Semi-weekly herald., 1915-04-15

common sense. The next morning af-
ter the destruction of Louvain Brand ,
Whitlock drove in an automobile to
that place to see the ruins, and have
never heard his description of the
havoc equaled as graphic portrayal
of the smoking ruins of that once
beautiful old city.
He was appealed to by everyone
in trouble; when Belgians or Ameri-
cans were condemned to be shot no
man could save them except Whitloek
and he saved many. He took every
risk as regards his own life, but
through it all he retained the sincere
respect of the Germans. Mr.. and Mrs.
Whitlock entertain charmingly. We
had good old-fashioned visit and
long talk in regard to the home folks.
Previous to her marriage, Mrs. Whit
lock lived in Illinois.i The dinner at
the embassy is put down as one of
its bright spots.
Tells of Louvain.
We were entertained on our visit
to Louvain with a luncheon at the
home of Mons. de Becker, president
of the American college. For two
hours and half, with closed doors,
around the splendidly supplied dinner
table, the stirring scenes of war and
destruction were described by the
Monsignor de Becker and his brother,
who is a business man in Brussels,
and a bright young priest who spoke
signor de Becker grew imprisoned
and would rise from the table as he
described the various incidents in the
burning of the city of Louvain. All
that he said and all that many say
will ultimately come into print, but
it is not part of my mission to pub
lish these matters now.
The American college is Catholic
institution for the education of priests
for work in America. The monsignor
stated that he had over seven hun
dred priests in America, men who had
graduated at the American college in
Louvain. His work is now practical
ly suspended. He expects Louvain to
revive but he realizes that the great
] library and the other beautiful an
tique treasures of the town are gone
| forever and can never be restored.
One of his little nieces exhibited the
only book found in the ruins of the
great library; it was book contain
ing postage and other stamps of all
nations and was an elaborate work.
Although it was burned around the
edges it was still legible in the cen
ter. This book had been kept in a
vault.
| Convent Serves Soup.
At Wise we called at a convent
winrc girls are taught and the good
Sistt.s s,oAld not let US get away
without serving tea. The convent had
been partially converted to the pur-
poses of serving soup to the poor un-
der the auspices of the American COM
mission. Everything was so delight
fully clean in the soup kitchen that
words of commendation came easily.
One young sister, who is a teacher,
is English and speaks the language
beautifully. She said that she had
been teaching ever since her own
graduation and enjoyed her work,
feeling great compensation for the
good she felt she was accomplishing.
An older member of the sisterhood
rather stoutly built, carried the keys
and conducted us about; she had a
radiant face, with joy and content
in every line, but seemed to be ev-
cry inch business woman.
Catholics and Protestants are all
one over here in Belgium so far as
good work goes, although as a mat
ter of fact there are but few Pro-
J testants.
An entertainment long to be re-
membered was at the palace of Car
dinal Mercier at Malines. Malines is
within easy reach of Antwerp, being
only a few miles out We drove
through Malines riding from Brussels
to Antwerp, and the next morning.
having picked up the burgomaster of
Malines in Antwerp, we drove back
to Malines for the purpose of meeting
the distinguished and world-famed
cardinal, who defied the German army
and announced his allegiance to a
higher authority than they. The car
dinal is an old man, but stands over
SIX feet two inches in height; he S
slender and has most kindly face
and manner. Pictures of him extant
do not do him justice, He has an i'm
pressive personality. He talks Eng
lish sufficiently well to make him
self understood.
i Cardinal Mercier Pleased.