Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 July 1918 — HONOR FRENCH BASTILLE DAY [ARTICLE]

HONOR FRENCH BASTILLE DAY

Nation Pays Homage to Ally on Independence Anniversary. Pursuant to the expressed wish of President Wilson and the feelings in the hearts of the American people, Bastille day was celebrated throughout the United States Suh 1 - day in honor of our beloved and stricken sister republic. In Rensselaer the occasion observed at a mass meeting at the Gayety threatre Sunday evening, at which fully a thousand people were present. The occasion was given a military tinge by the presence of three companies of Liberty Guards, two from this city and one from Remington, the latter presenting a neat and pleasing appearance in their new uniforms, and some fifty or sixty Red Cross workers of the Rensselaer chapter. The meeting took the place of the regular Sunday evening vesper service, and was one of the most enthusiastic ever held in the city, and demonstrated beyond the expression of words the extent to which our hearts go out to torn and bleeding France this, her hour of greatest distress, sorrow and trouble.

Revs. J. Budman Fleming of the Presbyterian church and E. W. Strecker of the Methodist church had charge of the program, which was opened by the singing of “The Star Spangled Banner” by Mis. Loren Sage, the audience joining in on the chorus. Mrs. Sage further delighted the audience by sing* ing the “Marsellaise,’’ the national hymn of France. The speaker of the evening, Dean Stanley Coulter of Purdue university, was then introduced, and for more than an hour he held the attention 1 of the audience while he reviewed the. history of France, telling of its continual progress and advancement in spite of the Prussian menace and frequent onslaughts by that barbaric nation; how the brave people Of that little republic continued to smile through their tears, secure in their belief that God and the civilized world is on the side of right and that in the end right shall prevail. As evidence of the spirit and determination of the people of France, the speaker recited one incident that brought tears to the eyes of the audience and quickened the heart-throbs of sympathy. When the giant Hun army was pushing forward in its triumphant march on Paris two years ago, but one citadel remained to binder them. This for-

tress guarded the andy road open , to them and supplies and amm'unition for the same were along a road through the valley on the French side. This road was continually the target of Hun shells that it might be destroyed and thus shut off the supplies. To keep this road open there were 70,000 of the old men of France, ranging in age from sixty to eighty years, volunteered, and when a Hun shell would strike and., wreak its havoc these old men would pounce upon the spot and repair the damage. Thus was