certain of the American soldiers were disappointed in Madame Renane’s appearance, having expected someone younger and more beautiful.

But this did not interfere with the united cheer with which they greeted her, the entire audience rising to its feet and the soldiers waving their hats.

Madame Renane had been accustomed to many greetings. But the surprise and the ardor of this one seemed almost to unnerve her for a moment. Then she removed a little American flag which had been pinned to her dress and waved it enthusiastically in response to the cheers.

When the audience had resumed their seats and were quiet again, the great French[167] woman said simply, speaking of course in French, but as slowly as she could, that the soldiers might understand:

[167]

“It is a great pleasure to me that you wish to hear me recite to you tonight. I am a French mother who has lost her son in this war. All honor to the American boys who have left their homes and come to a far country to help us toward victory. Let France be your adopted country, let every French woman be your adopted mother, until your own land and your own mothers shall claim you again.”

What Madame Renane said was so simple that any other woman could have used the same words. But behind her words was the personality of a great woman and in her voice the music of a great actress.

Next she recited a gay little French poem, filled with the courage and good humor of life in camp.

Then Madame Renane spoke again:

“It has been difficult to decide what to recite to you tonight. A speech from one of my plays might not interest you if you were not familiar with the story, since I[168] cannot speak your language. But there is one story which the whole world knows, the story of, perhaps, the greatest soldier and patriot of France. I mean the story of Jeanne d’Arc. There are those of us in France who have wished recently that Jeanne would come to us again, or someone like her.”

[168]

Afterwards, Madame Renane recited in the words of a great French writer the life of Jeanne, the Maid sent of God:

“And the Angel appeared unto her and the Maid understood.

“The humble Maid, knowing not how to ride a horse, unskilled in the arts of war, is chosen 

 Prev. P 72/113 next