THE REFUGEES IN ENGLAND.
As a good and loving mother would receive her own weary, way-worn
children, so did England and Holland open their arms to receive,
console, assist and provide for the destitute, war-chased people of
Belgium. These unfortunate refugees, the homeless and penniless exiles
from a once free and happy country, have been welcomed to the shores of
England with a true Christian charity and hospitality, which excites our
admiration.
The gates of her manors, the doors of her castles, the dwellings of her
citizens, have opened wide to harbor the throngs of refugees who entered
her seaports in search of food and shelter. Great numbers went to London
and were received in the Alexandria Palace, where on one occasion about
three thousand were said to have attended the Divine sacrifice of the
Mass and were addressed in their own language by the Rt. Rev. Bishop
Dewachter, Vic. Gen. to His Eminence Card. Mercier, of the Archdiocese
of Mechelen. In this palace they were received and cared for
temporarily. Later they were distributed in groups to the different
towns and cities of the country in accordance with the means of
accommodation afforded by the respective places.
Belgian Relief Committees were established in all the localities about
to receive refugees. These were made up of a number of ladies and
gentlemen, both Catholic and Protestant, of the wealthier class of
English society. The Lord Mayor of the city, and mayors of the towns and
villages, took the work of these committees under their special
supervision. They were present at the arrival of the refugees and
delivered addresses of welcome. The Lady _Mayoress_, by her presence and
example, often assisted and encouraged the ladies in the clothing
department, and when time permitted drove around to visit the Belgians
in their new homes. All the ladies and gentlemen of the relief
committees were regarded as honorary members and received no
compensation for their services.
It is impossible to describe the amount of care, labor and anxiety, not
to speak of the time and expense, which these good people encountered in
this new field of labor. “I have not had two hours’ rest any night since
the work began,” said Alderman C——, a member of the Bradford Committee,
a few days before our departure. The same remark could well have been
made by all the members, who devoted their whole time and energies to
the work in hand.
The relief committees were obliged to make arrangements for the
reception and temporary lodgings of the refugees; also for their wearing
apparel and food supplies, because many of them had left their homes
with the same clothing which they wore at their ordinary work, and had
no other garments with them. Arrangements had to be made with the
vicars, or ministers of the Protestant parishes, and with the lords of
the manors and castles, as to the permanent dwellings and food supplies
of these people during their stay in England; and, to avoid confusion,
all had to be in readiness upon the arrival of the refugees, who were
sent in large numbers from Alexandria Palace, London. In less than three
weeks over fifteen hundred had been received in Leeds, Bradford and
Keighley.
When a party of refugees was expected, the whole city, it may be said,
turned out to welcome them. The streets from the station to the City
Hall, where they usually lodged for a few days, were thronged with
curious spectators, long before the appointed hour. They not only filled
the streets, but climbed upon every available vantage point in order to
see the Belgians. Some little boys had found a place on the pedestal of
the statue of Queen Victoria and sat there quite contentedly. Lines of
motor cars stood waiting at the station, while the police had great
difficulty in keeping back the crowds, who threatened to crush each
other in their eager desire to get near the platform.
The first party, over five hundred in number, which was received in
Leeds, was expected one evening at five o’clock. Being detained in
London, they did not arrive until about twelve o’clock, and yet that
immense multitude remained waiting on the street. The danger and
inconvenience which await strangers, unaccustomed to the habits and
language of a foreign country was anticipated, precautions being taken
by the Lord Mayor and Relief Committee for the purpose of protecting
these people, who were regarded as the guests of the nation. Two armed
policemen kept unbroken watch at the entrance to the reception hall, and
no one was permitted to enter who was not in some manner connected with
the work of the Relief Committee. They were required to have cards of
admission themselves. Though not obliged to do so, all those connected
with this work wore the Belgian colors.
Two Little Sisters of the Poor of England and a Sister from Belgium, who
acted as interpreter, were requested to remain on guard in the women’s
department during the night, while a policeman performed the same duty
in the men’s part of the building.
When the refugees reached the station, they were received by members of
the Relief Committee, and while the cheers and greetings of the
assembled multitudes resounded on all sides, they were taken in motor
cars to the City Hall or other public building, where a bounteous supper
awaited them. Food was abundant. There was soup and meat; bread, butter,
fruit and preserves, with plenty of coffee, and boiled milk for the
little children. How the refugees did enjoy this good meal, the first
which many of them had tasted since they left their own homes in
Belgium.
An address of welcome was then delivered by the Lord Mayor of the city,
which was translated into the Flemish language, and responded to by one
of the several Belgian priests who were resident pastors in England, and
who met the refugees at the station, or came to the City Hall for this
purpose.
