The Washington herald., 1915-04-25
Belgian Queen Loves Lost Wonders
TELLS LOTT GERMANS ARE CHANGED PEOPLE
Iron Curtain Twixt Them and Her
BY PIERRE LOTT.

BY PIERRE LOTT.
In Belgium. April e4-"We know what
the King of Prussia is worth. With his
unbridled ambition. his absolute lack OF
conscience and his contempt for the life
of peoples. he is capable of drawing
down the worst evils not only on Austria.
but on the whole of Europe. "-Empress
Marie Theresa, LIS.
What feeling OF solitude and distance
this refuge CT the prosecuted Queen gave
me. ] know not how long my automobile.
its windows whipped with rain. had run
along in the obscurity OF storms and
nightfall when the Belgian noncommis-
stoned officer who guided my chauffeur
across these unknown roads adviser me
that We had arrived.
Her majesty. Queen Elizabeth of Bel
GUM, had deigned to accord me an audi
ence for $50 o'clock in the evening.
This drive across the desolate and
darkened countryside had seemed never
ending. and l trembled at the idea l was
late. but We were just in time. At $50
o'clock in the early spring beneath the
heavy sky it is already night. The auto
mobile stopped. it rained and the wind
was icy. There were two or three villas
etched in gray with no lights at the win
dows. But a bright glimmer like a glow
worm approaches me. 1t Is an officer in
her majesty's service bearing an cleo
trio torch which the wind cannot extin-
guish. Reaching the first house. where
the aid-de-camp threw open the door,
was about to leave my great coat in the
hall when the officer said: NO, keep it
on We have to go out again to reach her
majesty"
Refure from shot and shell.
This first villa was merely the refuge
of the ladies of honor and officers of
that Belgian court whose ceremonial
is now so subdued that 1t is plunged
in obscurity nightly TO escape the
shot and shell. An instant later l
was summoned to proceed to her
ma jesty's presence. and the same kind
ly officer with the same torch guided
me almost running to the next villa.
The rain is now mingled with white
which are but snowflakes
We see very indefinitely the desrted
At the villa 1 am ushered
into a well-warmed. well-lighted draw
ing room, whose red furnishings throw
gaiety and comfort in the midst of
the quasi solitude churned by winter
gusts. And there is that joy which
at a moment comes before everything
the physical joy of approaching a
brightly burning fire.
While awaiting the Queen my eyes
alight on a long case placed on two
chairs. 1t is of fine. Incompatible
white carpentry. which Immediately
reminded me of Nagasaki. as jan
anese letters were traced upon 1t with
a brush. The officer detected my
glance.
1T is a magnificent antique saber
h RI Low n IN
King" he said.
l had forgotten our distant allies of
the Far East. 1t is. nevertheless. true
they are with US. what strange things.
And even over there the misfortunes
Of these two charming sovereigns are
known by all. and as an evidence Of
their particular sympathy they have
sent this precious gift.
1 believe the amiable officer was
about to show me the Japanese saber
when a Lady of Honor appeared an
the Queen, and she quickly
Her majesty is coming" the lady of
honor had said.
With that infinite generation. standing
before the cracking fire whilst snow
1urries whirled about in the darkness
did 1 await this sovereign who
Is never seen and whom misfortune has
BY what door would sbe
enter? Doubtless by that at the end
-oom. whereon my attention became In
concentrated. But a slight
-ustle made me turn my head to the. OPP
,osite side Of the room. and from behind
he red silk screen. the young Queen
SO near me that II was impos-
'ible for me to make the usual courtly
Ny first impression. furtive of course.
ike a streak OF lightning. quite visual
impression like a colorist Impression. per- |
laps. I can say was Of dazzling little |
'ision in a blue-blue costume. but espe- |
tally blue eyes which srarkled like two |
luminous blue stars.
And how youthful she looked. one |
sould have given her scarcely twenty |
our years. From unfaithful portraits |
had seen OF her majesty had Judged |
er to be very tall. with profile rather |
90 long. On the contrary, she Ii Of av-
rage height. her face il quite small. her |
eatures Of exquisite fheness. It 10 q
ace that ID almost incorporeal and nom
Around those eyes of marvellous tim
lily. which seem two pure turquoise.
transparent enough to reveal the interior
ght. Even II one did not know who she
], II one knew nothingabout' her .devo-
ION to duty. the supreme dignity Of her /
ctions. her serene resignation or her
lmple. admirable charity. one would say
n seeing her there for tina first time:
Who can be that woman with the won
erful eyes? Evidently lone who scars
cry high. one who would never finch. II
nd who. without even flicker sof eyeiash.
'ouid Be able 70 look temptation and
anger Of death sauarely IN the face