Cook

That very great mathematician War Minister Paul Painlevetwice Premier of France during 1925, solved last week an equation in army discipline wherein the uncertain quantity was une femme.

The Colonel of a regiment stationed at Tourelles had written to the War Ministry that he found it impossible, in that region, to obtain an acceptable male cook. Was there, the Colonel sought to know, any permissible alternative? He enclosed without comment the photograph and the credentials of a woman, Mme. Jacquet.

Eventually this discreet and exceptional communication came under the piercing but kindly eye of great M. Painleve. He studied the photograph, saw a face of rugged grandeur. He read the attestations of Mme. Jacquet's poaching ways with an egg, learned that her pot au feu was delectable and sound. Finally the War Minister decided that in this instance the uncertain quantity or "X" stood for a good & honest cook. Therefore Mme. Jacquet Was appointed, last week, to the regiment at Tourelles until such time as it may be ordered upon active service. Pleased but with a sense of rebuff, Mme. Jacquet said sturdily: "To my mind, God willing, it should be my duty to follow the regiment in war as well as peace!