Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-04-05

luton to defend it. We asked him
what he intended to defend it with,
and he said, Of course, with the Garde
Civique. | permitted myself the lib
erty of pointing out to him the fulfill
ity of such course, saying that as an
open city Brussels was protected from
assault or bombardment by the con-
ventionS and rules of war, but that
the firing of a single shot in defense
would take it out of this category, and
that wholly insufficient as the garde
civique was that would mean not only
the sacrifice Of their lives but the lives
of citizens as well, and the destruction
of the beautiful monuments of thu
city. The marquis added his repre-
sensations to mine and we made them
as strongly as we could. Villalobar
and l speaking alternately, some
times, fear, in concert. NJ. Max lis
tened alphabetically, acquiescing in
all that we said-he knew it all, in
deed, as we'll as we-but he sighed,
shrugged his shoulders and raised
both hands in a gesture Of despair.
"C'est une question d'honneur," he
said. CIT is a question Of honor!")
l shall not forget how he looked
when he said this. Ny hopes fell.
But tried again.
"Mais," l said, I'll faut Sc rendre
compte des autres interets. Bruxelles.
nest pas votre settlement! II appar
tient au monde civilise. Pensez a
toutes vos oeuvres dart, ne sOnt-elles
pas precieuses? Est-ce que tout lc
monde ne sly interesse pas? Je parle
pour les autres, en- Europe, en- Amer
ique, partout, qui sen souviennent.
sen soucient on esperent les voir.
Nous sommes charges pour ainsi dire
des interests de Phumanite."
("But," l said, "one must take into
account other interests. Brussels is
not yours only. 1t belongs to the civil
lized world Think of all your works
of art; are they not precious? Isn't
everybody interested in them?
speak for the others, in Europe. il
America, everywhere, who remember
them. who care for them. or wish to
see them. We are charged, If | may
say so, with the interest of human
ity."
thought these words impressed
him; the marquis gave his assent and
the burgomaster listened, hesitated,
and then:
Que voulez-vous que je fasse?"
("What do you wish that do?"O
We pressed the point He said it
had been decided to defend the city
as far as the inner boulevards, and
smiled thinking of those gardes
civiques; their defense could not last
as far as the ring of inner boulevards
which enclose the old city. Both
Villalobar's and my legation would
be outside that charmed circle.
thought of that and M. Max evident
ly thought about it at the same mo-
ment, for he said he would place at
out disposal houses within these
boulevards. Small comfort in that!
l answered at once.
'Non merci, je esterai dams Ina le-
CATION" Ono, thank you. l shall
remain at my legation
eft moi aussi,' said Villalobar.
C"And so will ID
There was nothing more to say, but
We could not leave without repeating
what we had said, without renewing
our earnest entreaties.
While we we're talking Monsieur
Jacquemain, one Of the aldermen,
came INTO the IOOHl, very udTh dnu
grave and worried, and asked M. Max
solicitously if there was anything
more he could do for him, and NJ.
Max said No" and told him to go
They were intimate friends, those
two, and NJ Jacquemain's devotion
and loyalty to his chief were good TO
see in a world where loyalty is rare.
The burgomaster thanked us and
said he would consider our words.
We asked him if he was going home.
Non" he said, lie demeurerai lei.
Je ne quitteral pas mon Hotel de
Vile" Ono, l shall live here. l
will not leave my city hall.")
He spoke the mon" (''my'O af-
fectionately in the spirit of the old
free cities, and we came away very
sober, drawing what hopes We could
from Max's promise to consider our
words. We came away, too with
unbounded admiration for a man
who found himself suddenly in an
excessively difficult position.