The Washington times., 1920-06-16
(Cestiasel from Yesterday


Admiral Long told me that King
Albert was very fond OF dying. and
seemed to have no sense OF fear
whatever. In q recent night in
seaplsne, he had asked the pilot to
do some very dangerous stunts. Sea
planes are not meant for stunting.
for they are much heavier than
landplanes and differently balanced.
the engine being over the passen-
gers instead OF in front OF them.
The pilot realized all this, knew the
danger involved and did not want
10 take the risk. but the King had
asked II. and he felt that he must
obey the royal wish at any cost, so
stunt he did. Fortunately, every
thing went we'll. and his passenger
seemed to enjoy it thoroughly.
While they were on Long Island.
the admiral said. his majesty had
been given a very fast car to drive.
and made the most OF the opportu-
nifty by his breakneck speeding.
In manner the King Is simple, un-
affected, and genuine. III he had
not been born a prince he could
have been an engineer, for he has a
natural bent in that direction. I'm
like his keen and business-like
uncle. the late King Leopold, Albert
is a deliberate thinker, one who
patiently studies things out and
taxes his time about reaching con-
clusions. This quality. combined
with strong progressiveness,
makes him an excellent ruler. In
q country where the Catholic
Church Is very powerful. his innu-
ence has been liberalizing-he has
put Socialists into the cabinet with
the clericals. But l think his real
democracy is best shown by the fact
that he has sent his sons to one OF
the big schools in England.
1T is good" he said. for boys to
play football and get their shins
kicked by other boys"
My next glimpse Of Queen Eliza
beth came in connection with the
Cavell-Depage committee of war
workers, whom she had consented
to receive. A few months before,
DIR. Depagc had asked me, just as
he was leaving America, to start
committees in Boston and Washing
ton to raise money to help in build
ing an international hospital in
Brussels in memory Of Edith Cavell
and of his wife.
Marie Depage. it will be remem-
bered. had orgaized the huge Ocean
Hospital at La Panne for her hus-
banad, who was head of the Bel
gian Red Cross, and had then come
over to America to lecture and raise
funds to carry on the work. Her
efforts were very successful. and
she was returning home on the
Lusitania when it was torpedoed.
The last seen of her she was BAN
daging wounded fireman. Her
body was recovered, and from my
window in La Panne l could see
her grave in the lovely white sand
dunes overlooking the blue sea.
1t happened that ! had also known
Edith Cavell; for while in Brussels
I sometimes went to the British
nurses home. where i met and
talked with her. She remains in my
memory as a quiet little woman OF
gentle breeding. with delicate fea-
lures and a serene composure of
manner. Prince de Croy, of the
Belgian embassy, told our commit
tee the story of her dangerous
work; his sister had been condemned
to ten years Imprisonment by the
Boches for aiding her, and so he
had frst-hand information.
when the Germans occupied Bel
gium," he said, there was no army
left to stop their onrush, SO they
spread very quickly all over the
country. People were being hidden
everywhere-some even in holes in
the woods-and they were having a
very bad time. When the Germans
found men in civilian clothes, they
regarded them as spies and shot
them. Three British soldiers es-
capped from a mill where they had
been hiding; there were twelve
other soldiers, but the Germans
caught them and stood them against
a wall and shot them. The three
men who escaped sought refuge IN
my home.
"One day a message came that
British colonel was hiding in the
neighborhood, SO we searched and
finally, with great difficulty. found
his place Of concealment. But the
people there told me that he had
gone to Brussels, to Miss Cavelrs
nursing home. 1t was then that 1
met her for the first time. She was
offeripp hosDitality to those who