Cocks letter diary, 1916-1919 / Verner Cocks - Page 572

[Page 572]

absolutely ignorant of anything outside their own country they know the States from top to bottom.   It is just their characteristic.   They thlink nothing outside their own country is any good.   As Jack has described them - they would never both learning French as long as they remained in France - not worthwhile - they would make the French learn English.   they have collared the best places in the town for their Y.M.C.A's and go for things on a much bigger scale than anyone else.   I wouldn't  be surprised to see them turn the gambling house at Monte Carlo into a Y.M.C.A.   They seem to have more money than they know what to do with.

Everywhere their YMCA's  and all Yanks treat us royally. Their hospitality is most praiseworthy. Jack & I had a   great time with them - especially as we were Aussies. Most of them had only heard about Aussies  and when we yarned to any of them a crowd would gather round in no time & listen with the greatest interest to talk about Aussie. We were the cynosure of interest amongst the Yanks. Their ignorance about us  and Australia is remarkable. Many remarked how well we have learnt English in such a short time & wanted to know what language we spoke out there.   Of course this is not surprising as our own English people have asked the same questions to our chaps.   Of course being white surprised them too.   There are any amount of Yanks coming to Australia after the war. They think it is a wonderful country producing such soldiers  and are always expressing the hope that we will go home via America. I am sure if we did they would give us a wonderful time. So much for the Yanks.

Nice is a pretty little place situated on the shore of the Mediterranean at the foot of high hills which rise higher  and higher at the back into snow capped alps. The bay is called the Bay of Angels and the azure blue of the peaceful Mediterranean reflecting a deeper beauty from the clear sky is fine. The weather there at this time of the year is ideal - every day warm & sunny  and the air as clear as I have seen.

The place of the town is the Promenade des Anglais (Promenade of the English) and this is the rendez-vous of the elite of Europe. It is a fine wide promenade along the beach lined with palm trees a fine drive  and then a line of flash hotels - the Ruhl, The Savoy, and the Negresco are names of some of the finest.   In front of each is fine winter garden with all the tables under big umbrellas  and here the people sit  and drink  and chat and watch the world go by. One Sunday morning   we were there when the weather was particularly beautiful. Everyone was out on the promenade in their best - the ladies all swanking gaily coloured sun shades  and soldiers in every uniform in the war. After a while when they get tired of parading they sit down on chairs provided on the walk  and bask in the sun.   It is a wonderful experience, one sees every nationality  and hears nearly every European language spoken there but everyone can speak French. It is the champagne of   European conversation. I'll never forget that Sunday morning it was most interesting under delightful circumstances. The season (winter) was just closing  and of course practically under war conditions. I could imagine it in full swing in peacetime. You might think that being so cosmopolitan the fact would be regarded as distasteful but not so it makes the place all the more interesting for it is only the wealthy  and educated class from every country who migrate there  and everyone seems to hop in  and make the place a picnic. In the afternoon the fashion moves into the gardens to listen to the bands or parades along the main boulevard. And later one retires to the Casino Municipal. This is a   huge winter garden - the finest of its kind I have seen. It is a huge carpeted room full of flowers and palms amongst which the little cane tables are distributed and here the people drink  and smoke  and listen to a combined vocal & instrumental programme.   It is a delightful place & used to see us very often.   We used to put in nearly all our nights here.   Just sitting down for three or four hours smoking, watching people and listening to the music.   Now & again a cafe au lait or orangade it was great.   We heard a couple of operas also at the Nice Opera House.

Well that's life in Nice it is a huge rest under the most pleasing conditions you could imagine.

We did a couple of trips.   The first a party of six of us got a car for the day & went to Monte Carlo.   The scenery is something like our South Coast.   It is really beautiful but our scenery is as good.   Monte Carlo is a very pretty little place.   It is a town in the kingdom of Monaco which is only about 20 square miles in all and adjoings the town of Monaco.   Monaco the town is situated on a huge rock containing the prince's

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