Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-15
TOUCHING TRIBUTE PAID
AMERICAN IN BELGIUM
Sister In Convent Praises Work
Done by Man From the
Setting Sun.
WARM WELCOME EXTENDED
Simple Folk Are Awaken to Pray
crs With the Roar OF Heavy Guns
and Crackle OF. Rapid-Fircrs IN
Their Ears
WARM WELCOME EXTENDED

BELGIAN HEADQUARTERS. Deem
Der I3.-An incident, small enough In
itself. but speaking volumes. occurred
a few days ago in the Convent OF st:
the little Belgian i" village is u Of Waep
school. north OF Client. The characters
concerned in the circumstance were $50
sisters OF the conyent-whom we may
consider collectively as one. for they
are all cast in the same ecclesiastical
mould-and an American correspond
ent.
The town OF Waerschoot had been
evacuated by the Germans at S o'clock
In the morning; the American corre-
Sp1ndnn' oo Wi.h his military aosom
hamlet. biossoming Belgian flags from
every window. at noon. II truth be
diligently Than he was news. break
i ias in, in Bruges his temporary abid-
Character. DR. Lepage. one Of the.
most famous surge ous In Belgium and
Tell-Rnown, in our own country. SUD
tering angel He hailed from his auto
10 say he had \ modest, luncheon In
PREPARATION az the convent; two extra
very grateful Belgian lieutenant
and an. American correspondent who
had only dim memory of how ham
and eggs simmcring on scorching
plate stand at the portals of Paradise,
accompanied by DIR. LepaSe TO the con-
r reom y bass in ,, sexerely Furnished
chromeS OF ascetic >ecclesiastics. OF an
elder day, the two hidden guests
with fine Flemish linen Each time
she opened the door a ravishing odnr
or apple sauce with hint of onion
IriIs 80 ~ - SENSITIVE nos
The mother superior OF the convent
entered to pay her respects TO the dis
1nnsuished surgeon and his guests.
Flemish which brought a swift light
or SO after the door closed behind her
dining room, followed by the SUM-
sun Of many slippered. feet. Perhaps
hve minutes passed before sister en-
tered and whispered something in DIR.
Lepages ear With u curious twinkle
Of humor in his eyes the colonel OF
the medical STAFF addressed the CORE
spondent:
You will please follow me. There
is somebody to see You"
The bewildered newspaper man
ooeYed. pr Lepage laid his hand upon
doorknoh and warned with II cnuckie:
This will be trying experience. but
remember YOU are an American-the
nrst American. TO come to Wacrschoot
in four years"
Saying which. he opened the door
and ushered the correspondent into
row upon row. sat black coired sis.
ters-l60 of them, the whole personnel
OF the convent When the falterinE
American. stepped into the room ali
arose and there was burst OF hand
ciappinS. Every face was lighted with
a smile OF the warmest welcome and
in many eyes the bewildered reporter
read sheer, chld-like wonderment.
What the correspondent, felt called
upon 10. say i'm lmpins French is
neither here nor there. But here is
the meat in this little tale:
These simple folk had awakened tn
prayers that morning with the roar
OK heavy guns and the crackle OF rapid
nrers in their ears. Then they had sent
the last Of the detested Boche running
ana knew they were freed OF four
years bondage. The marvel OF the in
coming belgian cavalry was still fresh
ior these sisters when another miracle
was added. Out OF nowhere appeared
Que who claimed as his the great.
n,ie!' perhaps mythical
sustain telgicm during her four weary
years of travail.
the tribute OF these simple hearts
statesmen.