Raleigh Romances

ARMY & NAVY

The U. S. Navy, like the British Navy (see p. 16), has some attractions which the Army cannot offer. Scooting back & forth to the Spanish coast on independent duty the U. S. S. Cruiser Raleigh has recently used as its supply base the little French Riviera port of Villefranche, hard by Nice. That seamen of the Raleigh had not overlooked the opportunity thus given them for relieving the tedium of duty was last week indicated when the mayor of Villefranche married four members of the Raleigh crew to four good-natured French girls in one afternoon.

Last week's nuptials, involving two pairs of sisters, brought the season's total of weddings among males of the Raleigh crew to 15. A 16th wedding was postponed because Seaman Charles Shapperly of Haw River, N. C. had neglected to post his banns ten days in advance, and the Raleigh sailed for Marseille.

Main feature of Raleigh romances has been that, since none of the brides could speak English and none of the bridegrooms French, all have been conducted in a "sign language," about the efficacy of which, through an interpreter, brides and bridegrooms last week were equally enthusiastic.

Said Bridegroom Joseph Lionel Archambaud of Pittsfield, Mass. "I don't understand a word she is talking about but . . . anything she says is O. K. . . ." Said Mme Archambaud: "When he asked me to marry him, I understood right away. ..." Said Seaman Shapperly who plans to marry Yvonne Jeanne Gagelias before leaving France, take her back to his home in Haw River, N. C.: "I'll soon have my sweetie talking hillbilly instead of sign language." One Raleigh bridegroom, under age, wired home for permission to marry, got back a cable: "Good luck. Can't be much worse than one you had here."

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