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From Stereograph, Copyright 1907, by Underwood & Underwood, New York.

toloumelle, De Coustant

boy like you-I mean a good little boy and that little boy when he was only seven years old was able to speak French; although he was an English boy, he was able to speak French like a Frenchman. He was very proud of that, and his father was proud of it, too. I was a friend of his father's; I felt so pleased, too, I said, "He speaks like a Frenchman, and very well." He was living in France, but the time came to send him to school at home, and so they sent him to an English school. This poor, nice little boy began talking in French, thinking all the scholars would be pleased to hear him speak so well-not at all; they found something barbaric in his way of speaking French, because it wasn't the usual English way. They said, "He is speaking French with a French accent." Then the poor little boy was so miserable and thought he could never be happy any more with that bad French accent, so he worked hard for one or two years, and at last he was quite happy-he had forgotten his French. Isn't it a pity, my children, but it is a fact-you know it is a fact that if you believe the people who do not know, you will learn nothing. When you learn something new, they will try to abuse you; they will say it is quite useless and unpatriotic to learn French. But you must learn French and other languages to travel, to be able to express yourselves, to be able to make yourselves understood everywhere, to try to help others and be helped in case of need. If I had not been able to speak English-if I had not been able to do that-well, what would have been the use of my coming here! I should have been in America, but I should have seen nothing of America. I should have been quite unable to understand anybody, and then I should have to go back to my country in ignorance-not your ignorance, but my own, which would have covered me. I understand that my duty is to understand and to speak English. Well, I cannot tell you how happy I am now that I shall be able to tell my boys and my girls so many fine stories of America.

I will tell them what good boys you are, and what good girls you are, and what a splendid school organization you have. You do not understand that, because you have not compared, but these children's manifestations are something that we do not have in Europe. This is the beginning of a general, not only national, but international education, which will be splendid not only for your country but for the whole world.

I give you my best congratulations and the expression of my deepest gratitude for the noble characters of the great citizens, not only of America but of the world, who have given to you such a fine organization. (Applause.)

My dear children, I can tell you that I should know nothing of this if I had not been able to know through my English what is being done here in America, and what is quite unknown in France. We have spoken a great deal of the American energy, American initiative, but we know nothing about the American family. But I have been able to speak to the children; I have spoken with children in the families of my friends in Pittsburg, Chicago, Washington and in New York, and I must tell you that perhaps the deepest impression made on me during this visit is that I met the family of the President of this great Republic, the children of the President, Theodore Roosevelt. (Applause.) He asked me to come to see them-that was quite unexpected-his children were in the nursery at the time; he came to my room and said, "Come and see the children." I went to see the children, and there I found that those children were as good and nice as my own children-as good as the children in all countries; there is no difference. They were perhaps not very serious; I must say that some of them played tricks even on me. I tell you that one of them offered me so-called sweets in an empty box. Another one of them put in my pocket a guinea-pig. Nevertheless, you know, I found they were exactly like my children, and so I knew about the American family. I made a discovery also about the President of the Republic. Of course his great service to this country is known all over the world, but when I saw him surrounded by all his devoted friends, and by his good family, I knew something still more than the President of the United States, I knew the man; and I can tell you that one of the most respected, one of the best men I have ever met is your President. (Applause.)

My dear little friends, and my dear friends, I tell you that next time when I come I will speak in French and you will have to answer me. (Applause.)

DR. MAXWELL:

The next in order on the program is a salute to the American flag by all the children in the audience. The ceremony observed will shadow forth the relations that exist between the State and the city on the one hand and the National Government on the other. I shall have to ask all the friends sitting on the front of the platform to vacate their seats during the salute. All the audience will kindly join with us in singing.

(A color guard of boys then appeared upon the stage, with the City, State and National colors. The National flag was saluted by all the public school children present, using the following words:)

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE---"I pledge allegiance to my flag and to the Republic for which it stands. One Nation, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice to all."

"Nation with Nation, land with land,
Unarmed shall live as comrades free."

SONG "Flag of the Free".............Chorus and Audience

Flag of the free, fairest to see!

Far from the strife and the thunder of war;
Banner so bright with starry light,
Float ever proudly from mountain to shore.
Emblem of freedom, hope to the slave,

Spread thy fair folds but to shield and to save,
While thro' the sky loud rings the cry,

Union and liberty! One evermore!

DR. MAXWELL:

Before introducing the next speaker I wish to call upon the Committee of Arrangements to read a letter received from the Rev. Dr. Edward Everett Hale, possibly the oldest clergyman in active service in the United States.

MISS PIERSON:

Dr. Hale regrets that he cannot be present with us to-day, but has sent this message of love and good-will and hope:

"Please express to the young people my regret that I am prevented from being at their meeting. If I came I should try to say something to remind American boys and girls that we all owe almost all we have to the Union of the States, where every citizen of these

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