but. more historical than artistic. Notre Dame is grand, but not to be compared to Westminster. Tho Saints' Chapel had the oldest stainedglass w'indows in the world—each window is different, and tho effect is gorgeous ana beautiful. AVo saw tho National Art Gallery, full of wonderful paintings, and the Church of the Sacred Heart, which is not, yet complete, although the builders have been forty years on it. The whole dome is being .done in mosaic. The Invalides is another historical place which has all j kinds of captured war material, including Guynemer's. great, fighting 'plane, I which is. 'covered, with wreaths front notable -people. Napoleon's tomb iso here also. Everyone has to : bare his head before, it—with his old grey overcoat and hat beside it. They are still in good order; and also about fifty standards,: which he captured in various campaigns, nearly all of them being German and Austrian ones, but only one Union Jack. The tomb cost France 4,000,000 francs, and the floor is beautiful mosaic, representing the rising sun, the tomb itself being of red granite, highly polished. The Palaco of Versailles finished our trip to Paris. It is beautiful beyond-descritpion. although we only saw one-half ot it, for the old half is locked up. It took .us all day to see the half. -The gardens arc- so beautiful that 1 cannot describe them. The great dancinghall is exquisite and so is some of Louis XA''s furniture. You can quite picture what the court must have < looked like in those gay,days. AVe saw many other palaces on the Seine, but they were all closed. • The Eiffel Tower is a wonderful construction, but is surrounded by guards. This finishes our trip—greatly enjoyed by us all/ AVe think Paris the most beautiful place we have yet seen. No-wonder the Frenchmen are so proud of it."

On January 27 Lieutenant. Buchanan wroto -again, saying:—'"We are waiting quietly for the big Gorman offensive that.,is threatening. An early spring, which we are having,.-means an early -offensive, which is good, as it means the war will be over all the sooner. AVo arc pretty cornier table. There is plenty of Welsh coal to keep us warm, and wo are all in good form.' The Hun is massing against us, but don't worry, for w?, have a. few surprises for him. Our artillery will play a good game, and at present nur air forces arc particularly strong, sailing over, day and night to Germany, and bombing their towns heavily, whereas no Hun 'pl.mes have been over here at all this moxiti. We will give ii warnv reception to the German ar.mies when they, do come across; but I don't think they will be particularly keen to advance when they find out tvhat wo are going t0.d0." Treatments Facial, Treatments Head, to suit one and, ail. Delight and Teliei' instantaneous; 'Peus from 10s. 6d. 'Cultene I Skin Pood, .Is.; praiseji everywhere, used everywhere. Hiss Milsom's Hygienic Face Poudre, 2s. fid. --tad 4s. fkl.. all shades.. Protects and improves the complexion. An indispensable- toilet requisite. . Our women, know the Miss Milsoru Preparations are the best, and take prirlo in using tiie best. Call or write fox information and prices of every kind of skin accessory. Yen may long have, been using tho wrong thbg, but ■ someone irf in your midst to adyUe you. : Authority on hair arid hair-work-—a'•! hair preparations and tonics. Mi:-:s Milsom, 91 Willis Street, opp. Sh'ortt's Picture Theatre. 'Phone BU.-Adrt. -

By reason of so many soldiers being on final leave, and the Easter holidays, tlio Wairarapa Annuo Club will not hold a. dance on Friday night. . The weekly Featherston dances for soldiers have also been suspended .for two weeks.

The Camp Commandant'at Trentham acknowledges with thanks receipt of three cases of grapes from Air..F. 15.' Rodda, manager of the Aratnki TTorticultural Station, Hnvelock North, which have been distributed in the camp hospitals.