Trench and camp., 1918-10-10

V0T enemies, an occasion for sur
pris1ng discoveries of all classes. good
an0 pad, little and great. But, unfor-
sunarely for us, the principal discov-
ery ana the happiest one will be that
OF America"
Inis striking statement prefaces en-
eiOQuent tribute to the United States
rom the brilliant pen of Henri Law
e0an' one OF the forty fmmortals of
tne French Academy. Lavedan's
comments on THE Second Discovery
oL america" Is at once an apprecia-
t.on and an apology. In setting forth
the good qualities France has found
~ ner Youngest ally, he Acknowledges
Witn characteristic 'frankness the al
mosL grotesQue conception of the Uni
tsu states that has existed even in the
nations which have liked and admired
Ine vigorous republic Of the Western
Worio. 1t was this misconcepticn
tnat caused France to wonder what
role America would play in the war
ana which led Germany to believe
Lnaf she could insult the American
GoVernment with impunity.
Europe's Misconception
All Europe, In Lavedan's opinion,
looked upon America as a nation of
money-grubbers who found relaxa-
tion from the fierce fight for dollars
Ia q pursuit Of bizarre amusements.
This country was to France a land OF
the pistol and the eccentric million
aire. II was the home OF emancipa-
ted young girls, or gaudily-clad
''cow-punchers," of lovers of con
ventions" that seemed ridiculous in
the eyes of the French, of men OF af-
fairs who gave their very souls to the
direction and operation of giant cor
porations and Of reckless adventures
eager to make fortune in any pos
sible manner. This estimate Of Amer
leans was based upon casual obser-
yatiOn Of travellers from the United
States and the curious failure of many
French writers to penetrate the
veneer and probe to the heart of a
people who still cherish deep-rooted
gratitude for assistance from France
when the American colonies were
fighting for liberty. 1t was a concep-
ton, however indulgent, that did not
prepare France for the tremendous
transformation that has taken place
In this country since Germany's inso-
lent and sneering defiance of our car
dinal rights precipitated the diver
gence Of national energy from peace
to war.
1.-THE storm does not know In the
evening what 1t will unchain in the
morning" writes Lavedan. "The
same thing applies to the setting up
Of certain great moral and social re-
lationships, where the, maker goes
further and higher than the original
intention, no matter how daring. The
architect American therefore, by rea-
son OF the sureness of his well-rea-
Goned plans does not doubt what the
future structure will be of which he Is
now laying the foundation. But 1t
will be much later-in after years, in
fact-that his grandchildren and ours
win be able to judge of the extent
and the dizzy height of the edifice
which he is erecting. For in this
sphere of activity, also, America will
''Scrape. the Skies"
aComforting Discovery
'sThough we are but the passionate
spectators of this extraordinary work,
we are nevertheless overwhelmed and
enthusiastic For naturally we are
interested more than the Americans
themselves at this enterprise of liber
alton resolved upon by our superb
friends. For is it not Immediately
for us that they, desiring to secure
their own and the liberty of the world,
have put their hands to this work?
This thought is of a nature to lead
us to endeavor to get some idea Of
their ways and the quality Of their
devotion. 1t is, therefore, in nothing
what the Americans are doing among
us that we can obtain that sure rev.
elation Of their noble character, since.
In the face of the terrible dangers
that menace us, America has~faken
this occasion to come to our rescue,
to show in all its freshness it's sense
of loyalty and fraternity. And it is
for us, therefore, in the presence of
this act, full of gratitude, to make !
the comforting discovery of just what
America means.
Therefore, we have become aware
from day to day of the sudden and
torrential abundance of the multi
nIied virtues of this dear comrade, |
this magnificent associate. For the
first time we have understood Amer
lea without the necessity of seeing it |
Mt home; we have gotten at it In a |
weII-documented manner, and we un-
derstand, through the spirit, the tre-
fnendous meaning Of its activities.
For this prodigious activity embraces
everything, and at the same time with
a c40aufic amnIftudo. the actual for