Oct. 31.
It would be hard to get a more sympathetic picture of the fighting man than that conjured up by "Songs of the French Army" which we published yesterday. No doubt it is all very much emleur de rose. The horrors of warfare amid which this merry, dashing fellow moves so gallantly are carefully subordinated to the central figure, so as to form just enough background to bring out the romantic side of the soldiers life. But can one say that the picture as a whole is the less true for that? For this at least may be said for war, that it brings men down to essentials. ''There is a day or two," said one reservist on being called up, "when one regrets having to leave. the conveniences of life. Once one gels over that, one is all right."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.