The Washington herald., 1912-09-15

architectural studies took him back to
England.
Between the city Of Luxembourg and
the German frontier We encountered
more foolish animals than on the entire
trip thus far. The ordinary chicken,
alarmed by the bicycle, crosses the road
but once and is then content to remain
cackling on the other side; but these
Luxembourg fowls run to and fro like
children in a game. and are never so
happy as when in acute danger OF a
violent end. The champion exhibition
was given by a crawling little hen. which
capered merrily about in the middle of
the road until Jack and I attempted to
pass on opposite sides of her. Then she
was struck with sudden fear lest this
fascinating sport be too quickly ended.
and. half running. half flying. she sped
along between us with loud whoops of
delight. The harder We pushed to pass
this crazy bird. the more desperately she
tried to keep abreast of US. and not until
We reached a steep down grade did We
begin to pull away from her. The
chicken. seeing that we were gaining.
and evidently feeling that this gay life
must be prolonged at any cost. made q
last convulsive effort. and with reckless
shrieks threw herself under the front
wheel OF Jacks bicycle. We-looked back,
expecting to behold a mangIed corse
feathers and waiting expectantly for
Mac and George.
The goats and COWS of the country
have about as much intelligence as the
fowls. and We were several times un-
horsed by them. The geese. however,
were the worst offenders. being not only
unafraid, but also distinctly belligerent
George thinks that the community sup
ports them in place OF a standing army,
and in point of ferocity they are GER
tainly not inferior to the average Lux
embourg soldier.
On the Road to Metz.
We passed the frontier into Germany
with no more consciousness Of the act
than when we entered into Luxembourg,
and not until We noticed soldiers in
brightly polished helmets and an unmis-
taxable specimen OF the Dachshhund
breed did We realize that another boun-
dairy lay behind U.S.
We dined in Diedenhofen. in Lorraine,
and after many inquiries, false starts.
and confusing answers, found ourselves
safe on the high road to Metz.
It was an ideal night for cycling.
neither too warm nor too cold. A light
breeze urged us gently over the smooth
surface Of the high road. while the lights
from cur lamps were almost lost in the
About four kilometers from the city
we overlook two young men on wheels
and greeted them with "Guten aben."
after what we supposed to be the custom
of the country. Bon soir.' they an
swered pleasantly.
We were interested at once. and
George promptly engaged them in con-
versation- It appeared that they were
natives of Lorraine, and. like many we
have since met. had remained strongly
French in tastes and sympathies Jack
asked them IL they had served their
time in the German army.
Not yet" said one, and the other
replied that he had. and added that at
the time he could not speak a word of
German.
.'C'etait triste celia dt was very sad.
that)." he told US. We rode along with
them for about ten milts before our
ways parted. and did seven more before
turning in for the night.
Affection for France.
Just as We reached Metz the next
morning It began to rain. and the down
throughout the day. We decided to re-
main In Metz overnight. Our enforced
stay. however. did not In any way lack
interest. After forty years occupation
by the Germans, the city is. We found.
still mainly French and considerably
more French is beard about the streets
than German. The great affection which
the natives OF Lorraine still feel for
France is evidenced by the curious med
ley OF French and German monuments
in the public parks. Every time the
citizens subscribe to the erection Of a
French monument the imperial govern