Iron Tears for Alsace

Savior-hero of Alsace-Lorraine is dry, statistical old Raymond Poincare, War-time president of France. When he went a-visiting last week with Mme Poincare to Kayserberg, Alsatians were happy, thronged Kayserberg's Hotel de Ville. A pretty girl with flaxen hair stepped from their midst and spoke with plain dignity.

"This occasion gives us the greatest joy," she said. "We have such confidence in you. We love you. And we understand why the occasion gives us such great pleasure."

Mme Poincare kissed the child. The unemotional old man stood still. His lips moved. His face was taut. He gestured faintly. There was a long moment of fragile silence. Gradually one realized that he, several army officers and many of the populace were in tears.

The same afternoon there was a banquet. M. Poincare spoke. He talked of Alsace in war and in peace. Finally he said:

"I recall that in November 1918, Germany besought France to protect her fleeing army from the Alsatian populace so long oppressed."

He paused. Again there was an interval of tense quiet, ending in thunderous applause. Unable to finish, M. Poincare sat down.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.