When the idea of the "B.L.R.C.O." was suggested by Lady Grant Duff, she, together with Mme. Pageot, organized a "Thé-Tombola," the first social function started in German Switzerland for charitable purposes in the Allied cause. The success of this so far exceeded all calculations, that arrangements for tea made for about 300 visitors were called upon to provide for more than double that number, the net result in funds amounting to the gratifying total of frs. 22,000 towards French and British Red Cross work. Later, again, when the prisoners of war had arrived and been interned some little time in Switzerland, and had accumulated a good deal of work to be disposed of, a series of bazaars was held in the large towns by the French and Swiss. In these the British took part, their stall of carpets, arranged by Miss Martin, making a handsome and very successful exhibit amongst others, such as bookbinding, leather work, etc. It was a pleasure, too, to see some, however few, lovely wooden box designs, one with figures and animals in high relief. Wood-carving was a talent I had no idea our men possessed, but which these samples conclusively proved they did.

It was at the bazaar of this series held in Berne that the Scottish dancers carried off the palm of attraction. The long hall set aside for the buffet had a stage at one end, and long before the afternoon performance was to take place every tea-table was occupied. This in itself meant 200 spectators, but by the time the dancing began, every available inch of room was crammed, tremendous cheering greeting the Scotsmen. The same thing occurred in the evening, when my wife, who was in charge of the buffet arrangements, and had fortunately had the doors closed until eight o'clock so as to allow holders of reserved tables to reach their seats, was warned that some 400 people were massed outside. On the doors being opened, the effect was like that of a river breaking a dam and flooding the entire hall. The success of our Scotsmen was phenomenal, and their services, always attended with the same results, were never dispensed with at any bazaar later on.

Another scheme put in motion for the disposal of Allied Interned work was that afterwards called the "Suisse-Amérique." This consisted in disposing of some of the work in America, and received its practical application through Mme. Grouitch, wife of the Serbian Minister to Switzerland, and American by birth. Mme. Grouitch had just returned from the United States, and suggested organizing a Pavilion of Allied Interned "Ps. of W." work at the great war bazaars taking place yearly in some of the large towns in the States, such as New York, Washington, St. Louis, Chicago, and Philadelphia. A Committee was at once formed called the "Suisse-Amérique," under the ægis of Mme. Schulthess, wife of the President of the Swiss Confederation, as President. Mrs. Stovall, wife of the American Minister to Switzerland, and Mme. de Sprecher, wife of the Swiss Chief of Staff. Some 300,000 and more articles were despatched to the States, Mme. Grouitch graciously volunteering to return thither to act as delegate of the Committee. If, fortunately for the Allied cause, America shortly after entered the war, it was not so fortunate for the scheme in hand, as only one of these bazaars—that in New York—was held during the winter of 1917, when, no doubt rightly, the scheme, now that America had entered the struggle, was stopped by the U.S. Government. At this one bazaar about $600,000 were taken in entry fees alone, so that it was a blow to hear of the cancelling of the others. Owing, however, to the splendid energy and spirit of Mme. Grouitch, who at once took other measures for the disposal of the consignments, no loss occurred to the venture. To meet the initial outlay required by the despatch of the Interned work to America, my wife was asked to organize another "Thé-Tombola" at Berne, and was much touched by the support and sympathy shown by the Allies and Neutrals, more especially by Russians who had been hard hit by the revolution in their country. This "Thé-Tombola" made a clear profit of frs. 8,000.

These activities, together with the daily office routine, occupied much of our time, so that little was left for other social distractions, which had diminished proportionately. Small dinners, teas, soirées and bridge, with an occasional amateur dramatic performance for some war need or other, filled to overflowing the remainder. One eventful evening, however, I cannot pass without mention—that of the arrival of General Leman, the heroic defender of Liége, who, it will be remembered, when unable to offer further resistance to the Germans, had had the fortress mined, and ordered it to be blown up, himself remaining in it, preferring death to surrender. That he was still alive when rescued from the debris is one of the marvels of the war. What the Allies owe General Leman for that heroic resistance to the first German onrush will probably be only generally known and valued when history has made the facts clear, but on the night of his arrival, the sight of his small and compact figure, very like Lord Roberts in build, was well-nigh overwhelming. The enthusiasm of his reception at the station and en route to the Hôtel Bernerhof could be gauged by the echoes of the cheers reaching us in the Central Hall, where we had congregated. Many Germans, mostly members of the Diplomatic Corps, were present at the time, and were sitting at various tables over after-dinner coffee, when the General appeared, surrounded by compatriots: members of his own and Allied Legations. Every one rose as at some magic signal—even all the Germans, men and women alike, their faces reflecting curiosity and wonder, quite different from their usual supercilious expression. Deep was the general emotion. Of all present, however, General Leman was probably the only one unaware of the depth of the feeling he evoked.

Especially agreeable and sympathetic is the remembrance of the charming hospitality of Swiss friends, whose salons have an old world atmosphere peculiarly their own. One is tempted to believe that, owing to their forming more or less a society, removed from the excitements and stress of larger capitals, they have been able to maintain an atmosphere of quiet conducive to thought and sentiment regarding the more abstract interests of life.

Looking back from this distance, the first months of the Great War appear to have passed in a strange semi-hypnotic state of mind, made up of surprise, anxiety, and horror. Mentally unprepared for the inhuman catastrophe—a "lèse-humanité" in its truest sense—one felt as must a tree at blows levelling its growth and blossom to the ground. At the same time, a deep sense of indignation little by little restored the mental balance, which was soon to enable one to return to a sense of the immediate and growing necessities of the situation, and endeavour to meet these as they arose; and one cannot but feel a great thankfulness at having been privileged to find work in the many war activities in Switzerland, herein detailed, towards the relief of our suffering brotherhood.

As I mentioned at the opening of these chapters, I little thought when taking up our residence in Berne that it would be for four consecutive years. Yet, looking back, these long years appear to have passed as a flash, so great was the anxiety, so full the daily task, so steady the conviction of an ultimate successful issue to the horrible drama of the World War.

INDEX