New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-11-22
BARONESS TELLS OF
Won KLUCk'S sweep
Hundreds Unable to Gain Admit
lance to South Church

While hundreds of people packed
| the South Congregational church to
| its capacity and while hundreds Of
! others unable to secure seats, stood in
the aisles and crowded in the CALLER
les, Baroness Frances Wilson Huard
of France last evening related her
personal experiences as she fed from
her chateau from the on-rushing Ger
mans under the leadership of General
Won Kluck. Her descriptions of the
atrocious acts of the Germans and
the narrowing details of the Battle
of the Marine of which she was an eye
witness, kept her large audience In a
high pitch of excitement throughout
her stirring address. Using her voice
In manner which stamps her as an
eloquent speaker Baroness Huard SO
moved her listeners that at times
many wept and then again few
minutes later loud bursts of applause
could be heard when reference was
made to some valiant deed.
During the greater part of her ad-
dress, the audience sat in darkness, as
stereopticon views, taken by the bar
oness, were flashed upon a screen.
Losing her beautiful chateau and
giving up a life of comfort and ease
the baroness was forced to travel on
foot, to take refuge from the Huns
Two hours after she abandoned her
home, it was taken possession of by
General Won Kluck and his staff. How
women and children, ranging from the
ages of 10 to IS years, were ill-treared
by the Huns and how the country
was devastated, was told by the
speaker.
Baroness Huard was dressed in
black and her voice rang at times with
patriotism and then pathos and SYM
pathy, every person in the audience
was moved. When plea was made
for raising a fund to help alleviate the
sufferings of the wounded in France
not a single person evaded doing his
bit.
The church was decorated with flags
of all the allies and the High School
Liberty Cirrus, under the leadership
of Prof. Matthews, sang patriotic airs
A sum which is estimated the
largest collected for the Red Cross at
any single function, was secured.
Baroness Huard is the daughter of
Francis Wilson, the famous actor Her
husband, who has gained consider
able fame as an artist, is now in
France in a preCarlOuS COndltlOn nav
ing been wounded in battle. While
fighting at the front Baron Huard,
who is ma artist during his leisure
m oments painted many interesting
pictures. These were exhibited by his
wife last evening.
Draws Money From Bank.
Baroness Huard began her address |
by saying that she was American |
by birth and French by education and |
marriage. Her adventures in the now !
frontiers of France began |
in July, 1914, when diplomatic rela- |
tions were broken with Germany. She
was at that time residing in her cha
teau with her husband which was SIT
uated but a few miles from the River
Marine.
Up to the time when diplomatic re-
lations were broken. the mere mention
of the fact that France would soon be
In war caused laughter. Even after
relations were severed many believed
that it was only temporary and that
the situation was not serious.
A captain of the French reserves
advised Baroness Huard to withdraw
her money from the bank and to flee
from the vicinity. The next day while
eounterino- leisurelv bv the bank, Bar