The Washington herald., 1917-04-30
HONOR GREAT AMERICAN
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

mistaking the spirit Of the French
statesman. Tears unhindered rolled down
his own cheeks as he finished.
Mr.. Balfour followed the great
Frenchman in paying tribute to Wash
ington. He spoke briefly and with
scarcely less emotion:
My friend. NJ. vivIani. in phrases
burning with emotion, not only has
paid a tribute to the great hero who
lies buried here. but he has brought
our thoughts down TO the greatest
| crisis in the worlds history.
France, England, Belgium. Italy.
Serbia, and now America are Joined
| in a great conflict that democracy
may live. They are fighting for what
| they believe to be the cause of lib
erty. There can be no spot on earth
where any words on liberty can have
any greater meaning than at the tomb
of Washington.
~ ~ would like to read a short inscrip-
ooh w Mnicn. british nation wishes put
American-the memorial wreath We 80 80
brought today. 1t is this:
Dedicated by the British mission to
| the immortal memory of George WASH
ington, soldier, statesman. patriot, who
| would have rejoiced to see the country
| of which he was by birth a citizen and
the country which his genius called into
mankind from subsection to a military
despotism-"
Gov Stuart, OF Virginia, stepped to the
center Of the little group and spoke feel
| ingly.
virginia" he said. ''on whose soil We
now stand is proud to be the mother OF
/ Washington. But We have long since
realized that this distinction cannot be-
long to any one State. and we have pass
| ed il on as the priceless heritage of the
nation"
The pilgrimage down the Potomac was
| made on the Presidential yacht May
| flower. Cabinet ministers and members
| of the visiting commissions came to the
Navy Yard pier from church services,
| where they had heard God invoked to
bless the cause for which they are now
| hghting The PROV Of the Mayfiower
| swung away from the dock shortly after
! o'clock. The Marine Band struck UP
1.-THE stirring strains of the "MarseiIlaise"
as she pointed her nose down the river.
the Star Spangled Banner"
Heads Barred mt shrine.
1t was a subdued assembIage that
watched the green hills of Virginia slip
| by. All seemed overcome with the spirit
of the mission.
As the Mayhower reached the middle
Of the river opposite Mount Vernon, the
sweet call OF the bugle fioated forth.
| The crew came to smart attention
Heads were barred and while the ship
drifted slowly by the nations shrine, the
strains of The Star Spangled Banner
hoated out over the river to those who
were waiting there on the knoll.
The passengers were taken ashore in
launches. American officials paired of
with the visitors and walked slowly up
the long winding path that leads to the
tomb. The proceedings there were sim
pie. NJ. Vlviani started to talk, softly
at first his voice gathering in strength
as the emotions welled within him. With
barred and bowed heads his audience
heard tribute to Washington from his
| lips that will live long I'm the annals of
both France and America
| Sobs were heard from some of the
women as he finished There were tears
in many masculine eyes. Then he mo-
TONED for the two French orderlies who
had brought the simple wreath. Marshal
Joffre, the beloved Papa" Jofrre of the
poilus, stepped to his side, and the two
famous Frenchmen lifted the wreath,
stopped under the low arch and deposited
their burden on the stone receptacle that
holds the mortal remains of Americas
hero.
Mr.. Balfour was visfbly moved as he
stepped forward to add his tribute to
Washington. His voice quavered as he
spoke. At the conclusion, Lieut.. Gen.
Bridges stepped to his side, clad in the
olive drab field uniform of the British
army. Tenderly they lifted the bronze
palm branch, covered with lilies and oak
leaves. Intertwtned in the flowers were
small French, British and American
flags. STOPPING, they placed their me-
mortal, and quickly withdrew.
An hour was spent in showing the for
l VII ha
Then the party returned to the May
flower and the trip back to the capital
was begun.