FRENCH NOBLEMAN AS PRIVATE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 203, 25 August 1916, Page 3 (Supplement)

FRENCH NOBLEMAN AS PRIVATE.

A hide romance, wb ch at the same time shows the strength of the French democratic system, has just come to light. There is in France a nobleman cf ancient lineage, a scjliolar, well versed in the law. who .at one time was in the French Diplomatic Service as an attache. He left the service, and, living a leisurely life in Pallia at his magnificent chateau in Brittany, exercised his knowledge of me law by assisting poorer people in knotty law cases. When the war broke out he was called up as a private, and was a great favourite in the ranks. Then, still holding private's rank, he became an interpreter w»'th the British Army. While engaged in that work he attended by correspondence to the affairs of Ins estate and also to the details of a long inheritance dispute in the American courts—his wife being an American lady. In consequence of a strong German attack the battalion to which he was attached was driven from its b'llets and got "quarters" lor some days in a field. There the count lived .in the shelter <;t a hedge, sleeping under a cart-sheet tied to po.sts. While he was occupying that simple lesidence he received the news that he was the richer by between two and three million franc-. His tortune brought only one little break in his Tie a sa private. He was given twenty-four hours' leave, at time when leave was suspended, in order to -<•<• bis wile at Calais and to s : gn certain important documents.