Another accomplishment that has been furthered in Paris during the last three weeks is bicycle riding.  With the paucity of transportation some means of getting over the magnificent distances of this city had to be found.  So people who could ride rented bicycles, and those who had not learned began to take lessons.  The girls who work, and those who go on errands for the Croix Rouge, wear a most attractive costume of pale blue or violet.  It has a short divided skirt, a slim blouse with blue-and-white striped collar; there is a small hat to match, and the young cyclists whirling around on their missions of mercy are a pleasant sight for very sad eyes.

Paris in October

[From The London Times, Oct. 21, 1914.]

PARIS, Oct. 19.

The more one studies the life of Paris at the present time, and especially its patriotic and benevolent activities, the more is one impressed by the unanimous determination of its inhabitants to face whatever may befall and to make the best of things.  It is difficult to realize at first sight how completely, in the hour of trial, the traditional light-heartedness of the Parisian has been translated to a fine simplicity of courage and devotion to the common cause and to a high seriousness of patriotism.  There is something splendidly impressive and stimulating in the spectacle of civilization’s most sensitive culture suddenly confronted by the stern realities of a life-and-death struggle, and responding unanimously to the call of duty.  Without hesitation or complaint, Paris has put away childish things, her toys, her luxury, and her laughter; today her whole life reflects only fixed purposes of united effort, of courage never, never to submit or yield, and this splendid determination is all the more significant for being undemonstrative and almost silent.

We English people, who, observing chiefly the surface life of the French capital, have generally been disposed to regard the Parisian temperament as mutable and often impatient of adversity, must now make our confession of error and the amende honorable; for nothing could be more admirable than the attitude of all classes of the community in their stoic acceptance of the sacrifices and sufferings imposed upon them by this war at their gates.  Especially striking is the philosophic acquiescence of the city, accustomed to know and to discuss all things, in the impenetrable [Transcriber:  original ‘impentrable’] veil of secrecy which conceals the movements and the fortunes of the French armies in the field.  Go where you will, even among those of the very poor who have lost their breadwinners, and you will hear few criticisms and no complaints.  The little midinette thrown out of employment, the shopkeeper faced with ruin, the artist reduced to actual want—­they also are in the fighting line, and they are proud of it.  The women of the thrifty middle class consider it just as much their duty to devote their savings of years to the common cause as their husbands and brothers do to bear arms against the enemy; only in the last extremity of need do they make appeal to the “Secours National” for assistance.  And when they do, they are well content to live on a maintenance allowance of 1s. a day and 5d. for every child.