New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-11

with its rudy skin and white hair.
He did not understand most Of what
went on about him. lie did not pre-
tend 20. His keen eyes wandered when
speakers were eulogzing him ana
France. The rest Of the commission
understood. or pretended 20 under
stand. the English that orators show
cred upon them. Joffre did not under.
stand. and he took no pains 10 conceal
his ignorance.
Interested in Faces
lie was interested in flags and the
dome Of the library and faces m the
crowd while President Butler Of Co
lumbia was delivering his address be
fore comforting the degrees. The
America that he could see and under
stand appealed 90 him. The speech Of
the nation was beyond him, and he did
not care who knew Il.
lie made no address when Columbia
conferred her honorary degree upon
him.
According TO President Butler he
was Joseph Jacques Cesslre Johrc.
Marshal of France. who. by reason OF
character. courage and superb strategic
skill. has made tho name Of the Rivcr
Marine rs immortal As Miltladcs mace
that of Marathon. and m 80 doing
saved the world for democracy"
To the thousands who gathered on
the court in front Of tho great library
he was a simple. stocky figure IN scar
lot can and long blue cloak. reaching
far below his knees. who faced the
President with his hand at salute and
a boyish smile upon his pleasant
rudy face.
Viviani. who received his degree be-
fore Jofrc, placed the purple hood
across his shoulders. but Jotre took
IL carefully. folded Il up and tucked
II under the folds Of his military great
coat 4 professor leaned over ana
Whispered 10 him. apparently urging
him 70 put 10 on, but the soldier only
shook his head violently. Any one
could see that he distruSted such trap
pings.
nance i'm Marshal Jofrc that the west
ern world associates ln general with
the people Of his blood His visit to
the tomb Of Grant was a prime oppor-
tunity for Gallo posing. lie made inc
ceremony almost lsughable by his own
simple, utterly unconscious earnest
ness.
In the purple gloom Of the tomb he
CROPPED his way down the stars 10 'he
NFlDt. y StuAtiltlAN AAAoS f'NN.N
slipped niselessly over the hve-ioot
rail 10 the side Of the bier. Marshal
Jofre climbed 20 the top and then
Jumped with a startling crash.
For a moment the big figure STOOD
irresolute in the dusk. clutching the
great wreath Of laurel as though II
we're a life preserver. and looking help
}csslv toward the top of the marble
oqsket far above his head. Then some
one brought a shaky step ladder when
the marshal Of France mounted eau
tiously, breathing loudly
At It's top he paused, balancing nm
self with difficulty, and laid the wreath
upon the marble slab. and then found
that he had placed it upside down.
Then followed several seconds OF pam
full balancing before he could ieadJus'
the decoration.
The ceremony had been almost hui
morous so far. but when the stalwart
figure drew itself erect in the gloom,
ard stood for a second. silent above
the bier Of the great general Of another
day. no one moved. The comb echoes
to the slightest sound. yet utter still
Itgs witnessed Jofre's tribute TO
Grant.
But for q few minutes yesterday the
marshal of France came into his own.
That was when the 7th. which had
formed the guard of honor about
Grants Tomb passed before him IN re-
view.
He stood on the eastern side Of the
plaza, surrounded by his officers. Be
low him on the roadway which LEADS
past the Clsremont Hotel, the gray
clad ranks tramped past. The band
was crashing out the gay valiant Tor
y. hN
with the dash and elan of regulars.
On the terrace stood the stout figure
in blue and scarlet, hand raised TO the
visor Of his cap So he must have
stood TO watch the men who held be-
cause he told them to and broke the
German advance, as they marched past
with their half empty ranks. There
was a gentle, almost dreamy. look OIL
the face Of the great general, as the
flower Of New York's guard swept by.
Perhaps he was picturing the time
when these same men might swing
down the Chaps Elysees when his
dream would come true.
Stands Before Statue
The first half Of the regiment was
resplendent in its dress uniform. The
last companies marched in KHAKI, as
though already they were of TO war
marched TO "The Lorraine March" the
song of the lost provinces. And Joseph
jacques Cesaire Joffre stood stiffiy at
salute until the last rank had passed.
When he turned away his eyes were
little brighter and the lips beneath the
white mustRche were smiling.
Perhaps the two most uncomfort-
able periods that the marshal spent
during the day were the brief mo-
ments in which he stood almost sheep
ishly, like boy with all of the
Gettysburg speech between him and
graduation, and spoke 20 the people
OF the city Thrice during the day
he made addresses. The one that he
delivered in Central Park contained
lO1 words. The one he delivered al
the Merchants Association. fifty-seven.
At The Metropolitan Opera he spoke
sixty-three words.
A maid once came out of Lorraine.
peasant girl, who led the armies OF
France 10 victory. Joan of Arc turned
the tide Of war against the English.
Il was not given her to command the
legions that finally swept the invader
out Of France
A simple French soldier. in later
years, turned his half beaten men and
smashed the terrific attack Of the
mightiest army Of all time. Yet now.
when the tide is flowing against the
foe, his is not the hand that strikes