Magazine 'The Bystander' of the 12th of June 1918, pages 11 until 15., item 3

• November 5, 2017 14:49:59 Thomas A. Lingner

   page  458  The Bystander, June 12, 1918
  

  The Bystander in Paris (concluded)

   

   

   Drawing of an American officer and an older French man
  

   Caption 

  "The old gentleman and the American officer"

  
  

  flirtation at the tennis. But for them the philosophy is different. They are of the idea that it will very soon arrive for them the war, and it is most wise to study to enjoy the moments of the present.
  

  
  

  There are also others who go to the Bois - the wounded and the récuperés, who sit so quiet or talk together, that one wonders what it is the secret of those men who have fought that they speak among themselves but not to others. Of all our simple philosophers, I think it is that they are the most simple of the heart. It is best they love to take a boat and row on the lac and to talk - but it is not always with their comrades of arms that they row, and qui sait that it is always M. Toubib who make the best cure.
  

  
  

  It was when Lucile and I were making our study with M. Marcel of the so simple life of the Bois, to write to you now we pass the time in waiting the final of the battle, that we had so strange chance to hear the conversation of the old gentleman and the American officer who had our same thoughts. They were stopped to regard how the people were all having their conversation and the poilus rowed themselves on the lake, when the old gentleman made his philosophy.
  

  
  

  "The life," he said, "becomes again for the moment more simple as of our ancestors." But Monsieur the American was wishing to make an argument. He pointed the finger where there were two aeroplanes which flew so strong in the blue sky to the battle. "Our ancestors did not have that," he said. "We have made progress."
  

  
  

  For a two minutes the old gentleman watched the so imposing flight of the cigognes. "Progress?" he said. "No monsieur, I think not. We have changed the methods to kill, but is it that the heart of the aviator is so different? I think very sure that it is not. He has the same heart of a soldier and of a lover as the crusader and it is now the moment when all this French people are of a simple spirit and manners. In two years - in a  year, perhaps, if there is peace ---" But we did not hear more of the philosophy of the old gentleman as he went on his walk along the lake.
  

  
  

  Perhaps it is, as he said, true that it is only for one moment that we are so pleased to lead the simple life. It was so when I was a little girl. I was so happy to be good - much happier than to be bad - but it never lasted very long.
  

  
  

  And, mes amis, though we so practise the life of the virtues and the little pleasures, it is not true, as someone writes to me from England to ask, that we keep the rabbits and the chickens in hutches in our salons to eat them on the jours sans viande.
  

  
  

  Your friend, Agnes
  

  
  

  P.S. - I have inquired and I do not discover that anyone wishes long to continue to be so virtuous.
  

  
  

   Drawing of a man with a military had, a monocle, and a moustache, driving a convertible as others look on from the street
  

   Caption 

  "The so important young lieutenant"
  

• November 5, 2017 14:45:38 Thomas A. Lingner

   page  458  The Bystander, June 12, 1918
  

  The Bystander in Paris (concluded)

   

   

   Drawing of an American officer and an older French man
  

   Caption 

  "The old gentleman and the American officer"

  
  

  flirtation at the tennis. But for them the philosophy is different. They are of the idea that it will very soon arrive for them the war, and it is most wise to study to enjoy the moments of the present.
  

  
  

  There are also others who go to the Bois - the wounded and the récuperés, who sit so quiet or talk together, that one wonders what it is the secret of those men who have fought that they speak among themselves but not to others. Of all our simple philosophers, I think it is that they are the most simple of the heart. It is best they love to take a boat and row on the lac and to talk - but it is not always with their comrades of arms that they row, and qui sait that it is always M. Toubib who make the best cure.
  

  
  

  It was when Lucile and I were making our study with M. Marcel of the so simple life of the Bois, to write to you now we pass the time in waiting the final of the battle, that we had so strange chance to hear the conversation of the old gentleman and the American officer who had our same thoughts. They were stopped to regard how the people were all having their conversation and the poilus rowed themselves on the lake, when the old gentleman made his philosophy.
  

  
  

  "The life," he said, "becomes again for the moment more simple as of our ancestors." But Monsieur the American was wishing to make an argument. He pointed the finger where there were two aeroplanes which flew so strong in the blue sky to the battle. "Our ancestors did not have that," he said. "We have made progress."
  

  
  

  For a two minutes the old gentleman watched the so imposing flight of the cigognes. "Progress?" he said. "No monsieur, I think not. We have changed the methods to kill, but is it that the heart of the aviator is so different? I think very sure that it is not. He has the same heart of a soldier and of a lover as the crusader and it is now the moment when all this French people are of a simple spirit and manners. In two years - in a  year, perhaps,
  

  
  

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