December 1919

Bet blebem, pa., December, m o . We Clothe Them, E. O’Reilly Co„ 3rd & New St. J. S. KRAUSE HARDWARE CO. ( l e i t i t »»1 »thtehMh > I — J Bethlehem Printing Company (Incorporated) HARDW ARE. IRON. STEEL, BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS M ato, OU aad Otoss, 430 Main Street Bethlehem, Pa. ■1 toeU Mail Street, Betbiekm, Pa. Bell 'Phone 90$ Mouse ‘Paints ai^d B O O K S AND STATIONERY Tfizvz} Fountain Pens, Self Fillers, oPai Supplies Daily Papers and Magazines. ANTHONY 8 PACHSBINNER, 12 Broad Street. Bethlehem, Pa. % h z TOorauian ‘Book Store, 438 Main Street, Bethlehem, Pa T. KH7HPMHNN, D . & A. LUCKENBACH, Pmpriieert pmieX and ^jvtician. V«rt««l», *ad Iw dm a Fitted. M. C. Bethlehem Roller Flour Mills, Jtwtnj «ed FI»» Which Ketiih| Seal Pte. Hiwhwrin $1 548 Main Street, Bethlehem, Pa. Anchor, Kotasota, Roller Star Flour, BETHLEHEM, PA. -h *C. 0 . LEAR.1K The younf man looking for a natty pair LUDWIG PIANO COMPANY of Shoea, can fill hit mind’s eye right here. New Models', with every new style quirk Grand Upright & Player Pianos worked to the limit. $6.00 TO $0.60. Victor Victbolas and Rxcords Ne. 545 MAIN ST., BETHLEHEM, PA. 26 EAST THIRD ST, BETHLEHEM, PA. J . 7*1. SCHNHBEL 5 B R O .. WE LEAD IN POST CARDS THE LEADING SHOE HOUSE. BURKHARTS PHARMACY Main Street, Bethlehem, Penna MAIN STREET BETHLEHEM, PA. S u perio r Un d erw ea r McCAA, FOR MEN A r t i s t P hotographer . Maker ef enlv Jlrst-eimu wrl. STUDIO: 111 WEST FOURTH STREET, THE BUSH & BULL CO. SOUTH BETHLEHEM, PA. BETHLEHEM, PA. Sittings made in all kinds of weather. Special Rates to Students. The Buck-Davis Decorating Ce, HENRY A. KRAUSE, WALL PAPERS, Stoves, Ranges, Kitchenware, Razors, PICTURE FRAMING. Pocket Knives, Etc. CHURCH DECORATING A SPECIALTY. 107-9-11 W. Broad St., Bethlehem <47 W. BROAD STREET, BETHLEHEM. CONTRACTOR AND BUILDER, Both FORREST F. SPECK, Offlec end Shop: Csaow sad Oaottor St».. BSTMLBMBM, PA. tUbe Comentan Volume XXIX. BETHLEHEM, PA., DECEMBER, 1919 Number 3. ¡jiMiiiimiiiiiiimiimimiiiiiiiiiimiiimniimiinniiiiTnmimiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiMiiimiiiiu | Che jfrencb—H Comparison | E CHARLES GROSS, ’20 3 E llllllHllillllllllMIMIIIIIIIIIIIIMMMIIIMIIIMIIIIIMIIIMIIMIIIIIlllllllllllMlllllilllllllllllllllllllllllllln I T was inevitable that there should be a reaction French, I believe it the best possible contrast be from the fervid glorification with which we tween the two countries. entered the war and fought its battles. This re An English newspaper man on the same sub action, together with many irritating circum ject said, “ The Frenchman isn’t worse or better stances, has created among many of the A. E. F. than we are, the only difference is that his safety a strong disaffection for the French. As a mem valve is clamped down tighter.” ber of the A. E. F., may I narrate in general the Indeed, French morality has been a topic of causes of these misunderstandings which have wide discussion among us. I believe the French tended to tarnish one of our finest ideals, and cool should be commended for the high state of one of the warmest international friendships in morality that existed, even though for five long history. years the country was gripped in the clutches of Our first experiences when we set foot on the horror and devastation,—yes even the struggle old world played no small part in determining for the individual existence. France, at its worst, our subsequent impressions. Many expected to was less corrupt and immoral than this country. find the French with wings, others as composed One with foresight and imagination can only of Jeanne d ’ Arcs, and still others expected them conceive what immorality would have overrun a rude, immoral and uncultured people. But to this country had we been in the Frenchman’s their regret they found them possessing parts of place. all these qualities, and not so different from our Secondly, the A. E. F. claim and in many in selves, human in every respect. stances claim justly, that they were “ held up,” At this point I will quote from the conversa and forced to pay more than the natives paid for tion between two Americans who had seen and the same articles. But, for at least two genera experienced much of the French life. tions the French came in contact with only “ I have always supposed that we are more American tourists who were “ doing” France. moral than the French.” These tourists were far from modest, and had ‘ ‘ I am not so sure about that. ’ ’ come for a good time, whatever the cost, and1 their “ But, certainly, as a people we behave better.” motto was, ‘ ‘ The greater the cost, the better the “ Yes, better and worse. We pull a longer time.” Thus