RED, YELLOW AND BLACK.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3978, 10 July 1915, Page 7

RED, YELLOW AND BLACK.

ANTWERP’S MUTE CHALLENGE. CELEBRATING KING ALBERTS DAY. A Belgian officer has received from one of his friends who resides in Antwerp the following touching description of the manner in which the people of Antwerp displayed their patriotism on the day of King Albert’s birthday. The letter, by the way took three weeks to reach its destination.

“Wo have lived our first happy day since we were left here in the inidstof the enemy,” says the writer of the letter. “It was last Thursday, April 8, the birthday of the King. Without any organisation, but with ono accord, the entire population decided to celebrate it with the utmost solemnity. The evening before, the newspapers announced that they would riot publish next day, and that the Town Hall, the hanks, the schools, etc., would be closed. As soon as the ‘Bodies’ got wind of this they ordered the employees of the Town Hall to attend to their work as usual. Then they hurried to the Echevin of PublicInstruction, but they were less successful. He replied that it was holiday time, and that the schools wouldnot be opened. As to the banks and newspapers, of course, nothing could be done.

“The day was a perfect orgy of the national colors. There was a veritable shower of tricolor bows—everyone wore one. The men had them discreetly in their buttonholes, but thewomen wore them boldly, each according to her fancy. One saw the threecolors blossom forth in enormcn; ‘r-houx’ on hats, blouses, and coats. Some people even wore tricolor stockings. Without knowing one another passers by smiled at the sight of the ensign. They all understood. A malicious joy took possession of us that day, for the demonstration was a gauntlet thrown down in of Prussian authority.

“Three young girls, about 16 years of age. walked along the Place de Mt-i* together: one of them was dressed entirely in red, the second in yellow, and the third all in black. Their little walk was one of the mostadmired and successful events of the clay. “The afternoon brought with it its usual festive crowd dressed in its best. Antwerp promenaded its patriotism silently, dignifiedly, and proudly. Before this calm but firm manifestation the ‘Bodies’ doomed it wise to place machine guns at the railway station, each xervrd by two men. *T think our King was n.-:v r near cur hearts.”