Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-07-19
BEL LGiAlt SOLDIERS APPRECIATE
couRTEslEs SHOWN
sss THEM.
MEN KAIE UNUSUAL SACRIFICES
Mrs. Norton Writes interesting Let
tet Regarding Work Among
Soldiers.
lsy Edith Z. Norton.

" WdlCfl IHSm dS tuey MdICA0Q IrOIu
the station at Charing Cross to
their headquarters at Aldyoch. Not
SO triW and outstanding as the Brit.
Eish sofli9rs, not so debbonaire as
the Fench. yet their very rugged
ness dDmmanded them to us, as
I've re4embered how with their com,
srades. they, with tenacity Of stub
born resistance. resisted and check
ed the mightiest army IN history
Sometimes we met 4 Belgian sol
nier wlh stood out from his fellows,
perhaps BY reason Of a military der
coration, or by some distinguishing
grace ff manner or attractiveness OF
face. All three were to be round
with the Belgian Sergeant Major.
whom We encountered one day quite
by chance. His excellent English al
DO commanded him to US, as did his
bimpleI friendliness, and we were as
pleased as he, when he accepted our
to take lunch with us the
|f'oliowkig day
We hads also, about that time,
met two other unusually fine Bel
han bogs, and after our Sergeant
Major Introduced US to couple OF
His Sergeant friends, who. like him
elf, we're passing their congo in Lon
bn, q happy thought came to me.
tie would have q Belgian dinner in
Heir 5lonor. They were all rather
musual boys, and knew such 9
0urte#y would please them. It
takes 80 little to please q Belgian
soldier. they are grateful for such
trifles; and any homo reminder.
would / knew. he especially grate-
ful TO them. Is
Sos the siye were asked the follow
ing aye9iG n to dine with US ct sew
~ 81 ttle restaurant wherH
I M Il ss1 ssppers room
Sgd anis = ~ d i Arse rs,s
pisea> ,.6f King u Eiseft d III Dsd with
the fag Of the allies, q the center
Of tlis table; place cards, bearing
each mans name. and also the In
scriptian. svive le soldat beige, !,
the s.Jme tied with tri-colored Bel
gian Hbbon. and further decorated
with a tiny American flag. were
placed at each plate. The menu
chosen was simple but copiIs; we
had not entertained Belgian SOL
diers, for months for nothing; we
had learned what II was to minis
ter totsa trench appetite Beef
steak, plenty Of fried potatoes. bread
and coffee: these wefe the essen.
tials, other vegetables and sweets
were added as "frill, but the thing
they enjoyed the most We're the lit
tie Belgian cakes. "Pain d'amendes,' !,
which we had been able to secure at
a Belgian shop, for the occasion.
The faces Of these Belgian boys
were 9 study, when they came to
us the following night, and were ush-
cred into the little room, gay with
its flags and well furnished table.
They looked at each other and at us;
in reality. overcome with the emo
tions the scene evoked. Then We sat
down, and the tension lessened, un-
der the benign influence Of good
dinner Maurice, the Sergeant Major,
had been placed at my right. but
when I turned to speak to him, he
was no longer there. Five, ten,
minutes passed and his dinner was
growing cold, but still he did not ap-
pear. Finally, the door behind US
opened. and a radiant Maurice reap
peared. In his hands he bore a thank
offering, in the shape or beautiful
bouquet Of orchids and lilies Of the
valley, and these, bowing very low,
he presented to me, making at the
same time a very beautiful, and touch
ing little speech.
/ was taken completely off my guard
and had to own to two conflicting
emotions. The one was Of apre-
citation at this touching proof OF the
gratitude Of these our Belgian guests,
the other Of regret, that they should
spend their tiny pay, any Of it, up
on rs, who counted it our greatest
joy thus to minister to them. But
their delight in the gift was so evil
dent that ! could only display IN
turn, my true and hearty apprsci-
alton OF their thoughtfulness.
After the dinner we had speeches,
and songs. winding up with the Bel
gian air, the 'Brabancorne," which
all sang with a will. think to all
of us as we sang. came a sense OF
the striking Significance Of the
words written so long ago.
"The v arss OF slavery haze passed, !,
And the Belgian gees forth from
his tomb,
His daring courage has reconquered
his good name,
His rights and banner fair.
Sovereign might, dauntless, proud and
daring,
Hencefortr his people valiantly
The good old flag unfurl with loyal
pride, 4;
For King, for Law and LIBERTY.
The good old flag unfufl with pride