Ripley County democrat., 1918-05-17
Five Hundred Little Children,
Refugees From Belgium,
Tramp Into Allied Village.
LED BY Ponu 1RUMPETERs
Worn by Hunger. Tired, All Sing Ma
tionaI Anthem--Blu Celebration At
EvIan for Them-Glad to
Escape Gernana

haps a little hysterical because worn
by the strain of three days on the train,
tramped joyously up the street, their
wooden sabots pattering triumphant
tattoo on the hard pavement, skipping,
some Of them, to the blare OF the
trumpeters who led the way. and cry
ing "Vive la France" at every welcom-
Ing tri-coior. They rushed up by doz-
ems to shake hands with anyone VINO
was on the street to see them at hve
O'Clock In the morning.
Each OF them was dressed In his or
| her Sunday best, and toting home
made pack. All the time the SIX old
ex-Poilus footed away on their trum-
pets as they led the bobbetty process
sion. II reminded one Of the Pied Pi-
Der who piped strange tunes In Hame-
| lin and led away all the village chill
dren when their elders refused to pay
him for Kidding the town Of Its rats.
These trumpeters were leading Bel
gian children to warm meal at
Eyian. Five hundred children, VINO
had left their mothers and fathers In
the land where food Is scarce. were
on their way to a big refuge in the old
| Chartreuse monastery at LIE Chandler.
There the Belgian government and the
| American Red Cross have fitted up 0
home for a thousand refugees.
Not Enough 10 Eat.
They were not orphans--just chill
dren who were not getting enough TO
eat. Back in Belgium Belgian COM
mittee had picked them out as under
nourished and asked their mothers TO
let them 90 to France, where wheat
and sugar are not too plenty. but
where the rations are more liberal
The commission for relief n Belgium
brought something to them 10 Bel
GUM, but, especially since the Ameri-
cans left, It had to be stretched Z long
way.
sArent you hungryy some one
asked one Of the Belgian children.
awhy, no." the ten-year-oid replied.
II ate yesteruhy
The tumpeters piioted them to the
Casino, where the women OF Nvian
had laid out a breakfast. Six or seven
children, too weak to stand the miles
walk. were carried In the big Ameri-
can Red Cross ambulances that trans
mort the old men and women week
days. when the trains bring In the
French repatriates.
There was q big celebration In the
Casino. The mayor Of Evian made Q
speech, but most Of the children were
obviously much too tired to try e
puxzle out his big words. They were
much more interested In the band
The band played ~The Savoyard'" tns
anthem of Evian's mountain province
and then 1t played the aBrabanconne.
the national hymn Of Belgium.
Those children stood up on the table
To applaud and wave their handker
chiefsl They knew 1t, every one Q
them, although they had not been q
lowed to sing It out loud for thre'
/. years Some Of them were 30 smal
that they must have learned II oenin'
closed phutters. on in corner half
tosen little girls joined hands AM
danced.
Too Tired for Candy.
y But they were tired out; there wer
I one or two who were too tired 70 ea
the candy placed beside them--an
& that Ia very tired. And In the middl
] of the second verse Of the "Brabar
come" one small son Of Belgium lai
his head on his arms and went
sleep. And before the 'Marseillaise
was sung there were sleepy lttl
groups, oblivious to the noise abor
them, at every table.
II was dark when they entered th
Casino much too dark for the pi'
lures that ought to have been take
Of them--and It was still very gra
twilight when they came out.
One or the American Red Cro'
: nurses who was helping care 4
them saw two little girls arguin
r
sleeplly about something or other.
"N'est-cs pasT the tinier Of the "
said as she came up. "Cest 10 matir
c'sst pas le soirYt-''It is mornin
Isn't III It's not EVENING""
Later. when the children were pas
ing the American Red Cross docto
| who examined them for contagio'
diseases. the nurse learned more. Z
cienne and Louise, sisters, came fro
| near Namur. Their father had work'
| In d Belgium factory until the Germa'
/ took II over; then be quit. He did n
l get enough to eat, and last winter
/ dled. Their mother worked In one
| the municipal Kitchens and made
| bare living 30. but not quite enough 1
| an three-so she sent them ont
| France to grow tat and happy viii
| she tolls on ii the soup kitchen.
/ Lncienne and Louise seemed . |
/ weepy as they told their story, but III
/ frightened quickly II Il always moi
| | inf II une b young enough. We
| going 10 rood friends, they 3
| nounced. 81
sDo you know where you are e0Ing
/ sNo,r they naid nut it's sure TO
/ 1lks tAi1 IA ihey'rs rolns q hs 70