REVENGE FOR 1870

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 13 November 1914, Page 5

REVENGE FOR 1870

The spirit w-hich animates France in the war with Germany is well illustrated by an incident which qcourred when Mme. Michel, wife of General Michel, t v he Governor of Paris, was superintend-, ing the work of a soup fcitpheA far the poor in the Champs Elysee, An old woman, eight of whose nine sons are at the front, appeared, and Mine. Michel began to comfort, her. The old woman interrupted, saying proudly : " I need no enoouraging words. I was kicked by the Prussians in 1870. I have never forgotten it, and to each of my sons m,y. farewell words were :— " ' Go and avenge y,our> mother.' " Mme. Michel threw her arms about , the old woman and kissed her.