The sun., 1919-03-23
DR., VAN DYKE GETS
FRENCH DECORATION
Legion Of Honor Cross Is
Awarded for "LabOrs
for Liberty"
ADOPT TOWNS, HE SAYS
Alexander j. Hemphill Also
Receives Official Tribute
From France.
ADOPT TOWNS, HE SAYS

Henry van Dyke. who besides having
been Ambassador to Holland during the
early days of tho war Is q director of
the Societe des villages Liberes, which
was organize by Miss Belle Skinner to
aid in the rebuilding of devastated
France, was decorated with the cross OF
commander Of the Legion OF Honor at
a meeting of the Societe at the Hotel
Biltmore yesterday. DR.. van Dyke
looked as pleased as child as Major
Alexander Carrel, commander of the
legion, hung the glittering cross on its
broad red ribbon around his neck, and
soon as the ceremonies were over he
was heard seeking the expert advice OF
Marcel Knecht and other Frenchmen as
to what button he should wear with 1t.
I'D like to wear 1t all the time he
said. But I won't sport II in the
street-just wear 1t on festive occasions.
you know"
To Major Carrel he made formal
response of gratitude. in the course Of
which he declared himself in favor of
q League of Nations to enforce peace
tuition of the United States-and 1 do
not believe" he added. that the pres
snt one Ia against it."
Pays Tribute to France.
Tho doctor confessed that he really
didn't know exactly what to say about
the Cross, but he supposed he might take
II as an outward and visible sign Of some
inward and spiritual grace which he
should try to wear near his heart,
where I have always worn the name OF
France," he told the representatives of
that country. To the French. he said
-, IA
gratitude for their marvellous resistance
to the Boche in the battle Of the Marine
'.They saved the world for mankind =
he observed, land I suppose we are
mankind. though some Of our Senators
seem to forget it."
In praising Miss Skinner for her work
and that of her colleagues OF the Societe
des Villages Liberes. DR.. van Dyke said
he did wish that American cities would
adopt the devastated towns of France
each city taking some special town and
restoring II.
I'm not in favor of abstract. highly
organized charity" he said. 81 like con-
crete help. New York should begin by
adopting Verdun. / have been in Yer
dun before the war. when she was {
prosperous, happy city OF 10000 souls
Now doubt IL such ruins as the Bocht
has left at Verdun would shelter 1000
persons. I'd like to see New York as
sumo the duty Of restoring Verdun, tn,
scene. Of such heroic sacrifices on thu
part Of the French, and then I'd like t,
zee other American cities follow suit, ant
not just out of ancient gratitude to La
fayette: it would be to our interest Il
forward the stability and good fortune!
Of France.
France must be restored and France
must have adequate frontiers. Let III
not make the mistake again of 1870, anC
leave France at the mercy of the Hun
France must have not merely Alsac'
and Lorraine--that Is but a simple gar
den variety OF justice-but France mus
have frontier by which she can defent
herself Either the Rhine must mari
the boundary or there must be buffe
state. Never again must France be LEI
open to those outrages the effect OF whicl
those who have not seen the desolate
regions can never realize, sympatheti
though they may be-"
Labors for Liberty.
Major Carrel. in presenting the eros
to DIR. van Dyke, told him that Franc
looked on him as one of the worthless
representatives of the Mayfower.
''France" he said, remembers no
only your Enthusiastically in Holland
close to the battleflelds, and your labor
Tor liberty dItcT you Tetuineu u III
United States, when because OF your In
auence America gfasped more quick
her imperious duty and declared war
France recalls your earlier visits to he
shores when you came as the official mis-
sionary Of the University of Princeton
You were the precursor Of another grea
missionary of your colleagues. forme
president of Princeton. your friend. Pres
ident Wilson, who is endeavoring wit
Nj he nth n Hff4C
a lust and lasting peace. In the nam
of the President of the French Republi
am proud to confer upon you the eros
of commander of the Legion of Honor.
DR.. Van Dyke wasn't the only or
who got a decoration yesterday. Majo
Carrel pinned another one on the brea!
Of Alexander ]. Hemphill, chairman {
the Guaranty Trust Company, who
treasurer of the Societe des Village
There's. Mr.. Hemphill didn't make
speech, probably rejecting that as