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226

the optimistic talk in the cellar; the touting of the ^[[firemens']] horn to warn that all's well.

People leaving at a fast rate, however (somebody [[strikethrough]] illegible [[/strikethrough]] ^[[makes the statement to the]] effect that 40,000 are leaving daily (I don't believe it) and it takes a civilian at least 15 days to get a ticket.
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Transferring my baggage from the Gare St. Lazare to the Gare d'Orsay was no mean job. That baggage, incidentally, has caused me endless concern and worry during the entire travels from the States. At New York I was informed to watch it; and watch it I did, - like a [[strikethrough]] father [[/strikethrough]] ^[[mother]] watches a sick child. Some officers, less lucky with their checks lost considerable time chasing their effects; some of the very unfortunate ones lost more than one piece of luggage. As it was, the transportation, via taxi, and excess weight cost no inconsiderable sum, and besides all that the damage done by the carriers was enough to make me wish a good trunk