Part 18 (1/2)

Chief Adjutant Fonck 11 ” ”

_sous-lieutenant_ Lufbery 10 ” ”

[Footnote 32: List made September 11, 1917.]

These names will become more and more glorious--some have already done so--and others will be added to the list which you will learn also. But however tenacious your memory may be, you will never remember, n.o.body will ever remember, the thousands of names we ought to save from oblivion, the names of those whose patience, courage, and sufferings have saved the soil of France. The fame of one man is nothing unless it represent the obscure deeds of the anonymous mult.i.tude. The name of Guynemer ought to sum up the sacrifice of all French youth--infantrymen, gunners, pioneers, troopers, or flyers--who have given their lives for us, as we hear the infinite murmur of the ocean in one beautiful sh.e.l.l.

The enthusiasm and patience, the efforts and sacrifices, of the generations which came before you, little boy, were necessary to save you, to save your country, to save the world, born of light and born unto light, from the darkness of dread oppression. Germany has chosen to rob war of all that, slowly and tentatively, the nations had given to it of respect for treaties, pity for the weak and defenseless, and of honor generally. She has poisoned it as she poisons her gases. This is what we should never forget. Not only has Germany forced this war upon the world, but she has made it systematically cruel and terrifying, and in so doing she has sown the seeds of horrified rebellion against anything that is German. Parisian boys of your own age will tell you that during their sleep German squadrons used to fly over their city dropping bombs at random upon it. And to what purpose? None, beyond useless murder.

This is the kind of war which Germany has waged from the first, gradually compelling her opponents to adopt the same methods. But while this loathsome work was being done, our airplanes, piloted by soldiers not much older than you, cruised like moving stars above the city of Genevieve, threatened now with unheard-of invasion from on high.

Little boy, do not forget that this war, blending all cla.s.ses, has also blended in a new crucible all the capacities of our country. They are now turned against the aggressor, but they will have to be used in time for union, love, and peace. _Omne regnum divisum contra se desolabitur; et omnis civitas vel domus divisa contra se non stabit._ You can read this easy Latin, but if necessary your teacher or village priest will help you. The house, the city, the nation ought not to be divided. The enemy would have done us too much evil if he had not brought about the reconciliation of all Frenchmen. You, little boy, will have to wipe away the blood from the bleeding face of France, to heal her wounds, and secure for her the revival she will urgently need. She will come out of the formidable contest respected and admired, but oh, how weary! Love her with pious love, and let the life of Guynemer inspire you with the resolve to serve in daily life, as he served, even unto death.

_December_, 1917, to _January_, 1918.

APPENDIX

APPENDIX

GENEALOGY OF GEORGES GUYNEMER

In _Huon de Bordeaux_, a _chanson de geste_ with fairy and romantic elements, Huon leaves for Babylon on a mission confided to him by the Emperor, which he was told to fulfil with the aid of the dwarf sorcerer, Oberon. At the chateau of Dunotre, in Palestine, where he must destroy a giant, he meets a young girl of great beauty named Sebile, who guides him through the palace. As he is astonished to hear her speak French, she replies: ”I was born in France, and I felt pity for you because I saw the cross you wear.” ”In what part of France?” ”In the town of Saint-Omer,” replied Sebile; ”I am the daughter of Count Guinemer.” Her father had lately come on a pilgrimage to the Holy Sepulchre, bringing her with him. A tempest had cast them on sh.o.r.e near the town of the giant, who had killed her father and kept her prisoner. ”For more than seven years,” she added, ”I have not been to ma.s.s.” Naturally Huon kills the giant, and delivers the daughter of Count Guinemer.

In an article by the learned M. Longnon on _L'Element historique de Huon de Bordeaux_,[33] a note is given on the name of Guinemer:

”In _Huon de Bordeaux_,” writes M. Longnon, ”the author of the _Prologue des Lorrains_ makes Guinemer the son of Saint Bertin, second Abbot of Sithieu, an abbey which took the name of this blessed man and was the foundation of the city of Saint-Omer, which the poem of _Huon de Bordeaux_ makes the birthplace of Count Guinemer's daughter. It is possible that this Guinemer was borrowed by our _trouveres_ from some ancient Walloon tradition; for his name, which in Latin is Winemarus, appears to have occurred chiefly in those countries forming part, from the ninth to the twelfth century, of the County of Flanders. The chartulary of Saint Vertin alone introduces us to: 1st, a deacon named Winidmarus, who in 723 wrote a deed of sale at Saint-Omer itself (Guerard, p. 50); 2d, a knight of the County of Flanders, Winemarus, who a.s.sa.s.sinated the Archbishop of Rheims, Foulques, who was then Abbot of Saint-Bertin (Guerard, p. 135); 3d, Winemarus, a va.s.sal of the Abbey, mentioned in an act dated 1075 (_ib._, p. 195); 4th, Winemarus, Lord of Gand, witness to a charter of Count Baudouin VII in 1114 (_ib._, p.