Vol. XX

No. 6

Cicero, Indiana.

Introduction.

Paris is the center of the political, social and business life of France. Anyone who expects to learn about France through travel must necessarily spend enough time in the capital city to obtain first-hand knowledge concerning its various places of inter

est.

My assignment to educational work as director of geography gave me the opportunity of spending about one month in Paris. Large numbers of American soldiers were visiting the city on leave and many others were stationed in camps in or near the city. The visitor in Paris during the first half of 1919 had the opportunity of observing the city under conditions unique in its history. The American soldiers were so numerous and so intent on seeing the interesting sights of the city that the most casual observer was impressed by the presence of these thousands of Americans in

uniform as an important factor in the life of the city. This conspicuous and interesting feature of Paris life could exist for only a few months and then pass away forever. Fortunate, indeed, were those American civilians who had soldiers during these historic months the privilege of associating with the of the Peace Conference and army demobilization.

Early Experiences in Paris.

I obtained a map and guide book of Paris as soon as possible and began taking long walks along the boulevards and in the parks during the hours of each day when we were not in conferences. By considering "Place de la Concorde," a large square on the north bank of the Seine River, as a center, it was not difficult to make excursions in all directions from this center and to relate the different regions properly to each other. The map on which the names of all streets and the

more interesting places of the city were shown was a constant companion and guide. After getting the geography of the city well in mind, I visited some of the best known buildings and monuments in Paris.

The first day I spent in Paris, I was approached by American soldiers who asked for direction to some place in the city. This was a distinct surprise to me, especially since the request was made as if the inquirer was sure I knew. Owing to careful and prompt study of the map of the city, I was fairly successful in giving the assistance requested. On my second day in the city, three American officers approached me and one of them said, "You are just the man we are looking for," and at this pause in his sentence which was given in the most cordial manner, I wondered if I was a suspect to be taken into custody, but he continued: "Will you please direct me to our hotel; it is on rue de Rivoli." I had been out walking alone, reading street signs which are exceptionally well arranged in Paris. I was able to say without hesitation, "You will find rue de Rivoli about three blocks further on in the direction in which you are going."

These experiences set me to thinking. Why were American soldiers and officers confidently assuming that I, a stranger in Paris, could direct them to places in the city? I had noticed that they gave me one strait look as if for identification and then seemed to be sure that I was a Paris guide. A brief consideration of my uniform gave me the explanation, and I realized more fully than ever before the meaning of the Red Triangle of the Y. M. C. A. On the right sleeve of my overcoat and the front of my cap was the red triangle. This was evidence to the American soldier that if I did not know Paris, I should know it or go into service elsewhere. During the remainder of my stay in Paris I redoubled my efforts to know these parts of the city that American soldiers would most often inquire about. Hotels for sol

diers, canteens for supplies, amusement houses for American soldiers, the Louvre, and other noted places were among the places for which inquiry was made.

The American Soldier as a Map
Reader.

It often happened that the place desired was many blocks away. It was difficult if not impossible, at times, to give such explicit directions that the inquirer could find the place without mistake or without making another inquiry, thus causing further delay and loss of precious minutes of the "three day leave" or the "twenty-four hour pass" granted for the purpose of seeing Paris.

As a

I always carried the map of Paris for my own guidance. Presently I learned to show the map to the inquiring soldier, indicate our position and the position of the place sought. The readiness with which he read the map, appreciated its meaning, and started off promptly in the right direction was a source of great interest to me. teacher of geography I had been endeavoring for many years to teach the interpretation of maps effectively to hundreds of students, but I am sure that my teaching had not resulted in developing such excellent map readers as had been produced by military training on the battlefields of France.

Teachers and pupils who are using these articles for supplementary geographic material will find the map of France and the map of Paris, referred to in the previous article, indispensable for effective use of these articles. The maps may be obtained from McKnight and McKnight, Normal, Illinois. fact, I am writing this article with this splendid map of Paris before me and with frequent reference to the map of Paris and its environs on the reverse side of the sheet.

In

I presently learned that the soldier would profit greatly during his brief stay in Paris if he had a map of his own. I therefore carried a number with me when I went out for a long

walk. When I discovered that the soldier needed a map to accomplish his plans, I gave him a copy, and I am sure that he considered it a valuable aid. He needed no instruction whatever in its use.

One evening at the hotel four soldiers asked me where to find the principal part of the city. They had arrived in Paris late in the afternoon and were to leave on the forenoon of the next day. They said they could not be satisfied to go through Paris and see nothing of the city except the streets from one railroad station to another. We spent ten minutes with the map of the city. We located our hotel, I showed them the boulevards which they might follow for a walk of an hour or two, returning to the hotel without traversing the same street twice. They looked somewhat uncertain about making the trip during the hours of the night but the moment they realized that the map was theirs to keep they said, "Oh, if we can take the map we can find the way." They were away promptly for their only opportunity to see Paris.

The Metropolitan and the Map. The "Metropolitan" or the "Metro", for short, is the name given to the underground railroad system of Paris. In New York City the name "Subway" is used. The "Metropolitan," as may be seen from the map, furnishes a complete system of passenger transportation to all parts of Paris. No place in the city is a very long walk from a Metropolitan station. By a system of easy transfers, passengers may change from one line to another without additional expense or the issue of any transfer tickets. In this way one may have rapid transportation from any station on the system to any other station.

A very large map of the city with the lines and stations of the Metropolitan shown as the most conspicuous features of the map is posted at the entrance to every station, along the passage ways and on the platforms. One evening about 8 o'clock another

Y. M. C. A. secretary and myself were studying one of these maps at the street entrance to a station. A soldier came hurriedly from the underground station, approached us at once and inquired: "Will you please tell me where President Wilson's home is in Paris? I have carried messages to him by motorcycle but this is my first trip by the Metropolitan and I am not sure which way to go." He gave us the street and number. We soon found the location on the map. The house was only a few blocks away. We escorted the messenger to the residence of the President of the United States, saw him present his credentials, pass the guards, and disappear. We were interested in his remark made while walking to the place. He said: "I was uncertain about finding my way from the station to the President's house, but when I saw two Y. M. C. A. men, I knew my troubles were over." This was expressing a good deal of confidence in strangers who had been in the city but two days.

It was frequently my privilege to explain the map of the Metropolitan system to soldiers, single or in groups. A brief study of the map gave them the key to the use of the system and they were always confident that they could go wherever necessary without difficulty. Their ability to interpret maps and to make use of them with certainty indicated that the army has given better training in map reading than is given in the public schools.

Teachers and pupils should inquire of soldiers how they studied maps and how they were used in motor transportation, scouting, carrying messages and other army work. Ask a soldier to come to your school and show the pupils how he was taught to find his way along difficult roads or trails with nothing to guide him except his map and compass.

Whenever anyone seeks to flatter Edison by referring to his "genius," he is fond of flashing back: "Genius is ninety-five per cent. perspiration and only five per cent, inspiration."