Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-10-27
Mr.. AND MRS. HENRY
FIRST TO GREET KING
Belgian Ruler, Queen and
Prince acknowledge Vel
come GrdciouSly

First to greet King Albert and the
royal party after they had been
welcomed by the Mayor were Mr..
and Mrs. Bayard Henry. Mrs, Henry
heads the Belgian relief committee in
this city. She had been previously
decorated by the king for her great
service to Belgium. Mr.. Henry then
accompanied the young duke.
Then the other members of the com,
mittee were introduced to the royal
party. The king and queen and the
heir apparent acknowledged the greet
ings graciously. All We're smiling.
Frequently the king would look out
over the station, his eyes caught by
futtering Belgian flags that few to the
breezes from homes opposite the sta
ton.
When the formality incidents to the
introductions were ended, little girl.
dressed in red, white and blue. edged
her way to the king. In her hand she
held photograph of a soldier in uni
form.
"Please. King Albert" said the little
girl. accept this picture of my brother
soldier in the American army who
was killed on the battlefelds of Bel
GUM"
King Accepts Photo
The king. smiling, took the photo
graph and glanced at the soldier
Hes one of three brothers who went
to the front and fought against the Ger
mans" the little girl added
"What your name|' asked the king
I'm Elsie Plunkett and I live at
3241 North Front street" replied the
girl. MY brother John was in the
Canadian army and a third brother:
i William, was in the 515th Infantry.
The boy whose picture you have was
killed while fighting in Belgium"
The king thanked the little girl.
Then he turned over the photograph
and on the reverse side read
ITO King Albert and his Queen.
This boy, Benjamin Plunkett, was in
the Thirty seventh Division, United
States Army, ana gave his life in the
Belgian battlehelds
? Tears In Kings Eyes
Those nearest the king noticed tears
in his eyes. He handed the picture tC
Queen Elizabeth, who smiled at tho
J girl. Then he said:
II shall always keep this picture al
one of my fondest mementoes."
Then he patted the girl on the heaC
and she disappeared, smiling, into th'
crowd.
I Others. not in the receiving party
who greeted the king. were Mrs. l.. T
Banks, of 1862 Martin street, who is
niece of General Blanchard, of the Bel
gian army, and Mrs. Percy Sanderson
a Belgian girl, who was married to a.
American soldier from this city.
| Thesroyal party, headed by the kin
and the Mayor, then started towar
the station platform leading to tn
driveway that enters directly from tn
street,
l On the lawn outside the station tn
police band was lined up. At sight q
the king, followed closely by the quee
and the young prince, the band starte
the Belgian national anthem,
The king stood at attention, as di
the prince. The queen, too, stood mo
tionless. The king was in his full uni
| form as commander in chief of the Bel
gian army. With his hand raised
his cap he made a notable figure.
III Play Bergian Hymn
Iii There was, during the playing Of th
lanthem, an impressive silence over th
= \ great crowd that gathered about III
!, ,1 station Hats were doEfed Flags weI
( ~ so1afk and fhsre could bo bear