The article below was published in the newspaper Le Réveil de Berck, of Berck, Pas-de-Calais, France, page 1, on October 17, 1954.
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It has been reported to us that a fantastic being, one of these last evenings, had pushed open the door of an Enocq coffee shop, spreading panic among consumers.
This character was about 1.50 meters tall, wore a helmet topped with an antenna, his body was covered with long hair, and from a bizarre instrument which he held in his hand, emanated a strange glow along with no less disturbing crackle sounds.
He said a few incomprehensible words (maybe he was asking for a pint) and disappeared into the night.
From there to conclude that a Martian, or a Uranid, during a stopover on the banks of the Canche had visited the country's café, there was only one step.
This step was taken at the speed of a saucer and the story immediately spread over Etaple, Montreuil and beyond.
However the sympathetic landlady, after reflection, considered that such visits were likely to put the cash drawer in danger - given the general commotion - and she talked, discreetly, to the gendarmes.
The gendarmes are curious people who have solid feet on the ground. If we are to believe the rumor, they were able to go back, without going to his planet, to the origin of the phenomenon, and to discover that in fact of Martian, it was a small joker who had entangled himself in electric wires, wore a motorcycle helmet and was armed... with a luminous pressure gauge, to make a good joke, which succeeds perfectly.
It remains to be seen whether such actions are valid outside the Carnival period or April Fools' day.
This is why it is not impossible that one day we will do the honor of the correctional column to a Martian - this one or another one - for making fun of the poor World.
