Cette page en français
The article below was published in the daily newspaper La Voix du Nord, issue of the Artois, France, page 7, on October 12, 1954.
See the case file.
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Great excitement the other evening, in the Station district, in Saint-Pol-sur-Ternoise. There was a persistent rumor that a Martian had stayed at the Hôtel du Trocadéro, we obviously did not know under what conditions...
The owner of the hotel, friend Jean, had found on the counter in the coffee room, a form duly completed, similar to the one presented to travelers requesting a room.
Name and first name incomprehensible, for everyone, Saint-Pol does not yet have a Martian interpreter. On the other hand, we read these details: "coming from Mars and heading towards Venus.", as well as some other saucy annotations.
A case of conscience arose for friend Jean, who, respectful of the regulations in place, wondered whether he should, as the obligation is made to all hoteliers, hand over the Martian file at the gendarmerie. He told several of his friends about it - a few of whom did not show, in this case, a foolproof discretion - since like wildfire, the news spread throughout the city.
Someone observed, "But this Martian is possessed by the devil, since he has chosen a 'Demont' to house him." The night passed in anxiety, a sleepless night... The Martians did not appear; on the other hand, certain cross-checks made it possible to identify the author of the deception, who was moreover very "sorry" to be confused.
Episode of the era of the flying saucers, an original joke that all Saint-Pol laughs at.
