The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-03-27
Five Hundred Little Children,
Refugees From Belgium,
Tramp Into Allied Village.
LED BY P0lU TRUMPETERs
Worn by Hunger, Tired, All Sing Ma.
tionaI Anthem-Big Celebration at
Evian for Them-GIad to
Escape Germans.

| EVldu-loS-DdluS.- uuuuIcu III
i tie children, trifle tired-lOOking, pei
haps little hysterical because worl
by the strain Of three days on the train
tramped joyously up the street, thei
wooden sabots pattering triumphan
tattoo on the hard pavement, skipping
some Of them, to the blare Of thu
trumpeters who led the way, and cry
ing "Vive la France" at every WELDON
ing tri-color. They rushed up by doz
| ems to shake hands with anyone WHIT
was on the street to see them at FIVE
| o'clock in the morning.
Each of them was dressed in his OF
her Sunday best, and toting a home
made pack. All the time the six ole
ex-Poilus footed away on their trum
pets as they led the. bobbetty process
sion. 1t reminded one of the Pied Pi
per 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
ENldu. tive nQuQIC GU Cllllu1 Cn, WIN
had left their mothers and fathers in
the land where food Is scarce, were
on their way to big refuge in the old
Chartreuse monastery at LIE Chandler.
There the Belgian government and the
American Red Cross have fitted up a
home for thousand refugees.
Not Enough to 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 go to France, where wheat
and sugar are not too plenty, but
where the rations are more LIBERAL
The commission for relief in Belgium
brought something to them In Bel
GUM, but, especially since the Ameri-
cans left, it had to be stretched long
way.
aren't you hungry'?' some one
asked one of the Belgian children.
"Why, no." the ten-year-old replied.
81 ate yesterday"
The trumpeters piloted them to the
Casino, where the women of Evian
had laid out breakfast. Six or seven
children, too weak to stand the miles
walk, were carried in the big Ameri-
can Red Cross ambulances that trans
port the old men and women week
days, when the trains bring in the
French repatriates.
There was big celebration in the
Casino. The mayor. of Evian made a
speech, but most Of the children were
obviously much too tired to try to
puzzle out his big words. They were
much more interested in the band.
The band played "The Savoyard," the
anthem of EVANS mountain province,
and then it played the ''Brabanconne,
the national hymn of Belgium.
Those children stood up on the tables
to applaud and wave their handker-
chiefs They knew it, every one Of
them, although they had not been al
lowed to sing it out loud for three
years. Some Of them were SO small
that they must have learned it behind
closed shutters. Off in corner half a
1ozen little girls joined hands and
danced.
Too Tired for Candy.
But they were tired out; there were
)ne or two who were too tired to eat
he candy placed beside them-and
hat is very tired. And in the middle
If the second verse of the "Braban-
,onne," one small son of Belgium laid
lis head on his arms and went to
sleep. And before the "Marseillaise"
vas sung there were sleepy little
obliyious to the noise about
hem, at every table.
1t was dark when they entered the
Jasino-much too dark for the pic
ures that ought to have been taken |
# them-and it was still very gray |
wilight when they came out.
One of the American Red Cross
nurses who was helping care for |
hem saw two little girls arguing |
leepily about something or other.
"N'est-ce pas?" the timer Of the two
aid as she came up. "C'est lie matin;
'est pas lie soir?"-'It is morning,
sn't it? It's not EVENING""
Later, when the children were pass
ng the American Red Cross doctor,
1ho examined them for contagious
iseases, the nurse learned more. Lu-
ienne and Louise, sisters, came from
ear Namur. Their father had worked
4 Belgian factory until the Germans
ook it over; then he quit. He did not
ct enough to eat, and last winter he
led. Their mother worked in one of
he municipal kitchens and made a
are living so, but not quite enough for
II three-so she sent them out to
rance to grow fat and happy while
he tolls on in the soup kitchen.
Lucienne and Louise seemed a bit
'eepy as they told their story, but they
frightened quickly. 1t is always morn
lg If one is young enough. Were
Ding to good friends" they an
Ounced.
do you know where you are going?"
mo-" they said; "but it's sure to be
Ike this, and they're going to be good