War incidents which show how the French present a smiling front in the
face of the war are related from Paris:
At the Gare de L’Est, the eastern railway station where troops by the
thousand were leaving for the German frontier, wives, mothers, sisters
and sweethearts met and wept in multitudes. But a French soldier turned
the tragedy into comedy. On a large cardboard he imitated the signs
announcing the destinations of trains in time of peace and hung it on
the military special. It read:
“Holiday excursion to Berlin.”
Whereupon the women dried their tears and laughed.
A woman, her face very white, came out of one of the municipal offices
at which official information is given of the death or injury of French
soldiers. Four sons had left her a few days before to join the colors.
Another woman came up to her and said:
“Have you good news of your sons? My Jean is safe.”
“Yes,” the first mother replied, “they are all safe. They are safe in
the arms of the Father. I am proud to give all to the cause.”