After supper, all retired as quickly and quietly as possible. A
sufficient number of mattresses, sheets, blankets, pillows and shawls
had been provided by the wealthy residents. The mattresses were
stretched out upon the floors of several large rooms, about a foot
apart, and there the beds made up. A separate room was arranged for
mothers with small children. Some of these little ones were so ill and
tired that they cried all night long.
One child was only seventeen days old. He was born in Alexandria Palace,
and, being the first Belgian born on English soil, received the name of
Albert George Alexander, and the gift of a beautiful silver watch from
an English princess, with his royal name engraved upon it. One poor
woman told of having kept her child, three months old, from starving by
giving it sugar with water from the ditches along the route. Truly no
distinction was here to be observed between rich or poor, high or low
class of people. All were grateful to receive the lowly place of rest
offered on the floors of the museum, with the costly paintings on the
walls around them. A poor old woman was suffering from asthma and was
taken to the Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor, where in a few days
she was found to be in a dying condition.
Next morning we took some food to a gentleman about eighty-five years
old, who, with his wife and adopted daughter, had fled from St.
Rombout’s Cathedral during the bombardment of the City of Mechelen. He
had been the proprietor of a large iron foundry in that city, and in his
business had amassed a considerable fortune. As his health began to
decline, he sold the foundry and bought fifteen houses to rent. Because
of the unexpected attack on the city he was obliged, with many others,
to take flight, not having had time to return home for money, clothing
or even a handkerchief. He was very ill with bronchitis, and was also
taken to the Little Sisters of the Poor.
Next morning many of the refugees attended Mass in the nearest Catholic
Church, after which they returned for breakfast at eight o’clock. The
tables were well supplied with bread, butter, coffee, fruit, preserves
and crackers, or small cookies. After breakfast discourses were
delivered to the assembled Belgians, explaining the customs and habits
of the country in which they were about to reside, and instructions and
information given. At the close of this address the work of
registration, which, in some cases was begun the evening before, was
continued. The names and residences, the number of members in each
family, the daily occupation of each and other particulars were
carefully recorded, special care being taken to keep all the members of
families and relatives in groups together.
One thing which occasioned great anxiety to nearly all the refugees was
the fact that some member, and in a number of cases several members, of
their families was missing. In these cases the relief committees
advertised in the newspapers, making public the names and former
residences of the missing parties, and thus sought in every manner to
obtain information regarding them. In many cases they were successful,
greatly to the joy of the refugees.
A woman from the vicinity of Antwerp aroused the special sympathy of all
who met her. She, with her husband and several children, in company with
other refugees, left Antwerp on a train bound for Holland. Several
Belgian soldiers were also on the train. During the journey they were
fired upon by the enemy. The engineer sprang from the locomotive and ran
away. Many of the refugees rushed out of the compartments and,
panic-stricken, sought refuge wherever a place of safety could be found.
Almost at the same moment one of the soldiers then on the train, who was
himself an engineer, sprang into the locomotive, and the train started
again on its way to Holland. This all occurred in a few moments. In the
confusion which took place when the train was fired upon, this woman’s
daughter, aged thirteen, unobserved by her parents, had jumped off the
train with the others and was left in Antwerp, while the parents and
other children were hurried off to Holland, and from Holland to England,
having no opportunity to obtain information regarding their lost child.
While the refugees remain at those ancient homesteads, the proprietors
have taken upon themselves the responsibility of providing everything
needed in the line of food and clothing, the Belgians being required
only to prepare their own food and to do their own work. This situation
was somewhat trying for the wealthier class, who were in no way
accustomed to ordinary labor. In each locality some one was appointed to
take the refugees to the nearest Catholic church until they became
familiar with the streets and knew the way themselves.
Through the zeal and generosity of the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of
Bradford, and prominent members of the Relief Committee in Leeds and
Keighley, who not only gave us the use of their motor cars several
times, but also, when not engaged, accompanied those who visited the
refugees, we had the satisfaction of calling upon many of the Belgians
in their new homes. This courtesy afforded us also a good opportunity of
seeing and admiring those stately old castles and the lovely groves and
grounds which surround them.
We saw the remains of the old Kirkstall Abbey, there in the valley among
the hills of Yorkshire.
On a brass tablet in the chapter house is found the following
inscription:
THE CITY OF LEEDS.
“_Pro Rege et Lege._”
KIRKSTALL ABBEY.
This Abbey was founded by Henri de Laci, Baron of
Pontefract, in the year 1147. It was first
established at Barnoldswick,
in Craven, by the Cistercian Order of Monks. In the year 1152
the monks removed from Barnoldswick to Kirkstall, and on the
present site erected a temporary church. The present church and
claustral buildings were completed during the life of the first
abbot, who died in the year 1182.
-------
This Abbey was surrendered to the Crown at the Dissolution of
Monasteries, on November 22nd, 1539. The Abbey and part of the
adjoining lands were acquired from the representatives of the
late
EARL OF CARDIGAN,
Colonel J. T. North,
a native of Leeds, and presented by him to the Corporation of
Leeds in the year 1889, during the mayoralty of Alderman John
Ward, J. P., to be held in trust for his fellow-citizens as a
place of public resort and recreation forever.
