Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1906-03-16
A TRIBUTE TO THE FLAG.
An Interesting Incident of the Cere-
monies Over the Body of John
Paul Jones at Paris.

| Americans, who had been SpendinS
some months in France, were standine
at the entrance to the American
Church of the Holy Trinity in the
| Avenue de PAlma in Paris, relates the
Youths Companion. Inside the church
| before the chancel lay the body ol
| John Paul Jones, in coffin draped
| with the American flag and covered
with flowers.
The pews were rapidly filling with
distinguished men of two nations. On
one side were the American ambassa-
dor through whose efforts the body had
been recovered, the special ENJOYS
sent by the United States, Admiral
Sigsbee, commander of the squadron
which was to bear the body home, and
his captains and staff officers, Senator
Lodge and the members of the diplo-
matte corps; on the other side, the
personal representative of the presi-
dent of France, the president of the
counci! and minister Of foreign affairs,
the leading members of the French
cabinet and the highest officers of the
French army and navy.
The two young Americans at the
door had made their way through the
crowd, in the expectation of passing
in unchallenged but at the entrance
one of the gendarmes stopped them
with Il request for their tickets.
"Ars tickets required? We didn't
know it," replied one of the men. I'VE
have no tickets, but we are Americans,
and we very much want to see this
ceremony. Can't you let us go in?"
He spoke, of course, in French, and,
by virtue of his having made many
long stays in France, it was good
French. Moreover, he is of a very
dark complexion. 1t was plain that
these two things made the gendarme
skeptical. He was polite, but firm. 1T
gives me much Sadness" he said, but
my duty is clear. l cannot forget it.
The admission is only by ticket"
The young men argued, protested,
pleaded, but the gendarme stood un-
moved. He was an old soldier, and
had soldiers respect for orders. The
young men could go in only by pro-
IlChClS.
The two Americans saw that fur
ther argument was useless. well,
Frank" said the one who had acted as
spokesman, I'VE shall have to wait
here outside and see the procession
as it comes out" So they took their
stand and waited.
Now, the older of the two men has
made it practice for years to carry
with him, wherever he may happen to
be, at home or abroad, one of those
little silk American flags which roll
into small compass and slip into a
now, and as he waited, took it from
it's case and unrolled it, and held it
in his hand.
There was no thought of borhbast or
spread -eagleism" in the act. He was
an American in foreign land, about
to join in spirit, if not in bodily pres
ence, in a service OF the deepest sig
nificance to all Americans. The flag
seemed natural and appropriate to the
moment
Several minutes passed. The last
of the dignitaries had entered the
church, and the first notes of the open
ing anthem floated out. Suddenly the
old gendarme crossed to the two
young men and touched his hat in q
stiff military salute.
Gentlemen" he said, 81 beg yourpar-
don. At first, when you say you are
Americans, do not believe you, but now
know you speak the truth. l see the
little flag. | am a soldier, and have fol-
lowed and served my own flag. Does
a man carry his flag with him unless
he loves it? No. The Americans
do it much, and it is good. Permit
me, gentlemen"
He turned and led the way into the
church. and ushered the two young
Americans into the the best seats he
could find.