Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-10-30
CONGRESS GREETS
BELGIAN ROYALTY
Senate and House Visited BY
.{ing Albert. Queen and
Crown Prince

Washington. oct. 2S-Both houses of
Congress paused in their work to-day to
greet the King of the Eaglans his con-
sort and their son. 1t was the first visit
of King to the capitol and the law
makers of the nation gave cordial well
cone to the democratic soldier-ruler Of
Europe's pluckicst li:tle state.
King Albert ia not given to long
sreeches. His addresses, first in the Senate
and then in the House. made scarcely six
hundred words but in them he gave the
American army credit for assuring vic
tory in the war. paid homage to the fallen
and extended his sympathy to the wound
ed. He expressed his admiration for the
United States. acknow edged the debt of
the makers of Be GUMS cons uton to
taose who framed that of this country,
predicted that the ties binding the two
nations never w uld be broken and offered
thanks 20 all the Americans who aided
his people in the war.
: There was little ceremonial in the visit
to Congress but there was no nistaking
the warmth of the greeting given the
royal Belgiahs and the earnestness OF the
King in his addresses was evident. The
galleries We're crowded although adj
mission was only by card and nearly all
the coming of His Majesty was an
nounced. Justices of the supreme Court,
senators and spectators rose and APP
plauded vigorously as the tai, erect
figure of the King strobe down the aisle
beside Senator Lodge. Behind him came
the Duke of Brabant escorted by Sena-
tor Hitchcock
King Albert was the central figure
later in the day in "A ceremony more
picturesque if less important than his
visit to the capitol. 1t was enacted in
the drawing room of the home OF
Breckenridge Long, where he is q
guest, when Secretary of War Baker
pinned upon his breast by direction OF
President wilson the American dis.
tinguished service medal.
PershinE. commander of Americas
forces in the field was there to greet
the leader of Relgiums armies.
Albert wore 20 decoration upon his
lieutenant generals uniform until tina,
of America was pinned there and tn,
only ribbon on Pershings tunic de-
noted the war eros sof Belgium.
| secretary Baker in brief address.
expressed the pleasure it gave him tt
decorate so brave a soldier and ther
read the citation which granted H.
; Majesty the medal in recognition o
distinguished and patriotic service
which he has rendered to the common
couse upon the fields of Europe"
Albert, trained from youth to hide his
motions, could not altogether dissem
Bile. He hesitated a moment, and his voice
trembled slightly as he voiced his appre
iation Of This medal worn by so man,
, ( distinguished soldiers"
Then turning to General Pershing, hi
added;
, II am pleased to roceive it in the pres
ence of tie COMMUNICATIVE CHEZ of thu
= American EXpedtionary Forces"
AS he ceased speaking he and Pershing
Z each animated by the same impulse
p stepped forward pace and clasped hands
4 silently, His Majesty half head tale
than the American cheftain but each o
them typlcally the soldier
The King. Queen ana their son were tn
guests at dinner tonight of Vice-Presi
\ dent and Mrs. Marshall.
In proposing a toast to the Presiden
of the United States, King Albert said
y "Siy first words VIII be to express Il
g the name OF the Queen and myself, 4
, the namo of the whole Belgian peopl
n our deep FEELINGS of regret at the lines
o Of President Wilson.
~ u form in tahe depth of my heart tn
wish that the illustrious President of tn
. United States may soon find his health
broken by his superhuman labors and s
precious to this country and to all hu
. manity, completely restored"