e speaker
to follow the Premier. Eloquent, earnest, devoted--there is no one to
whose words the Chamber usually is more willing to listen. Viviani at
this time also spoke of the United States--its people, its President,
its Army and its help, enlarging particularly on the principles for
which both France and America were fighting.

When the eloquent speaker ended his address, almost as if the impulse
had been kept too long under control, the Deputies again rose and
cheered and continued their cheering for General Pershing, until at last
once more he was compelled to rise and bow in his acknowledgment of the
remarkable ovation he had received. And the cheers continued after he
had gone.

Before the people of Paris, Joffre and Pershing stood together, each
bare-headed, on the morning of June 15th. They were on the balcony of
the Military Club. In the Place de l'Opera was a crowd assembled to do
honor to the two military leaders--a public reception by the city. The
wild cheering rose in waves. The excitement was intense. The hopes of
the people, who, as one distinguished Frenchman said, "had surprised not
only the world, but also their own nation by their bravery,
determination and heroic endurance," were now keyed to the highest
pitch. America was coming. Nay, America is here in the person of its
commander, whose Alsatian ancestors years before had found a home in
America. Surely the peoples were indeed one. "Vive l'Amerique!" "Vive
Joffre!" "Vive Pershing!" It almost seemed as if the cheering would
never stop.

A correspondent describes what occurred in a momentary lull in the
tumult. A young girl, excited, ardent, patriotic, in a clear call, was
distinctly heard above the cries of the vast assembly as she shouted,
"Vive Joffre, who saved us from defeat! Vive Pershing, who brings us
victory!"

Instantly the crowd responded and for a moment it seemed as if the
excitement would break all bounds. The applause became deafening. The
vast assemblage took up the moving words of the unknown young girl.
"Vive Joffre!" "Vive Pershing!" rose in a wild cry of joy and hope.
Indeed, long after the two soldiers had withdrawn and the balcony of the
Military Club was no longer occupied, the enthusiastic crowd refused to
depart and the streets still resounded with "Vive Joffre!" "Vive
Pershing!" Pleased General Pershing must have been by the wild
demonstration of the affection and hope, and yet he must also have been
made intensely