Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-08-15
The Chautauqua Thursday..


usual was present and a most en-
joyable session was held.
Following the announcements for
the afternoon, Delightful" Dorothy
Halstead was introduced for the pre-
Jude hour. She really needed no in
PRODUCTION as she has before visited
our little city and it was treat to
hear her again. Her readings witty
sketches and musical skits and solos
were thoroughly enjoyed. The re-
mainder Of the afternoon was given
over to Lorenzo Zwickey, a Swiss
Canadian artist-entertainer. Dur
his recital of "The Legend of Peace
full Valley" he drew vivid pictures of
each scene and the brilliant coloring
in them was most beautiful and true.
Throughout the painting of these
pictures the entertainer told stories,
gave witty sayings ever keeping up
a rapid flow Of talk. Among his
subjects were the codes Of the Sea-
son." and "Uncle Sis Visit to New
York City," At the close of this
delightful hour the peaceful valley
Of his story had changed into troubled
times and the appearance of war has
came. With this he painted battle
ship while Mrs. Guy Smith of this
city, played a patriotic selection on
the piano. The afternoon closed
with "Tenting Tonight on the Old
Camp Ground" and while this last
drawing was being executed by the
able artist, a double quartet of local
talent sang the song making an ideal
picture which was ever true to life.
Evening Program.
Miss Dorothy Halstead opened the
evening program last evening in her
usual winning manner and her read
ings and musical numbers were much
better than in the afternoon although
they were very good. Her famous
suffragette speech nearly made the
immense crowd in attendance hyster-
ical from laughter.
After an hour of fun Supt. Meier
with a few gracious remarks intro
duced the speaker of the evening,
Miss Marie Van Gastel, the Belgium
Red Cross Nurse. This young lady
is Tar beyond the usual type of speak
ers we have met as her mission here
is not as an entertainer but to tell
the story of her beloved little Bel
GUM, as she termed it. Her opening
remarks were to express the thanks
she felt for the many kindnesses dur
ing her brief visit here and also her
appreciation for the members of the
local Red Cross turning out in a
body last evening to meet her. She
said it indeed gave her added inspira-
ton and new strength for the ordeal
Of the evening in going over the
saddened scenes of which she passed
through during the beginning Of the
war in Belgium.
She was attending college when
the Huns invaded her little country
and she, with several friends, i'm
mediately offered their services as
volunteer nurses. None of them had
had previous experience as nurses
but they soon learned what was re-
quired Of them.
She told many narrowing tales of
the atrocities committed on her little
country by the barbarous Huns, many
Of the incidents she witnessed herself
and all of them from the lips of the
sufferers themselves. She saw MANY
die for want of proper surgical needs,
old men brutally shot down because
they dared try to protect their homes
and loved ones, young children killed
for the amusement of the beasts of
Berlin.
She was stationed in clearing
hospital in Antwerp until the city
was bombarded when they had to
leave so hurridly that man partially
under an anaesthetic had to be left
where he was. At the same time
she had to abandon her aged parents
in Antwerp and from that day to
this she has never heard one word
from them.
She was placed in charge of fif-
teen hundred wounded Belgian sold
iers and as the Germans advanced
they were driven further and fur
ther toward the ocean until there was
no other place to retreat and they
were taken to England. Here she
had to give up her soldiers as vol
unteer nurse could not work.
Finally without friends and with
out money she came to the United
States and has been here ever since.
Miss Van Gastel has very pleas
ing personality and she impresses her
hearers with her sincerity. Her APP
peal for America to wake up and as
sist the Red Cross and all war
movements was the strongest heard
from the local platform. Many a
heart was beating faster after hear
ing that talk and, no doubt, many
men and women resolved to do more
work in all war lines from this time
foreward. Such talks do a world of