Don Martin diary entry for Tuesday,
March 12, 1918:
Have been in
Paris long enough to realize it is the wonder city of the world. London and New
York are uncouth by comparison. Even the brick and stone yards along the Seine
are artistic. Breakfast in the Crillon. Dinner with Price at the Chatham Grill.
Got wire from Commodore to go to front and report from there on what I think
better be done. Then he will decide whether he wants me to remain indefinitely
or return after a bit to London. Price says his (Bennett’s) health bad and he
is too sensitive about being seen to have me down to Nice to see him. Commodore
also wired me to make arrangements first to go on trip with Secretary of War Baker who
leaves Paris today for front. Couldn’t be arranged. Saw H. C. Caxe, one of
Commodore’s fool hangers-on. He went with me to 16 Rue St. Ann to get front permit.
Drove with Caxe through Champs Elysees, Bois Boulogne etc. past Bennett’s
house.
Last night’s raid worst yet. Many killed by bombs and in subway panics.
Paris much more excitable than London. Wrote to Dorothy. Called at office 38
rue du Louvre. Stayed in hotel at night.
Weather ideal
Don Martin
recounted to Dorothy about his first air raid in Paris in his letter dated
March 12, and about his impressions of Paris.
Dorothy:
I guess your Dad is a hoodoo. Wherever he goes there seems to
be an air raid. Last night when I finished the letter to you I started down to
post it and the maid was talking like a streak and waving her hands. I thought
she was having a fit of some new kind. But I discovered it was merely her
French way of telling me that there was an air raid going on. They are not used
to them in Paris as they are in London and moreover the people here are very,
very excitable, especially on air raid nights. I had heard the “alert” signal
given but didn’t know what it was. In London it is called “Take cover.” Here a
siren blows. ... It is attached to a steam engine which rushes about the
streets. ... [The air raid] was a very fierce one - - by far the worst Paris
has known. The figures of persons killed have not been given out but it is said
the fatalities were quite numerous. I heard bombs strike in this vicinity. I
went down in the lobby and stayed there from a quarter to ten till a quarter to
one o’clock. A lot of most distinguished Frenchmen were sitting around and a
good many prominent Americans too....The lobby was darkened and the lights in
all the rooms were shut off. ... This hotel is right in the heart of the very
exclusive section of Paris. It is close to the Tuilleries Gardens, the Champs
Elysees and a lot of other famous and beautiful spots.
Paris is rather excited today over last night’s performance and right now people are rather expecting another raid tonight. These raids are getting to be terrible things. People are getting very sick of them and I guess when the war is all over and everyone understands everything that has happened, the world will know why people grow tired of them. The Germans have no consideration for women or children, hospitals, churches or anything else. They will have to pay dearly for their barbarism some day.
 |
| Tuilleries seen from Place de la Concorde |
Paris is rather excited today over last night’s performance and right now people are rather expecting another raid tonight. These raids are getting to be terrible things. People are getting very sick of them and I guess when the war is all over and everyone understands everything that has happened, the world will know why people grow tired of them. The Germans have no consideration for women or children, hospitals, churches or anything else. They will have to pay dearly for their barbarism some day.
I have spent a good part of the day making arrangements to go
to the front. Mr. Bennett wired me to make arrangements to go around France
with Mr. Baker, Secretary of War, who is here, but it was too late to make the
arrangements. ... Mr. Bennett wants me to go to the front; look it over and
tell him what I think ought to be done. I imagine he is trying to make up his
mind whether he wants to spend all the money it will cost to keep me at the front
right along. You see automobile hire costs about $100 or $150 a week alone ...
[The front] is not so terribly far away. The nearest point in the battle line
is only 60 miles from Paris but where I shall go is considerably further than
that.
Yesterday I believe I told you that Paris is far more beautiful
than all the other cities. Tonight I can emphasize that. Take the Rue Rivoli
for instance, Dorothy. That runs along the Tuilleries Gardens for almost a
mile. The buildings are all six stories high, are all the same, and all have
marble colonnades in front of them. There are no high buildings. This hotel,
for instance, looks like a ruin on the very outside but it is beautiful just
the same and inside is as fine as anything in New York. I sent you a postal
card giving a picture of it. I took an open taxi this afternoon, it being warm
and sunny, and drove out through the Champs Elysees and the Avenue Bois du
Boulogne. They are magnificent. Everything seems to have been built and laid
out with the aim of pleasing the eye.
For dinner I went to a place called the Chatham Grill and had a
splendid dinner – porterhouse steak, fine fried potatoes, endive salad and a
lot of fruit all mixed up. The cooks here certainly know how get things up
nicely. There is no sugar or butter though but the French are so clever one
doesn’t miss them. ...
But people are tired of war just the same. I don’t blame them.
One sees plenty of one legged men, and women in mourning in Paris. ...
Here a hug and kiss, From
Dad
Comments
Post a Comment