Evening star., 1918-06-02
Under Fire Of Huns Cannon Paris vokes Her Patron Saint

ages has T. f,oekes to pray by her tomb
Great have been the professions OF
the reliQuary. great the litanies and the
collective supplications through the
ages! The history Of Paris Is fun OF
war. But I never thought to see any
thing like it.
Modern Paris seemed to have for
gotten.
The Pantheon was show place.
where you kept your hat on. Cooks
reading reading e the titles: ss The child
Gen-e-vie-ve marked with the divine
seal by st. Ger-main Of Aux-erre."
'"rhe pastoral life Of Gen-e-vie-ve.
She visits the sick.'s It seemed alto
gether literary and artistic.
1 remember a Philadelphia school
teacher who delighted In Puvia de
Chavannes and was impressed by the
severe and simple lines Of his last great
work: ''Genevieye. I'm her Old age.
der. aged figure stands on her walled
terrace overlooking the silent city. Il
is moonlight and the tones are neutral
grays and blues. The glorious OLD
maids profile is thin and Ot seemed
to me) placid.
'It reminds me of Whistler's portrait
Of his mother" said the tourist. yes"
replied companion critically. but
instead of her composure. there is a
sense Of anxiety"
Doubtless. she was right. Many good
folks. watching over Paris by night.
have felt a sense Of anxiety; and. right
at that moment. in the neighboring
Church of st. Etienne Genevieve. and
all that she represented was much
neglected. There might have been
fifteen candles burning round her
tomb. but surely there were not ten
persons present in mid-July. 1914.
We bought candle and an attendant
set it up and lit it for US. We looked
at the old jeweled reliquary.
'Is it gold?' inquired tourist.
Then we took a taxi to the Cluny
museum.
How different it was all. a few
weeks later-for the brusque incasion
and the battle of the Marine.
How different it is, again. today.
**
The church is black, with women in
black and middle-aged and elderly men
in black. The blue and khaki of allied
soldiers scarce light them up with color.
l saw a zouave, in faded blue and yell
low. lead up three strapping Americans.
Two had arms in sings and one limped.
A servant girl, in apron and with
market basket. and white moustached
club man in derby hat and silk lined
overcoat. rose and offered them seats
The multitude is black. Young wop;.-
en- in black stare reverently before
them. Elderly women in black read their
prayer books devoutly. Middle-aged
men in black look awkward. ashamed.
but resolute. Mothers and daughters
tell their beads diligently.
Outside, the crowds come in black
lines. The doorways are encumbered
by people seeking Genevieve post cards
and booklets Of ntanies and meditations.
Inside. a priest leads the ancient
litany:
Lord. have pity on us! Christ.
have pity on US! Heavenly Father
who art God. Son. Redeemer of the
world. who art God. Holy Spirit who
art God. Holy Trinity, one God. have
pity of us!"
Have pity Of us" rumbles the
multitude.
Again. catch the words Of the
leader:
Saint Mary. virgin. Mother of
God, Saint Genevieve, model of
prayer. of austerity. Of purity and all
the virtues. pray for us!"
And the crowd repeats:
pray for us!'
Boom,
The German 1ong-range cannon,
from afar of. drops another expIo-
sive shell on the city. Boom! The
kaiser at st. Gobain witches them
load and fire the colossal cannon.
And the litanies continue:
Saint Genevieve, model of resig-
nation. Of patience and all the vir-
tues. terror of the Huns, helper of
the besieged city. aid against famine
and invasion. pray forus. that God may
Ering us aid"'
Americans. these are things for you
to know and mediate. with reverent
high hearts.
Why?
Americans. we are the aid!
I have just returned from a long
trip. American troops and artillery
rush continually to the front All
over France the cities are full of
our reserves and material. Brand
new American railroads and telegraph
lines stretch inland from the ocean.
Everywhere, Americans. Americans.
Americans. we are the add
STERLING HEILIG.