The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1917-05-03

Eminent Gathering, Including Mem
bers Of British and French Wa
Commission, Presidents cabine
and Members Of Congress, Stanc
With Barred Heads in Semi-CircIe
Before Tomb Of Nations Founder.
Mount Vernon, Va.-The flags OF
Great Britain, France and the United
States foated proudly together over
the tomb of George Washington. Be.
meath them, spokesman of the three
great democracies paid homage to
Americas soldier and statesman and
pledged themselves, each to the other,
in the name of the dead, to prosecute
the present mighty struggle against
&utocracy on the line he himself had
followed in bringing America into be-
ing.
In groups Of twos and threes, an
eminent gathering, including the mem
bers Of the French and British war
commission, the Presidents cabinet
and members of Congress, had stroll
ed up through the sloping grounds
from the river bank until perhaps half
q hundred people stood with barred
heads in a semi-circle before the tomb.
The day which had been heavy and
threatening as the party approached on
the Mayfower, suddenly burst into
sunlight which played through the
trees on the unifroms and faces of
those assembled
Without Formally, Secretary Dan
iels motioned to M. Viviani, minis
ter of justice and former president
of France; who advanced slowly into
the center. Before the tomb of Wash
ington whose efforts towards liberty
his own ancestors had gloriously aid
ed, M. Viviana delivered an address,
in which the whole forces of his emo
tional power, deepened by the signifi-
canoe Of the occasion, fought for ex-
preston.
The spectators, though most OF them
could not understand French, caught
the suppressed feeling and fire Of the
orator and followed his words spell
bound as they quickened under the
thrill Of his imagination.
his voice not sound could be heard.
AS M. Viviana finiShed, the silence
became supreme with the general
realization that no applause could ex-
press the emotions aroused.
Then came forward Arthur James
Balfour, foreign secretary Of Great
Britain, who stood for moment in
silence, a tall, erect, kindly figure.
Overcome with all that the situation
meant in the lives of the two great
Anglo-Saxon countries, Mr.. Balfour
abandoned his decision not to speak
and gave expression to few poignant
sentences, evidently straight from the
heart England had honored Wash
ington as she never had before.
"M. Vivtani," said Mr.. Balfour, "has
express ID in most eloquent words the
feelings which grip us all here today.
He has not only paid a fitting tribute
to a great statesman, but he has
brought our thoughts most wildly
down to the present. The thousands
who have given their lives-French,
Russian, Italian, Belgian, Serbian,
Montengerin, Roumanian, Japanese
and British we're fighting for what
they believed to be the cause of lib
erty.
where a speech for the cause Of lib !
erty would be better placed than here |
at the tomb of Washington. But as
that work has been so adequately
done by a master of oratory, perhaps |
you will permit me to read a few
words prepared by the British Mission |
for the wreath we are to leave here |
today:
"'Dedicated by the British Mission !
to the immortal memory of George
Washington, soldier, statesman, pa
triot, who would have rejoiced to see
the country of which he was by birth
a citizen, and the country which his |
genious called into existence, fighting
side by side to save mankind from
to a military despotism.'
Governor Stuart of Virginia spoke
as the host on Virginian SOIL
washington" he said, "originally
belonged to Virginia, but his priceless +
memory has now become common
heritage of the world. We consecrate
here today struggle bearing the SUI
preme test of the issues for which he
lived, fought and died"
Marshal Joffre, victor of the Marne
and idol of the French people, next
came forward in field marshals uni
form. Simply, but earnestly, he spoke
but two brief sentences:
''In the French army, all venerate
the name and memory of Washington.
I respectfully salute here tho great
soldier and lay upon his tomb the
pd NJ We offer ou' soldiers who have
died for their country"
Two French officers came forward
with the bronze wreath from the
French Mission, the humblest and the
highest mark of honor which the