The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-11
Keilmann Tells of
Visit to Great Tomb.
Reverence Is Maintained by ALI
| Soldiers of Allies.
FRENCHMEN COULD NOT ENTER
But Porter Opened the Gates
for "Our Brave AIlies.o
Well Contained Symbol OF
French Chivalry and Glory.
BY EARL D. KEILMANN.


Lieutenant American c. A. C.. In France,
now back in Kansas)
Suddenly, l realized that only my
footsteps were making the echoes that
resounded from the dome far over
bead I paused in my eager advance
toward the low wall that surrounded
the well in which lay that which 1 was
about to see. The final overcoming
of all obstacles had made me forget
myself. Abashed, 1 turned about
looking for my companions.
They stood there, straight, with up-
turned faces, those four enlisted men
from Australia and their hats worn
so Jauntily but moment before were
in their hands. The tallest, a sergeant,
held his pressed to his breast Off
came my stiff brimmed. American
campaign hat and once more 1 turned
about. This time lest my compa MONS
read in my face the shame 1 felt, at
my typical American irreverence.
Far overhead. a vast dome filtered
the soft light of winters afternoon.
down thru countless flags, banners
and pennants, the trophy of many
field of honor. The light played in
gloomy splendor over the mosaic floor
that surrounded the well that con-
tanned the symbol of the honor, chiv-
airy and glory of France.
On common impulse we tiptoed into
line along the wall and gazed down
at the gigantic block of carven and
polished porphyry resting on a dais
raised from the bottom of the we'll
Within this block of blood red stone
lay the body of Napoleon Bonaparte.
We were aliens. We were representa-
tives of fighting armies from other
shores, yet somehow we felt that here
lay embodied and typified the ideals
that ourselves and our absent COM
rades were striving for. No one spoke
and one of the Anzac, evidently of
the Catholic faith, after looking for a
moment bowed his head and crossed
himself. His lips moved silently as
he did so.
Could Not Refuse Allies.
Slowly we lifted our eyes and tho
we then saw altar the grandeur of
which was unsurpassed in any of the
cathedrals of all France, our feelings
of awe and reverence were not height
ened. The structure was tall and i'm
posing, decorated with deep rich carv-
ings and covering all the soft golden
glow shed upon it by the orange panes
OF the high windows that surrounded
it.
Our eyes Toasted we turned away
and almost fell over the porter who
with a pail of dirty water was scrub
bling the mosaic floor. He arose and
scuttled to the iron grill that led to
the street without. Using a key that
must have weighed two pounds he
opened the grill and first going out
himself he motioned US to follow him.
1t had been my third attempt to
see the tomb of the great Corsican.
Since the war started, the place is
open to visitors only once in a while
and the two other times had not been
visitors days. Neither was this.
was in the rear of the party and as
passed the party the porter pressed
som ething into my hand. 1t was the
five franc bill with which he had been
bribed. Gaining the outer air we ran
full tilt into a party of French officers
who started to enter the building.
"Mais non, mais non," said the
porter, sit is not visitors day.
But those others?'
"Ah. but they are our brave allies,
could not refuse them"