MADEMOISELLE SOUBEIRAN

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 11, 8 October 1918, Page 3

MADEMOISELLE SOUBEIRAN

IMPRESSIONS OF A YEAR IN ' FRANCE.

Mdlle. Soubeiran, who has hoen on a year's sojourn in France as tlie envoy of Hew ciouth Wales on behak or France's l»ay Fund, has just returned to Australia. She has much to s:iy tnac will interest the people cf New Zealand about her strumous year in fans and its environs. Mdlle. Soubeiran found it necessary to return to Australia to consult with her committee over the disbursement of the rcmaindar of tho iuud, raised, by Aus-'< tralia for the Frencli poor, and the French Government requested her to time her journey with that of the Frencli Mission, since her intimate knowledge of all parts of New South Wales would help the members in their work.

You cannot coax Mdlle. Soubeiran to talk of herself, but she is afire wit;, enthusiasm over the stoical endurance of her countrywomen; She is just as animated about the members cf the Frencli Mission. She thinks it should interest the women of Australia to know that General Pau was brought up entirely by his mother and sister. She thinks that the womanly influence lias invested his character with that tenderness and gentleness which are allied with his martial qualities. General I'au's father was an officer in the French Army duriug the time of Napoleon 111, and died in consequence of nis part in the Italian campaign, ivhou tho General was a small boy. The General's sister, Marie Pau, had a great influence on the soldier's life, lvldlle. Soubeiran says she was a woman of great attainments, a

writer, and an artist. Sho excelled in the art of glass work, for which Nancy is famous. She discovered the genius of the famous glass artist, Galle, whom she taught. Daum was t'.lso her pupil. When General Pau was wounded in the FrancchPriiSßian war his sister sought him right into the Prussian lines, and found him. x

Mdlle. Soiibeiran was in the FrenchAustralian League quarters in Paris during the bombardment by Big Bertha. She tells you that not a window was left in the building; but from it the commitee distributed immediate relief to the hapless \ictiins of the demolished parts of Paris. Since, Mdlle. iSoubeiran spent almost a yea/ in Paris, one would naturally expect her to bring back the latest styles. She laughs at the mention of clothes. "Dresses!" she exclaims. "Why, I am still wearing the garments I took away with me," mid tnoy had already done veteran service! The women- of Paris, except - a few butterflies, do not think ol new clothes or new styles. Many of them have not bought a, frock since the outbreak of war. They give ah their time, and all the money they win spare, to help the war victims.

"I'll/toll you a secret," continues Mdllc- "I had not an evening dress to go to Government House reception, i'vo 'had to go and get one ready-made, and also a pair of slioes. They laughed at mo iu tlio shop, because- tucj knew I'd just returned from Paris.

"But then Paris smilos through her tears." Now Mdllo. w«s reminiscent. '■1 remember one day, when shells were coming over tlio oity, I happened to observe a little grisette in the street. She stopped quite calmly to powder her nose before a strip of mirror let into a- shop window. A man standing ■ by, an artisan, merely glanced up from the pa.per he was reading as the , sound of the menace whizzed over. In a rajiivay tube- an air raid held up 'our train till 2 a.m. A jolly, fat woman was defiant, declaring, 'Oh! well, if William thinks ho's going to make mo give in, he's mistaken, for I won't.' And bo on. One sees the French people laughing and crying, but fighting uver —and that is the way we are helping to win the war —with the help-r-the fine, fine help that australia has given—and with it fresh 'heart to tight till the war is won."