The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-03-08
Five Hundred Little Children,
Refugees From Belgium,
Tramp Into Allied Village.
LED BY pOILU TRUMpETERs
Worn by Hunger, Tired, All Sing Ma
tionaI Anthem-Biu Celebration at
Evian for Them-Glad to
Escape Germans.

haps a little hysterical because worn
by the strain of three days on the train,
tramped joyously up the street, their
wooden sabots pattering a triumphant
tattoo on the hard pavement, skipping,
some Of them. to the blare of h
trumpeters who led the way, and cry
ing "vive la France" at every welcom-
ing tri-color. They rushed up by doz-
ems to shake hands with anyone who
was on the street to see them at 1--we
o'clock In the morning.
Each of them was dressed In his or
her Sunday best, and toting a home
made pack. All the time the six old
ex-Poilus footed away on their trum-
pets 40 they led the bobbetty process
sion. II reminded one of the Pied Pr
per who piped strange tunes In Hame-
lin and led away all the village chill
dren when their elders refused to pay
him for Kidding the town Of Its rats.
These trumpeters were leading Bel
gian children to q warm meal at
Evian. Five hundred children, who
had left their mothers and fathers In
the land where food is scarce. were
on their way to a big refuge in the old
Chartreuse monastery at LIE Chandler.
There the Belgian government and the
American Red Cross have fitted up Il
home for a thousand refugees.
Not Enough to Eat.
They were not orphans-just chill
dren who were not getting enough to
eat. Back In Belgium a Belgian com-
mittee had picked them u as under
nourished and asked their mothers to
let them 90 to France, where wheat
and sugar are not too plenty, but
where the rations are more liberal.
The commission for relief In Belgium
brought something to them In Bel
sium, but, especially since the Ameri-
cans left, II had to be stretched a long
way.
Aren't you hungry" some n
asked one of the Belgian children.
"why, no." the ~ten-year-old replied.
II ate yesterday"
The trumpeters piloted them to the
Casino. where the women of Evian
had laid out a breakfast. Six or seven
children. too weak to stand the miles
walk. were carried In the big Ameri-
can Red Cross ambulances that trans
port the old men and women week
days, when the trains bring In the
French re~patriates.
There was a big celebration In h
Casino. The mayor of Evian made a
speech, but most Of the children were
obviously much too tired to try to
puzzle out his big words. They were
much more interested in the band.
The band played "The Savoyard," the
anthem Of EVANS mountain province,
and then It played the "Brabanconpe."
the national hymn of Belgium.
Those children stood up on the tables
to applaud and wave their handker-
chiefsI They knew IT, every one of
them, although they had not been al
lowed to sing 1t out loud for three
wears. Some Of them were so small
that they must have learned 1t behind
closed shutters. on In a corner half a
dosen little girls Joined hands and
danced.
Too Tired for Candy.
But they were tired out there were
one or two who were too tired to eat
the candy placed beside them-and
that Ia very tired. And In the middle
OF the second verse of the "Braban-
conne," one small son of Belgium laid
his head on his arms and went to
sleep. And before the "Marseillaise"
was sung there were sleepy little
groups, Obvious to the noise about
them. at every table.
It was dark when they entered the
Caano-much too dark for the pic
lures that ought to have been taken
Of them-and 1t was still very gray
twilight when they came out.
One OF the American Red Cross
nurses who was helping care for
them saw two little girls arguing
sleepily about something or other.
sfPest-ce pasf' the timer Of the two
81 AZ she came up. "C'est lie matin;
caest pas lie soirT"-sIt is morning,
iun't 1T It's not EVENING""
Later. when the children were pass
~ the American Red Cross doctor,
wno examined them for contagious
d1Deases, the nurse learned more. Luz
elenne and Louise, sisters, came from
near Namur. Their father had worked
IN = Belgian factory until the Germans
took It over then ne quit. He did not
ut enough to eat, and last winter he
did. Their mother worked In one of
IN municipal Kitchens and made a
hare living 70, but not quite enough for
~ three--so she sent them out to
france to grow fat and happy while
RE tolls on In the soup kitchen.
Lucienne and Louise seemed a bit
woepy ~ they told their story, but they
heightened quickly. It II always morn
- II one Is young enough. "We're
Cng to good friends" they an
61onced.
DO Jon know where you are going7 r.
No." they said hut It's sure to be
- this. and they're going to be good
f111n0as