Life in Belgium

Waikato Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1741, 18 April 1916, Page 3

Life in Belgium

IMPERISHABLE LOYALTY OF SUFFERING NATION.

There was a large gathering M mem

bors of the Pilgrims' Club i v Dio Bavoy Hotel. London, to hear a lecture by Maitre de Levul. who, as advisor lo the American Legation m Brussels, defended Nurse Caved, on. I ‘Life in Belgium To-day.’’ Viscount Bryce presided.

Maitre do Lcval said that the religious revival in Belgium had been most marked. No more touching scenes could be witnessed than in the Cathedral of Bt. Ginlule. win •re the whole population of the city went to pray. The churches were the only places in Brussels where the national anthem could bo heard, and people hail come miles just to hear the “Brabacrnne” played on the organ in St. Giulule.

i On the national feast day the Belgians had shown their loyalty by pull- , ing all blinds down, shutting all shops and public houses. The Germans had recently brought the greatest German artists to Brussels to perfo-ia at s great musical festival, in the hope of attracting the Belgian population. In the wliole of Brussels only throe Belgians attended. The feeling of the people was that it was almost indermt to attend any kind of amusement while their menfolk were dying at the front. Viscount Bryce said when the miseries of Belgium began, the people of ■ America with that generosity which I fad long distinguished thmn, were the | first to come I'pnvnrd to the rescue of | tee oeopie of Belgium, cel they had | done niripiikccntiy. England, iom Ic" 1 done good work" i n turn "di'iV’d'a’ v *‘* ! i . : , . ! |mg Die past nine or fen »,it.nibs t' m .y : had raised abort £i.4oli.(h.i ( ) 1 Dm re- j Kef of the. Belgian people, mri Dm j work was being »iUT c.'iGi.mv Dupl ! i Bryce went on to say that then- was j abatement, but rather an increase, in the feeling of admiration which the people of England and America felt for Belgium, Although Belgium had only been a political entity for 80 years or so, the people of that country, dining the past IS months, had shown themseliej possessed of wonderful- strength and great power of patience, endurance, and loyalty, and he would like to be permitted to say, in the name of the Pilgrims of England and America that there never was a time when they felt more admiration and sympathy for the people of Belgium than to-day, and that they looked forward to the, time when she would be restored to her national independence.