THOMAS ATKINS.

PARIS ADORES HIM

. Here is a pleasing picture of the British isoldier as seen through American speotacles. It is taken from a recent, article m Leslie's by Mr Peter" Macqueen, special correspondent m France: "Whenever an English soldier appeared on the streets of Paris he was at once surrounded by an admiring crowd. Never has agnation been so thoroughly adopted as thei English have been" by the French; and the English deserve it. A French officer said to me : 'The English are a nation of gentlemen.' And, l can tell you that the English 'Tommy' is all that Kipling claims he is — and .then some. ..: T ... "Earl Kitchener has issued orders for 'good behaviour, and the 'Tommies' are living up to the best traditions of loyalty and politeness. Whenever an Enghsh soldier is lost or strayed the French, authorities take charge of him, get. him an interpreter, put him up at' a hotel, and convey him to his command.

"An instance of 'Tommy's' loyalty happened one night m a small village where I was staying. About midnight I was awakened and summoned to the door of the, hotel. In the rain I dis- 1 cerned a big French policeman and an English soldier: ■■■■'„ "On my inquiring what I could do lor' them,, the Englishman explained to mo ; "I hoard .there Avas an American here wlio could speak French. Noaa^ sir, Avould you kindly explain to this here gentleman — pointing to the policeman— that I Avant to get to my motor-car. It is at the City Hall. He wants to take me to the Hotel Me Veal,' and I don't Avant no hotel, I'm off like blazes to the front ut , daylight with a French officer, and I want to sleep m the motorcar. I'd rather die than miss my officer. So will you thank the gentleman for his Hotel 'de Veal,' and ask him to take 'me to my machine. "Tlie good fellow -was drenched with the rain, liut he laughed at my suggestion that lie was uncomfortable, and trudged cheerfully aAvay when I explained to nim that the Hotel de Ville and the City Hall were the same thing. And his spirit is typical.!'