me
years ago by Nance O'Neil in "The Lily."

X

One of the new officers I happened to hear of was a farmer who not
only won the _Croix de Guerre_ and the _Croix de la Legion d'Honneur_
very early in the war but rose in rank until, when I heard the story,
he was a major. One day a brother officer asked him if he should
remain in the army after peace was declared.

"No," he replied, and it was evident that he had thought the matter
over. "My wife is not a lady. She is wholly unfitted to take her place
in the officers' class. There is no democracy among women. Better for
us both that I return whence I came."

This is a fair sample of the average Frenchman's ironic astuteness,
that clear practical vision that sees life without illusions. But if
the war should drag on for years the question is, would he be willing
to surrender the position of authority to which he had grown
accustomed, and which satisfies the deepest instincts of a man's
nature after youth has passed? After all there may be a new "officers'
class."

I heard another story, told me by a family doctor, equally
interesting. The son of a wealthy and aristocratic house and his valet
were mobilized at the same time. The young patrician was a good and a
gallant soldier but nothing more. The valet discovered extraordinary
capacities. Not only did he win the coveted medals in the course of
the first few months, but when his shattered regiment under fire in
the open was deprived of its officers he took command and led the
remnant to victory. A few more similar performances proving that his
usefulness was by no means the result of the moment's exaltation but
of real however unsuspected gifts, he was rapidly promoted until he
was captain of his former employer's company. There appears to have
been no mean envy in the nature of the less fortunate aristocrat.
Several times they have received their _permission_ together and he
has taken his old servant home with him and given him the seat of
honor at his own table. His mother and sisters have made no demur
whatever, but are proud that their menage should have given a fine
soldier to France. Perhaps only the noblesse who are unalterably sure
of themselves would have been capable of rising above the age-old
prejudices of caste, war or no war.

XI

French women rarely emigrate. Never, if they can help it. Our servant
question may be solved after the war by the manless women of other
races, but the Frenchwoma