A FRENCH VILLAGE.
AUST'R AI .A SI AXS HII,I -KT K I). Franco, April 111. In France we find coil'oe tin- national beverage (writes "A..1.8." in the Sydney .Morning Herald). As soon as a soldier steps inside the house in which lie is billeted the good lady of the home says. "Cafe, monsieur!" It being eou.sidored an ollcnce in those parts to decline snoh an invitation, the soldier says, "Moroi, madame," and is immediately handed a small howl containing black eofl'ee in which has been dropped just enough cognac to make the codec tasty. The scene of those meetings between soldiers and French pc6plc over codec is usually a country kitchen. The lloor is composed of Hags, and on the walls, arc , pictures of Napoleon, Key, the local priest | and a few l>riti-h troops, who, having ! been billeted in the house in ilons days, left madame their photographs. A curious old stove adjoins the table, which is usually covered with white oilcloth, anil the rest of the fittings include a chair and a chest of drawers. This room serves as kitchen, dining-room, parlor and olliee. It is here soldiers eat, write letters, drink coffee and clean their buttons before being shifted or returned to the trenches. While performing these duties, they keep up a more or less disjointed conversation in" French, Knglislr and Arabic. The village in which we are i|iinrtorod is a typical -sleepy spot. We have a pump or two, a church, a village priest., a. village idiot, and a post olliee, to which is attached a store. Fur those who imbibe there are six small places called ostamionts (public-hou>es). French beer costs hi a glass and lOnglish beer or stout ltd. For a franc Hod I a man can have five drinks and "shout" for a fellow-soldier. English and French soldiers use the local entertainments ;i> a. club more than a bar. Tables r.re scattered about tile room, ami" In the centre is a stove. All the window- are kept closed, and as every other man is smoking tlu- atmosphere is far from clear. The walls are plastered with notices, calling soldiers to refrain from discussing matters of military importance in public places. In spite of this precaution on the part of the military authorities, one catches wafts of con-, vorsation about fiallipoli. Salonika. Suez Canal and the early fighting in Franco. There is no doubt, however, the warning precludes moil from talking so extravagantly as they used to do in Cairo cafes. We are told these parts are thick with spies, uid are always on the qui vive. On Sunday morning the village turns out spie and span. F.vorybody, from the youngest to the oldest, dons a blark suit and walks solemnly to the church. It is difficult to find a Protestant in the. district, awl what the cure says carries weight. We are told that he has warned the young ladies against walking —promenading, it is called here—with soldiers. If this be so, we can give all the young ladies a certificate for their fruitful adherence to his edict. They never take a walk with soldiers. Some of tile Australian troops have invited girls to do so; but the universal answer on the part of the girls is. "Apros la guerre." The habits of the people on Sundays is much like that of other rural communities. After church they talk outside the church, gossip about each other, the crops and the pigs, and then walk home by the longest route. All the men are as happy as possible, delighted to be among white people again, and just longing to participate in •'the Big Push" when it eventuates.
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Taranaki Daily News, 15 July 1916, Page 9
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612A FRENCH VILLAGE. Taranaki Daily News, 15 July 1916, Page 9
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