The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1914-10-22

saw how frightened we were, ana TOLD
US he could force passage for US. We
held to his broad shoulders, and he did
get US clear. But in all that crowd there
was no rudeness, or shouting, or rough
ness of any kind. And later, when
the city was magnificently decorated
with flags, and they celebrated their first
victory, it was the same. In joy and
sorrow alike they are always we'll poised
and self controlled. We all found them
a lovable people, and it was hard for US to
credit the accounts of the Belgian at
trocities. recently read that the Ba-
varian soldiers were Mortified at the
Prussian atrocities in Belgium, and this
may explain it, for all whom we knew
in Munich were Bavarians.
The women were as devoted to the
cause as the men. A society whose
motto is, 81 gave gold for iron," had re-
ceived before we left five thousand we'd
ding rings to be melted down to help the
wounded. And how proud they were OF
their soldiers! One woman, whose lover
was in the airship service, one of the
most dangerous, told me that every man
was not only willing, but eager to serve.
We heard so much of the hardships OF
those who tried to get home at the be-
ginning of the war that we remained
until the last express train out OF Munich,
August 26th. The Bavarian government
furnished this "Amerikanerzuge" direct
to Holland at financial loss to them
selves, as the cars returned empty. All
who could travel second-class were asked
to do so, to help the overtaxed transpor-
tation committee, who could not furnish
enough frst-class carriages. They
agreed to put only four people in the
compartments holding six, and at night
the cushions were pulled together; max
ing substitute for a bed, on which the
four people slept, or tried to. At the
last one frst-class carriage was add
ed to our train and got stateroom
for Miss B. and myself, most fortunate
ly, as l was ill all the first night. Our
Canadian friend said she slept better in
that compartment than at any time since
En- gland declared war, because she was
SO thankful to be on her way to neutral
country. We feared she would not be
allowed to go on this American train,
and we planned if any objection was
m ade that she should 60 as my nurse and
her daughter as my maid. We were
doubtful of my sustaining the position of
travelling with a nurse and maid, but
our usual good luck held and the official
barely glanced at our passports, while
Miss B. 8 was closely scrutinized.
The man of the party, "Pa." who
sailed for Europe with Miss B. and
myself under his efficient care, left Mu
Mich with eight of US women in tow!
and his struggles through Germany, Hol-
land and England (keeping his angelic
temper all the while) with the trunks
and suitcases, and bags and boxes and
bundles of us, the aforesaid eight women,
deserves a martyrs crown. Job was
querulous fusser in comparison with
"Pa."
President Garfield of Williams college,
who was chairman of the Transportation
Committee, had been kindness itself to
US, and untirlng in his help to all Amer
leans. Mr.. Baldwin and others of the
Relief Committee, were on our train, as
it was to be the last. Tne Oberburger-
meister came to the station to say fare
we'll, and little girls gave us all flowers
with his compliments. Mrs. Gaffney,
our consul's wife, was distributing copies
of the American Notes in Munich"
containing an article by herself defend
ing the Germans, and asking all return
ing Americans to use their moral infiu-
ence for them. While in Munich we
heard only the German version, and all
Americans, think, were in sympathy
with them. l am still in sympathy with
the German people, but not with the
military party.
Wherever we stopped at stations en-
route to Holland we received real ova-
ton, the soldiers and people cheering
our American flags. Part of our route
was along the beautiful Rhine, but you
have heard enough of Europe, and I'll
write only of our war experiences; an
other one being the closing of all win
dows when we crossed long, long
bridge at the frontier of Holland. When
the guard was asked the reason, no one
could understand anything of his reply
except danger" and dynamite. Our
train crawled along, scarcely moving,
passing soldiers on guard every few
yards, and there was a guardhouse filled |
with soldiers in the center of the bridge. 1
We reached The Hague August 28th,
and even there found troops mobilizing.
We hoped to sail home from Rotterdam,
avoiding the expense and fatigue of the
trip to England again, and enjoying Hol-
land, with which we were all delighted, !
while waiting, but were advised to leave
as quickly as possible. So we took the
first available steamer from Rotterdam
for London, where we arrived Sept. End.