myths grew up among the French face, and we are always telling ourselves how of our enormous wealth and our lavishness, and good we are and how wicked the French are. Oh, can we deny these accusations? Many an A. E. F. we don’t hate ourselves! Not so much. But soldier imitated these tourists in more moderate when we blow, we blow for keeps. Mr. French ways, which brought forth such dissatisfaction man just looks at us, and w’onders what has got from the French soldier so that his pay was into us, and goes on the way he has before—not raised from one sou, or less than one cent a day, so good and not so bad. ’ ’ to five sous, or approximately five cents. Even This is American philosophy upon French then the doughboys’ pay was still more than morality and from my experiences with the twenty times that of his ally. Moreover, we were 30 THE COMENIAN FOR not reluctant to spend our monthly income. by the invaders, and their homes today are only Many went to the best cafés, ordered the best of a heap of ashes, or a shell-torn and razed mass of food and wines, tipped profusely, and generally stones. Verdun, St. Mihiel, Villers, Coeurs, are reinforced the impression created1 by their fore several of the towns I had' the privilege of seeing. runners, that every American is a billionaire. Only those who have actually seen these places This in no way justifies the French tradesman can realize the agonies, the hardships and re for charging the American exorbitant prices, but verses these people have endured. In the above it does not seem appropriate that the criticism named towns, not one house is today standing in should come from a people that have admired tact, and the churches which were edifices of Wallingford. Are we justified in criticising beauty and splendor were the geodetic targets France without reflecting upon our own circum for the Germans; Goldsmith’s “ Deserted Vil stances; and what agent has caused more unrest lage” only in a small way describes the spectre and dissatisfaction than profiteering? and gloom of these devastated towns. Again one hears not infrequently complaints Southern France as contrasted with the war- on French sanitation, and it is often quoted! that stricken district is almost as different as night France has a lack of bath tubs. Can we measure from day. I had the privilege of spending nine civilization through the medium of bath tubs ? A days at Nice, Monte Carlo and the neighboring bath tub is not so much a necessity as a con towns on the Mediterranean Coast. At this time venience, and indeed is an extravagance among we were stationed at St. Mihiel and thus had a the poorer class. Unlike the clock on the mantle- cross country trip of over 800 miles by rail, and shelf, which serves the purpose of being also as we came within the lands that are affected by decorative, it can only be used for one purpose, the Gulf Stream one thought he was entering a namely, to bathe in. Therefore the question is paradise. The hillsides with their enormous not so much how many we have, but how fre vineyards, the wonderful foliage, the olive trees, quently they are used. It is evident that a the gay-colored houses,—¿all these helped to make family with an apartment of nine bedrooms, each one forget the bleak and desolate northern region having a private bathroom, is not necessarily and wonder why nature has not distributed these cleaner than a family who has only one bath essentials equally. One could pause here and de room. scribe the interesting points at great length. The contrast of the snow-capped Alps overhead and Moreover, we are not justified in making this the fragrant wild heliotropes at our feet, only criticism, for the war-stricken area was com help to emphasize the much talked of “ Sunny posed largely of farming lands, dotted here and France.” there with small villages where the peasant lived, So, far be it from me to criticise these people and not of large and modern cities as we find in meanly, who have so unjustly suffered the pangs southern France. I f we were to make a census of war and devastation, and it was only proper in our country districts, I wonder just how many that they should also taste of victory. It is thus more bath tubs we would find. my earnest prayer and desire to see not only In the war-stricken area north of Paris, one France and Belgium, but all the countries, finds today only the ruins and devastation of this whether belligerent, neutral or allied, mold out great world strife,—the villages are depopulated^ of the ashes of defeat or victory, stronger, more the people having been driven from their homes unselfish and more democratic nations.

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