In 1918 as the special trains rolled into Paris, and the great names ranged themselves in the Salle de Glace, it was apparent that the full tide of democracy had done its work. The rising sea had swirled round the thrones, and floated the governments of the people into the seats of the mighty. In Russia, Austria, Germany, "the king" and "the empire" became frail words which foolish men scrawled up on walls or sidewalks late at night. Handsome gentlemen whose families had sketched the map of Europe for centuries moved off into quiet watering places to await, beneath the trees, a call which has not come.
In a corner of Europe was a little country whose government did not change and whose King did not drift off to exile. In 1905 he had taken an oath "to maintain the national independence and the integrity of territory," a simple thing it seemed, to promise, since the nations of Europe had all vowed to preserve forever Belgian independence and territorial integrity. But nine years later a madman in a crooked street fired a shot which found its mark. The Chancellor of Imperial Germany, a gentle, weak, and honest man, explained to the Reichstag that the nation had her back to the wall and could think of only one thing--how to back her way through. The German General Staff had long planned where to hack and the tearing of a scrap of paper resounded in every country of the world.
Long lines of men wound out of Germany and Von Kluck began his race for Paris and the channel ports. But great events swing upon the most trivial axes. A handful of slow moving men came out to meet the onrushing soldiers and the world came to hear of "little Belgium," of Louvain, and of Albert, King of the Belgians.
This heroic defense of Belgium's integrity and of the safety of the allied powers has won for King Albert a reputation which the world will never forget. In ten days he had given dramatic proof to the world that there was still one King who could act like a King. And the long career so recently ended was devoted to showing his countrymen that in the hard, uncompromising, undramatic facts of government and politics Albert was still no less a royal figure.
He captured the imagination and the hearts of the world because he conformed to the illusive, universal vision of a crowned monarch. In public life he was wise, honest, and just, in private life he loved a loving wife. He could bow without condescension and kneel without servility. He was a gentleman: he was courageous: he was firm: and he was kind. His presence in a turbulent and cynical world lent some air of stability and truth to an institution that men had come to feel was fragile and dishonest. And he preserved for himself and for his own countrymen, as Mr. Punch had it, the integrity of their own souls.
TODAY
9 O'Clock
"Reaction and Dictatorship," Professor Helcombe, New Lecture Hall.
10 O'Clock
"Henry Arthur Jones," Professor Murray, Harvard 5.
"Martin Luther," Professor Howard, Sever 6.
"Nathaniel Hawthorne," Dr. Miller, Harvard 6.
"Texas," Professor Merk, Harvard 1.
