heard the Belgian
minister in Washington say in an address: "Yes, they gave us twelve
hours to decide, but they gave us eleven hours and fifty-nine minutes
too much time." As long as time, it will be remembered to the glory of
Belgium that she told Germany instantly to stay upon her own territory;
that the world would never say that Belgium went back upon her word;
that if war came she would remain neutral as in the treaty she had
agreed to do. The minister referred to above also said in this darkest
hour: "They now have all but three hundred square miles of our
territory, but what will it profit a man though he gain the whole world
and lose his own soul.' We have lost our property, but we have saved our
soul, and if it were to do over again we would do exactly the same
thing."

Brave little Belgium! For four and one half years she stood bleeding and
with her head bowed in sorrow! Her homes were destroyed, her old men and
women shot down like dogs, her women outraged, her youths and maidens
enslaved, her little children misused, but Belgium still lives, and
always will live in the hearts of men and women wherever civilization is
known! Her King and Queen were brave and heroic through all those
horrible times; her church leaders could not be bought or sold, and her
common people were true as steel. As a nation she blundered in days
agone, but what nation has not made mistakes? Belgium saved democracy
for a thousand years and is today the nation that the whole world
honors.

CHAPTER X

A GLIMPSE OF AMERICA'S FRIEND--FRANCE

Although great in history, France is but a small country. It is
interesting to note that all France could be placed in the state of
Texas and there would be room enough left for Belgium, Holland, Denmark
and Switzerland, one in each corner. Even then, Delaware and the
District of Columbia could be put in for good measure and the Lone Star
State would still have more than eight hundred square miles to spare.

About half of the people of France depend wholly upon agriculture for
their living. Instead of living on farms as we do they live in small
villages. Their farms are very small, generally running from two to
fifteen acres. As a rule, the soil is thin and unproductive, but with
their patient toil, careful methods of farming and a very liberal use of
fertilizer they raise abundant crops. Just about half of the soil of
France is tilled and about one-eighth is used for grazing while all t