The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-11-20

prepared by the National Geographic so-
ciety, Washington. L. CO.
No country injured by the World
war SET about more earnestly to
achieve reconstruction than Belgium,
the one which suffered most cruelty
and dramatically from the conflict.
Though the damage done TO the rOun-
Try through property destroyed. pill
lage and financial eyactions by the
Germans reached the tremendous sum
Of 30 billions of francs according to
the estimate OF the Belgium COmite
Central Industriel, The people. with
characteristic industry and thrift. took
up the heavy task of resuscitating their
country's industrial life as soon ms the
srmistice had been signed. BY the
beginning OF 1920 they had made such
great strides that, with the exception
Of the steel and glass industries, pro-
ductlon averaged t~hree-Quarters or
more OF pre-war production the coal
output had even reached "a per cent
anu the refined sugar output 100 per
cent.
But the postwar reaction which
struck the United States and other
countries in 1920 affected Belgium,
too and since the spring of that year
Belgium has had its share OF depres-
sion, closed and part-time factories
and unemployment. The drought
which affected many parts OF the
northern hemisphere has been felt in
Belgium, with the result that harv-
ests are less aud food prices higher.
Where the price index of living costs
was 100 In 1914 II WAS Az In Octo-
Der, 1920, and had reached only 10
3s4 In August. 1921. But the adverse
economh forces In operation since
early in 1920 have caused suffering
even in countries not involved In the
World War; and ~ understand that
BelslunJ in spite Of present trials, is
In a fair way 10 outstrip the other
war-torn countries In the return to
= normal. il is only necessary to consid.
er conditions In the little kingdom be-
fore the var broke In upon 1t.
Its Population is Dense.
Tie Belgium of today has an area
less than one-fourth as great as Mis-
sissippi. and yet IL has four times
the population Of that state. Twenty
two and a half countries like Bel,
GUM would be required TO make a
state like Texas, and IL Texas were
as densely populated a. Belgium it
would hsve as many people as the
United States and Germany together
now possess. II The entire United
States had As many people to the
square mile as Beigium-that is. con
tinental United States. exclusive Of
Alaska-we would have more people
here than there are in the entire world
today. You could concentrate all the
people OF The seven Ems and Ok all
the continents here and still have room
for enough more 10 r%epopulate the
continent NJ Europe u.s. IL now stands.
II must follow from this that such
. yass population, living within such
narrow confines-I5T9,0 900 souls with.
In an area OF 1873 square miles
must be Il frugal people, accustomed
to self-denial, skilled In the art of
economical living, and masters of the
science OF intensive industry yet with
all this density II population, with
nil the exactions OF forced economy,
they are u people who had so ordered
their relations with one another and
with their government that happiness
aud contentment seemed To dwell with
them as with but few other peoples,
and this In spite NJ diverse descent
and diverse tongues.
Two Distinct Peoples.
Within Belgium's small territory
smaller In area than massachusetts
anu Conuecticut-there are nearly
three million flemings who cannot
tllk with their coInpatriot Walloons,
anu ABOUT ss many Nuiiociis VINO can
not hold with their country.
men Fleinings. In their habits Of mind
aud their methods Of gaining u live.
lihood the two peoples differ rs widely
Ne the English and the French, and
In their speech they are as different
~ the Germans and the Scandina,i.
anu YET there Is n tie that has
hound them together for generations,
with never a fratricidal war In their
modern history. That tie Is the bond
ct religion, for they all subscribe TO
the doctrines of the Church Of Rome
with n heartiness thar makes them one
VI the bestowed peoples Of the Holy
Zee.
null. ,.u~,n. . Lpa,.sh and