Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-08-27
tconeuusd from Last IssusJ


occurred when the Germans
ordered down the Belgian flag
everywhere a Belgian flag came
down an American flag went up II
was a beautiful tribute TO our
ideals. and a pretty compliment be-
sides. though not without its en-
barrassments and its dangers even.
for while the Germans said moth
ing. they did not altogether like Il,
and when their quick intuition ap-
pretended this the Belgians dis
pIayed American flags everywhere.
more and more until Brussels
looked as thought il had been deco
rated for the Fourth OF July. Le
Jeune. the barber. said 10 me one
day. speaking his French slowly
with the savory Brussels accent:
"Je vais m'acheter un drspeau
american" 81 must get an Amer
ican fIag-D
.Pourcuofg" / ask l"why?'N
Pour retaler a IA vitrine,. he re-
Piled C"To put in my window
Eft pourquoi voudriez vous etaler
le drzpeau n IA vitrine? land why
do you wish 10 put the American
flag in your Window
oh" he said. pour embeter les
AllGnAnuS- OAAs ~ @AAN -
Mans
Poor lie Jeune. He was terrible
against the Germans. yet always
hopeful; he always had the most
important information; the Cos
sacks were already Overrunning
Germany, and the allies were COM
ing in the spring, then he would
have his revenge.
l1Tu ar that time had
rather vague notions of American
holidays. though they know them
al now. and hearing that the four
teenth of February was St Nalen-
tines day, they seemed not TO have
associated il with the amiable saint
% that name. bat to have conciud-
ed that il was the American ma
tionzi holiday. And so, on the thir-
teenth. the CITY blossomed forth In
our colors, our flag was displayed
in the windows and people wore
the red. white and blue, and an
other shower Of cards fluttered
down at the legation door, with let
tiers. and flowers, and all sorts OF
pretty souvenirs. poems, banners
Valentines indeed
And then they learned that the
day was not the national holiday.
"A week went 0N anu NAAC
to my surprise, the commissary OF
police came to ask what arrange
ments we desired him to make for
the great festival OF Monday.
Ca sera quelque chose de colos-
sall" he exclaimed. with wide eyes.
fsIt will be an enormous AFFAIR."
/ looked at the calendar, and what
with troubles about the Japanese
legation, and the English colony, and
the arrest of British consuls, and
the status of our own consuls, and
the ''rzvitailIement." and merchant
at Liege who had offended the Ger
mans by printing a card with the
American flag and the Belgian flag
side by side. with some appropriate
sentiment. and difficulties incident TO
Germany's reply TO the presidents
notes about the submarine blockade,
and all the nervous feeling in the
air, 1 had forgotten that Monday
was washingtOn's birthday.
IL was all very touching, and yet
il made me nervous, for l feared
the possible effect upon the situa-
ton. already made difficult enough
BY the exchange of notes between
the American and GeEnan govern
ments. and so asked Gibson to see
NJ Lemonnier and TO explain the sit
uatfon 70 him. and while assuring
him OF our entire and grateful ap-
probation. to ask that there be no
demonstration The Burgomaster
made a public announcement Of my
desire and Washington-s birthday
davued-and almost the first thing
saw IN the morning was the COM
-rfssary OF police in white gloves.
very fine, with his sword. in front Of
the legation. managing the crowds
that came up the rue de TTeves-
They made a veritable procession
on our side OF the street; there were
scores OF passers-by going on. men
and women waiting patiently. TO say
rothfng of the German spies. The
little leaf at the door kept clicking
necessarily, and cards poured IN,
uoured in. with masses OF nowers.
great bouquets with our colors and
the Belgian coIors entwiued. and let
tiers from everybody, even from the
little children in the schools AND
there were crowds everywhere, along
the boulevard and the Avenue Lou
fse in the brilliant sun, and every
one wearing the American colors.
and little children playing with the
American fass. There were German
saotinels posted about. too. but that
NAV have been because some prince
was passing through. or for some
other military reason And the eve
ming came. and the day ended with
a visit from Madame Carton de
wharf and a hand Of children dress
ed as Indians. very charming,
The day. as we heard later, IN the
slow way in which news got about
Belgium, had not passed on so quiet
7t-I;iere. \ woman, who il seems
rad been authorized to do so ap-
r Deared on the streets selling ros-
xsrtes of the American colors and
little American flags, and was met
nv uou-coumissione5 officer. who
tore her coIors from her and threw
them on the ground. And imme-
dfateIy there was almost a riot and
the German troops were ordered out.
they cleared The streets. made some
arrests and forbade the wearing or
the American colors- Thereupon
the kornuandant telephoned to Brus-
sells and was told that he had made
a terrible cafe" and that il must
oe atoned at once. Then the kom-
rnandant sent for the bUrgomaster,
who. Door man. went TO :hc kOm-
ruandantur thinking there was
trouble In store for him. but the
kor1maudant was exceptionally pO-
lite, delighed 10 see him. called bin
ny dear burEomaster." and, in a
word. fawued where he had frOwneo
Re asked the bursomaster to return
the letter he had written forbid
ding the wearing Of the American
flag. told him that he might row
wear il, even pinned one on The
breast OF the burgomaster himself.