Two Burgomasters

Of Belgium's three immortal heroes in World War I, two were King Albert and Desire Felicien Franc,ois Joseph Cardinal Mercier. The third was Adolphe Max, Burgomaster of Brussels. Last week it was learned that Brussels had given Belgium another heroic burgomaster.

Burgomaster Max was a short, slim & trim bachelor with a sharp eye for a pretty face or ankle. Sporting a torpedo beard and boulevardier's mustache, he was a gay cock sparrow in silk hat, frock coat and gold chain, the idol of the citizenry. As familiar to Bruxellois as his magnificent whiskers was his series of white pinschers, all called "Happy."

In 1914 Adolphe Max had been Brussels' burgomaster for five years when the Kaiser's armies clomped over the border. Within five glorious weeks little Burgomaster Max became to his people a legend for lionheartedness. Legends:

> When Brussels was about to fall, he put on his top hat, frock coat and gold chain, drove out to meet the German Army, insisted to the commanding general that he be allowed to send a telegram to the Kaiser. The request granted, Burgomaster Max reminded the Kaiser of former hospitality received in Brussels, urged him to respect the city.

> At the Town Hall the German commander unslung his service pistol and laid it on the Burgomaster's desk with a flourish. With an equal flourish Cock Sparrow Max unslung his service fountain pen and laid it beside the pistol. He refused, however, to shake hands.

> When the German command posted imperious bills all over the city, Burgomaster Max ripped scores of them down with his own hands because the Germans had neglected to get the City Council's permission to post them.

> When the Germans ordered him to have his own posters of cheer and encouragement to his people covered over, he covered them with transparent oiled paper.

At the end of five weeks the purple-faced German command could stand the Cock Sparrow's impudence no longer. He carted him off to Germany, kept him under lock & key for four years.

Two months after World War II's outbreak, Adolphe Max died at the age of 69, still beloved of his people, still Burgomaster of Brussels.

During the last 20 years of Max's burgomastership, his right arm in the City Council was a physician named Franc,ois van de Meulebroeck. Meulebroeck, no cock sparrow, weighed 235 pounds. His clothes bagged on him, he came of peasant stock and loved to chat in his native Flemish with the fishwives in the market place. On Max's death, Dr. Meulebroeck became Burgomaster of Brussels.

Meeting the same opposition from Van de Meulebroeck that their fathers had had from Max, the Nazis tried to turn the Bruxellois against him by imposing a fine of 5,000,000 francs on the city. It only increased the Burgomaster's popularity. Franc,ois van de Meulebroeck is 64. The Nazis decreed that no burgomaster could be more than 60, arrested him. They tore down posters of his proclamation of protest. In the spirit of his predecessor, the Bruxellois pasted them up again. Last week the two Belgian fliers who escaped to England (see p. 17) brought a copy of the proclamation with them:

"In leaving you temporarily, I ask you to endure our hardships and sufferings, both physical and spiritual, calmly, courageously and with confidence. You will face your destiny with a strong heart and a proud spirit.

"Those who are really of our stock are afraid of nothing and no one in the world. They have only one fear: not to do their duty and to lose their honor. Be united. Our union will make us strong and insure us a better future.

"God will protect Belgium and her King."

Julius Caesar said that of all the Gauls fortissimi sunt Belgae.

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