The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-07-17
Once He Issued Protec-
tive American Posters
to French
He STUCK WITH PARIS
Said He Might Help to
Save Monuments From
German Invasion

GormNu 'IauDc plhn's W'lt ldiiiHB
on Paris In 1914. The invading ar
mics we're approaching, the French
defenders were retreating. soon the
tprfI'i. German howiAors would be
in range Of Paris!
cra.hI A "Taube" shell fell beside
,1e American embassy Ambassador
rorr.rk. busy with the proofs OF
ppstrr ca me near TO being blown up.
"Yon might have BEEN killed.
said polnCare.
Tnep Hcrrick gave his answer.
sunlimc in 1914, plain American In
1915, rocco during the peace con-
fcreucc and embalmed in all French
hearts in 1921:
There are situations" said Her
rick. 'in which a dead ambassador
might be worth more than live
on,
In this true anecdote IL summed
w all the intense French popularity
of Myron r. Herrick. who has re-
turned again to France as American
amhassador--in 1921.
4 Difficult Role to FIJI.
L is a rare thing, probably without
precedent, for any foreign aation
ardcrtly to desire, in advance. that
any particular American he sent TO
Il az ambassador--yet silently, with =
out particular hope OF ever seeing
him again.
Mr. Hcrrick had this proud, emo
tionai and difficult position. He is
a legendary figure OF 1914. Half the
people of France, perhaps, know
who he is. and have a feeling for
him. vet thGy could scarcely believe
their ewes when ne bobbed up on a
short vacation visit to the front last
July.
| was in Relms and saw the ef-
feet Of his appearance. We were a
couple Of hundred newspaper men in
Reims that day by special invita-
ton. to view the ruins which re-
maincd, in July, 1920, practically
totaI in spite of the new city plan
Of Rcims drawn up by the Aemri-
can architect, George Ford, and ac-
cepted BY municipality and state
for Germany had then, as now, paid
nothing. Through hundreds of
streets whose houses all were blown
into their neighbors' cellar, our long
string Of motor cars wound from this
makcshift factory to that, to have ii
pointed out pathetically to us that
Reims was working in her ruins.
Before the 'strafed" cathedral,
Cardinal Archbishop Lucon had be-
gun his explanations Suddenly there
u.
stopped short. 4 smile Of charmed
surprise transfigured the sour and
worried features of Senator Leon
Bourgeois The Marquis de Poligpac
pushed frantically to the open where
solitary figure stood--and pulled
the solitary figure with love and
leagues Of Reims and Paris.
Became the Chief Gu"st.
Il was Mr., Herrick, unannnounced,
<undreamed OF. He had come, prac-
tcally alone, to make Il tour OF the
devastated regions. on the short sum
mer trip to France already referred
10. The two hundred newspaper men
from all the world were quite for
gotten.
Cardinal Lucon began his eXpla-
nation OF the cathedral all over
again, with his hand on Mr.. Her
ricks arm, The photographers
stopped taking shots at us. The
French public fawned on Mr.. Her
rick, touching his Gotta tails revor-
entity They drew him gently to the
banquet hall. And, blushing, laugh
ing inarticulate with realr emotion
he wcut--the great. the honored, the
chief guest Of banquet made Tor
o,hers'
The thing was big enough to upset
any man; yet nobody was Jealous
Mr. HcrriCk has wonderful pos
seSSion-grace. ! remember the gist
ot his impromptu speech at tha'
lunch in the devastated Hotel d.
VILE.
My GodN' he exclaimed in deep
emotion, let us waste no time IN
asking by what fault these delays
have happened, but let's get TO work
and stop them!'
Nj, Hcrrick also has sincerity.
At that moment, Mr.. Herrick was
private American citizen, complete
ly, on a personal tourist trip 10
France. II was July, 1920. The pres
ideutial candidates were not ye
chosen, and nobody IN France coult
guess how the elections would 20
IN the coming November. Simply
u Wa, MIR. HerriCks first return "a
France, who had been American
ambassador In the dark days of Aug
U.s. and september, 1914
What OF Mr.. HerriCk's acts had
so 'udrared him TO the French'
One Of them viii be remembered
as ,oug as poster collecting endure'
IN the world Mr.. Herrick made
large poster, to be pasted on Parts
houses, II is the one, solitary poster
o. tho war which no collector car
buy, In France, because no French,
man who possesses copy would
part with il for any money--hc
would consider himself dtshonores
70 DO 80,
IN Evidence of His Regard.
=, IN" poster was prepared against
we arrival OF the Germans in Paris
QGntrg from II by memory, it de-
c'ar'1 that 'in this house i've
American citizens. with their furnt'
tu'e and belongings" All person'
Were .uqucsted to respect the same
ana "arncd that the American gov'
trhm'Ht would seek responsibilities
~ as" u violation. or words 10 thai
,'eg- BY announcement, these post
.Is We're ready for distribution, al
.ne American embassy, to such
american householders OF Paris az
nIBhl require them. Quantities OF
americans obtained them.
., bHi, Ia tirmest French belief, the
s'o'y does not END here. Not only
HmeT.cans, they say, ran TO the en-
,.assF IN those bad days, for the pro
wgtEr posters. Numbers OF French
5000 In the line-and each obtained
poster, Did they claim 10 he Amer
ans Who knows? In the French
MouSNt, It is firmly fixed that th'
Hh'II'an ambassador, OF tender