Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-02-12

all information that goes out being
very general in tone.
Following are some extracts from
this very interesting letter:
From Rotterdam l went to Ant
werp for one day and thence to Brus-
els. l spent Sunday. December H.
riding from Antwerp to Brussels, a
journey full of interest, for there has
been the scene Of much Of the fight
ing. 1t also made me feel absolutely
justified in my desire to work in Bel
GUM. The towns of Malines and Ep-
peghem are badly destroyed. At Brus-
sells l spent four days in getting in
structions and passports. l was sent
down to Namur to be with c. G.
Bowden, a Rhodes man from Missouri
(also Swanee). l arrived here Decem-
Der 18th. Since then l have been at
Namur and around in the province
engaged in the relief work for Bel
CLANS.
AT first there were only w of us
anu we Huu quite Il heIiS
in breaking in with the local Belgian
committee. The Belgians are won
derfully polite and nice, but not very
business-like. They talk too much and
act too little.
The day before Christmas, Mr.,
Gibso.l Of Rochester, N. Y, a native of
Alabama, arrived. We were quite re-
lieved to have an older mar OIL whose
shoulders to put the chief responsible
ty. We also have an American from
North Carolina in the office with us,
We have very comfortable offices and
have a room with MI. Bowden at
the h,use of a Mr.. Attout. a man
whom they have put at the head Of the
relief work for the city Of Namur.
do not spend any time there except
nights and get breakfast.
Now, there is necessity for the
work. We are keeping Belgians from
starving. l have charge Of the ship
ping department and have protection
over the food. l have to submit a re-
port to Brussels of all American food
that enters our province.
1.-The German, with whom we have
our dealings, is a certain Captain
Schroeder, and If there ever was a
fine man, he is one. He works night
and day and uses his influence to aid
us in our work. We have had dinner
with him several times. He speaks
English. He has been to Oxford as
we'll as visited the United States. ]
have also come to know another Ger
man officer who is wonderfully inter-
esting. He eats two meals a day at
the same hotel.
we have to speak French q good
bit. / have absolutely ne time to study
French, but / manage to make my
self understood. If could study any
I could learn in a few weeks.
I'VE have in our office most Of the
time a count who speaks all European
languages. He Is exceedingly nice and
has given his services to Us entirely,
simply to aid us in our work. He is
willing to do anything to relieve the
people. The count, Henri de Leide-
kirk, has a beautiful country palace,
l vas down that way on business
Thursday and spent the night with
him. We are all going to take din
ner there tomorrow (Sunday, January
24th). Capt Lucey, the head of the
Rotterdam office, will be there. Capt,
Schroeder, four Of us Americans and
the countess, her two beautiful daugh-
ters and her most interesting sister
1 find these people, that is, the count
and his family, very intelligent and
interesting. The count has been in
valuable to US as an interpreter. II
Is fine to see the bravery Of these
people In the trying times. Many OF
the better classes Of the Bclgians have
given up everything for the more un-
fortunate.
Now, 1 am obliged to stay In Ma
muir one week longer, for the boats are
coming in and there Is no other Ameri-
can who knows how to handle them
II ] can leave her l shall do 80, but
would be falling down on a very nee
cssary job to leave right now.
Il spent last night reading my mail
You do not know how glad l was tC
| get it all. The last letter that l re-
ceived was dated December 2Sth.
Il spent Christmas day in Brussels
| was with Hawkins, the Massachu-
sets man. We had a very pleasant
day. but we were homesick. Went t.
| the Catholic service. The building, st
Gudule, is beautiful and the music
was good"
Mr.. Glenn explains that he and his
associates are in honor bound not tC
give out any information secured
while they are engaged in this work
| He. therefore does not and could not
properly express any opinion n way
or another as to the probable outcome
Of the war or conditions existing In
Belgium eycept in a very general way