The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1918-12-13
TOUCHING TRIBUTE PAID TO
AMERICAN BY SISTERS m
A BELGIAN CONVENT

! (By Mail, Delayed)-A incident.
small enough in itself, but speaking
volumes, occurred few days ago in
the convent of ST Vincent de Paul
on the outskirts of the little Belgian
village of Waerschoot, north of Client.
The characters concerned in the cir
cumstance were 100 sisters of the
cOnvent-whOm we may consider col
lectively as one, for they are all cast
in the same ecclesiastical mold-and
an American correspondent.
The town of Waerschoot had been
evacuated by the Germans at 5
O'Clock in the morning; the American
cores ondent with mis- military ac-
companying officer, motored into the
little hamlet. blossoming Belgian
| flags from every window, at noon II
truth De told, the correspondent al
that hour was seeking something TO
eat far more diligently than he was
news, breakfasts in Bruges. his
temporary abiding place. being dis
tinctly sketchy in character. DR. lie
page, one Of the most famous sur
geons in Belgium and we'll anown in
our own country, suddenly appeared
N the role Of the ministering angel
He hailed from his anto to say that
ne had a modest lunch in preparation
at the convent; two extra plates
could be laid without any trouble.
A very grateful Belgian lieutenant
and an American correspondent whoi
had only q dim memory OF how ham
and eggs simmering on a scorching
plate stands at the portals of Para
disc, accompanied Dr. Lepage to the
convent. There is a severely furnish |
ed room, whose walls were hung with
GhrOmOs of ascetic ecclesiastics Of an |
elder day the two hidden guests
Watched an elderly sister lay a table
with fine Flemish linen. Each time
she opened the door q ravishing odor
of apple sauce with a hint OF onion
soup was waited in TO sensitive nos.
trils.
The mother superior Of the convent
entered to pay her respects to the
distinguished surgeon and ms guests.
To her Dr. Lepage said something in
Flemish, which brought a swift light
of interest to her eyes. A minute
or so after the door closed behind her
a bell sounded in the hall beyond the
dining room, followed by the suff-
stuff of many slippered feet. Perhaps
FIVE minutes passed before a sister
entered and whispered something in
DR.. Lepag's ear With a curious twin
kle Of humor in his eyes the colonel
of the medical staff addressed the
You will please follow me. There,
is somebody to see you"
The bewildered newspaper man
obeyed Dr. Lepage laid MS hand
upon d d0orknob and warned with d
chuckle: This viii be trying ex-
perience. but remember you are an
American-the first American to
come to Waerschoot in four years.
Saying which, ne opened the door
and usheerd the CORES pondent into
the converts assembly room There,
row upon row, sat black-coifed sisters.
I60 Of them, the whole personnel of
the convent. When the faltering Am
aricau stepped into the room al arose
and there was a burst Of handicap
ping. Every face was lighted with 2
smile Of the warmest welcome and IN
many eyes the bewildered reporter
read sheer chiId-hke wonderment
What the correspondent felt called
lpon 70 say il limping French IS
1eother here nor there But here is
he meat in this little tale
These simple folks had awakened
o prayers that morning with the roar
# heavy gun and the crackIe Of rapid
irers in their ears Then they had
seen the last of the detested boches
unning and knew that they were
reed of four years bondage The
marvel Of the incoming Belgian cav
Try was still fresh for these sisters
when another miracle was added Quit
# nowhere appeared one who claimed
IS mis- the great. bOunteous- and per
laps mythical-cOuntry which had
lone so much to sustain Belgium dur
ng her four weary years Of travail (
The tribute of these simple hearts !
vas weightier than ali the eulogies
If statesmen Il