184 



THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



-. ■:•■■ S'.fV.-VT 



THE) COMMANDANT OF VAN, SON OF ONE OF ARMENIA S POETS, PRESENTING A 

 WOODEN SWORD TO THE CAPTAIN OP THE GROUP FROM ARTEMID 



would have difficulty in reaching- Artemid 

 that night. 



So Governor Hambartsoumiantz called 

 in the youthful commandant and myself 

 to a council, which resulted in the issue 

 of an army ration of black bread, tea, and 

 sugar to the boys, while a room was pro- 

 vided for them in the headquarters of 

 the city troops. Still the lads said they 

 would not return to their homes unless 

 they were given guns. 



Relief work is not a matter of stom- 

 achs alone, but of morale. So in the 

 morning my head carpenter set to work 

 on the choicest board we could find, and 

 while he was fashioning- it into a blade 

 with all the curves of Saladin's sword, 

 the boyish company inspected the varied 

 industries which American relief had es- 

 tablished, and each received a pair of 

 heavy woolen socks. 



Then the lads drew up at attention on 

 the flat mud roof of our premises. 



There the young commandant, son of 

 one of Armenia's famous poets, grace- 



fully presented the 12-year-old captain 

 with a saber, whose wooden fabric could 

 not conceal the lines which were smil- 

 ingly, yet tearfully, worked into it by the 

 master carpenter, who entered with all 

 his heart into this simple commission of 

 love. 



"This time we can only give your 

 leader a sword," said the Governor, who 

 had left an important conference to wish 

 these lads farewell. 



"But I wish you to keep up your disci- 

 pline and training, for the time may come 

 when we shall need your aid. Hold your 

 command in readiness, Captain, for your 

 country may call on you." 



"We shall be ready, sir !" said the 

 proud possessor of the new sword. 



Then he turned to his motley gang: 



"Right shoulder arms ! Column right, 

 march !" And the volunteer army of 

 Artemid started proudly on their long 

 tramp to the village through which, a 

 month later, the Turkish hordes passed 

 on their way to massacre in Van. 



