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Show A Patriotic Spirit Shown Cno dny early In July two jor.ng Aniei leans, who hud been spending somo months In France, wero standing stand-ing nt tho entrance to the American church of tho Holy Trinity In the Aenue do I'Alnui In Paris. Insldo tho church, beforo tho chancel, lav the body of John Paul Jones. In n coltln drnpod with the American Hag nnd covered with Mowers. Tho pews weio rapidly filling with distinguished men of two nations. Thu two )oung Americans at the door hnd mndo their way through the crowd, In tho expectation of passing In unchallenged; but at the entrance ono of tho gendurmes stopped them with n request for their ' ;kets. "Are tickets required? We did not know It," replied one of tho men. "V havo no tickets, but we are Americans, Ameri-cans, and we very much want to sec this ceremony. Can't you let us go In?" He spoke of course. In French, and by virtue of his halng made long stays In France, It was good French. Moreover, he Is of ery dark complex-Ion. complex-Ion. It wns plain that these two things made tho gendarme skeptical. Ho was polite, but firm. "It gives me much sadness," he replied, "but my duty Is clear I cannot forget It. The admission Is only by ticket." The young men argued, protested, pleaded, but the gendarme stood unmoved. un-moved. He was nn old soldier, nnd hnd a soldier's respect for orders. The joung men could go In only by procuring pro-curing tlcketB. The two Americana siw that fur-Frunli fur-Frunli " snhl th nnn who hud nctml as spokesman, "we shall hnve to wait hero outside and see the procession ns It comes out." So they took their stand nnd waited. Now the older of these twp men has mado It a practlco for Kara to carry with him, wherever he may happen to be, nt homo or abroad, one of those llttlo silk American flaa;s which roll Into small compass and slip Into a pockotcase. He had It with him now, nnd ns he waited, took It from Its case and unrolled It, and held it la his hand. There was no thoueht of bombast or "spread-e-glelsra" In the act. He , was an American In a forvlsn Ijsd about to join In spirit. It not In bodily presence, In a service of the deepest significance to all Americans. The flag seemed natural and appropriate to the moment. Several minutes passed The last of the dignitaries had entered the church, and the first notes of the opening anthen floated out. Suddenly the old gendarme crossed to the two young men and touched his hat In a stiff military salute. "Gentlemen," he said, "I beg jour pardon. At first, when you say jou nro Americans, I do not believe you, but now I know you speak the truth. I seo the little ling, I am a soldier, nnd hnve followed nnd served my own flag. Does a man carry his flag with h'l unle-s ho loves It? No. Tho Americans do It much, nnd It is good. Permit me gentlemen. ' He turned nnd led tho way Into tho church and ushered tho two )oti"g Americans to tho best scats ho could find. Youth's Companion. |
