The Flames that Clarify 



of French genius, with the flags of all 

 the nations overhead. The flowering 

 of the chestnut trees in May had 

 ushered in the great event with the 

 music, pomp and pageantry of peace. 

 Picard and Delcasse gave gracious 

 welcome in the name of France around 

 the rich Elysee Palace banquet board. 

 There was no thought in any mind, 

 save one perhaps, of Verdun or of 

 Vimy Ridge. The German High Com- 

 missioner was there, but made no 

 reference to Louvain nor Liege. The 

 Russian prince that sat upon my left 

 that night spoke not of Lenine, Bol- 

 sheviki nor Trotsky, and on a certain 

 other happy day at St. Germaine there 

 was no mention of the Marne. The 

 Bois was gay with pleasure-seeking 

 crowds by day; the Champs Elysees 

 gleaming fairyland by night. 



It is hard to conceive the changes 

 that these eighteen intervening years 

 have wrought. It is difficult to under- 

 stand how those feted guests so warmly 



[187] 