The Works of Preservation were completed by the Corporation in
the year 1895, during the mayoralty of Alderman Peter Gilston,
J. P.
As a skeleton protruding from a grave of the past, so appears the empty
frame of this ancient structure. The church-like form of the chapel,
where the monks of old chanted the divine Office and said their daily
prayers; the old, crumbling belfry, where the doves coo and wild birds
make their nests; the altar, the refectory and other apartments within,
are yet clearly distinguishable. But the storm winds, howling through
the frameless doors and windows, awake the echoes of those voices long
hushed beneath the ruined walls, and recall another period of war, when
the destroying flames desecrated this hallowed shrine as do now the
bombs and shrapnels the institutions of Continental Europe.
This is one of the most noted of those ancient ruins, and arouses the
interest and admiration of all tourists who visit this part of England.
On another afternoon we were shown through an old but well-preserved
castle of the seventeenth century, whose low ceilings, stretching out
over the spacious halls and parlors, heavy black mouldings and
ornamentation form a striking contrast to the design, structure and
decoration of the present age. The lady proprietress of this handsome
manor was to be seen with the white cap and apron of a nurse, walking to
and from her castle, in the service of the refugees.
The pretty rural names given these old homesteads, such as Oakwood,
Laurel Grove, Ambleside Avenue, Arnos Vale and many others, lend them
another charm and give a romantic touch to their beauty.
While the scenes witnessed among the refugees were, for the most part,
sad and depressing, nevertheless a little incident occurred which
touched the mirthful chord in our poor human nature, and afforded us the
rare pleasure of a good hearty laugh.
One afternoon during the last week of our visit in England a message was
received from members of the Relief Committee in Bradford, asking for an
interpreter to come to the assistance of some refugees at Oakwood, whose
affairs had become complicated. Two of us set out immediately and
arrived at the office of the Relief Committee to hold a conference on
the subject. It was decided to visit Oakwood at once and make a thorough
investigation of the case. A party of three or four ladies, led by the
Hon. Mr. D——, of the Relief Committee, arrived in a motor car at the
entrance to the lovely manor of Oakwood just as the heavy branches of
the ancient oaks had succeeded in closing out the last rays of the
setting sun.
Mr. D—— advanced with a firm determination to make short work of the
matter and settle the difficulties with one good bang of his big cane.
He entered the portal, followed by the ladies, and stood a moment before
the beautiful plate-glass doors, through which the light of the hall
lamp was reflecting in all the colors of the rainbow on the oak carvings
of the outer doors. Not finding the bell, he tapped gently on the door
with the top of his cane. Again and again this act was repeated, but no
response came, although voices inside were distinctly audible.
Becoming quite impatient, Mr. D—— lifted his cane and struck the door
one or two resounding blows, which were calculated to attract the
attention of the indifferent people within. A deathly silence ensued for
a few moments, and then a chorus of women’s voices began to cry out,
“Call the police! Call the police! ’Tis burglars! What do they mean by
coming here and breaking down our doors?” One old lady approached the
door and asked: “Who is there, and what do you want? We’re frightened
almost to death. Is that the way to do, to come and pound on the door in
that manner?” By this time Mr. D—— had succeeded in making himself
heard, as he answered in a tone of sincere sorrow, “I beg pardon,
ladies, I really beg pardon. I meant no harm. I meant no harm at all.”
By this time the door was partially opened and three panic-stricken old
ladies appeared within, while Mr. D——, with his hat in one hand and the
offending cane in the other, was bowing most meekly and making elaborate
excuses to the ladies, who, seeing the humble attitude of the supposed
burglar, ceased to call for the police and were disposed to answer any
reasonable question.
“Will you be kind enough to lead us to the Belgian refugees?” asked Mr.
D——. “But,” said one of the ladies, “there are no Belgians here. You’ve
made a mistake. The refugees are living in the castle yonder on the next
manor.”
Thanking these good ladies for the information, and again begging pardon
for intrusion, we left the portal with more humble feelings than when we
entered and proceeded to the next castle.
The trouble here originated between two parties of Belgians who, on
account of language (the one spoke French, the other Flemish) and whose
political views were intensely antagonistic while yet in Belgium, were
unable to agree. Some slight changes were made by the Relief Committee
and all dissension ceased.
Next morning a dense fog enveloped the entire landscape. The damp,
chilly atmosphere seemed to penetrate every nook and corner, and on the
streets, at a few yards distance, objects were scarcely visible. Some
necessary preparations were made for the long-anticipated voyage to
America, and then we patiently awaited the rapidly approaching steamer
St. Paul, on her way to Liverpool.
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