TO WED SOLDIERS

Evening Star, Issue 15909, 15 September 1915, Page 2

TO WED SOLDIERS

FRENCH WOMEN'S EXAMPLE. Imitating the example set by the women of Lombardy, who, after the province was freed of the German yoke, decided to wed no one but rren wounded in -.defending their country, the French women are in" augurating a movement that has for its object the taking, of a vow to give one's heart and hand enly to a soldier who shed his blood ;n the defence of hie country Large numbers of such marriages have already taken place, and several blind soldiers ?nd a few heroes who lost both legs in the tattles in Northern France are-to lead to the altar the women of their choice. —Kitsed by All.— Women also are very ' enthusiastic in then- treatment of men home from the front. "My husband," said a Parisienne lecently, " returned to our home for a few days. In the course of his eojouro 1 here we found it necessary to make some purchases in one of the big stores.. I left ; him for a moment while choosing the things I wanted, arid when I returned I found him surrounded by a bevy of pretty eale girls, who were plying hhn with questions. "> "'I wonder if you will let-me kiss you?' I heard him say to one. In a moment he was busy kissing all of them, and the girls' looked as radiant as if they had received a precious gift. To cut short' any undeserved suspicion, let me tell you that my husband, while one of the dearest men alive, is also one of the ugliest. Thisi has been the experience of several of my friends, for it seems that the kiss has been adopted as the best way of expressing admiration f&r the soldiers fighting for France's freedom." —A Familiar Sight.— Now that soldiers have commenced to come to Paris on a short leave of absence, it is a familiar sight to see one-of them walk along the boulevards in the company of four or five " midinettes," as the graceful working-girls of Paris are called. "Of Course, they are. not my sweethearts," explained a bronzed soldier, "but you see, I have no family, so they have adopted me as one to whom to send an occasional package with 6weetmeats and other gifts. In other words,' they have become my 'marniines'—godmothers, that is. .When I received my. leave, of absence I canie/Hraight- to Paris,' looked them, up, and I have never had a better time in my life." . . ■ "The women of France", is the favorite toast at every gathering, for in the words of a Paris deputy, " Parisians do not know, what to admire roost—the oourage' of our soldiers.at the front or that oS, our women, at home."-