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258 WITH THE GERMAN ARMIES IN THE WEST
kill each other, and he declaimed about " this horrible, this
terrible war." All were longing for home, and asking whether
we thought they would get there by Christmas. I was unable
to reassure them on this point. " If at least our relatives knew
that we are alive !
" they said. They were all serene and
dignified, and greatly appreciated the kind and solicitous care
they received. What a pity that they should be lying there,
counting the lingering hours ! Nevertheless one feels greater
pity still for the Belgians who have been left in the lurch by
their great tempters and " protectors," and who have lost
their country and their independence. After all it is best to
stand on one’s own legs and to follow the watchword of the
boy scout : "Be prepared."
We had no time to visit Rubens’s house, standing in the
street bearing his name. It has been on fire repeatedly since
his time, and is entirely changed. But we entered Mrs.
Osterith’s house. The Governor had taken up his quarters
there. He is a refined and humane man, who is doing all he
can to infuse new life into the dead town, and wishes to see its
industry and prosperity flourishing afresh under the new forms
which the inexorable necessities of war have brought forth.
Mrs. Osterith herself was an old acquaintance of mine. In
1903 I had been to a great reception at this magnificent house,
which might almost be called a palace. The noble lady is
seventy-four, and full of humour. She had remained in Ant-
werp during the bombardment, and together with fifty-eight
persons, members of the household and acquaintances, taken
refuge in the vast cellars under the house. Her bed had stood
between bins of old wine, and she slept there while shells
crashed over the burning town. Once the Spanish Minister
paid her a visit, and she received him in her " bombardment
dress," a peignoir. At last came the hour of release, and she
returned with her household from her subterranean captivity
to the realms of daylight.
Finally, we made for the Hotel Terminus, where we supped in
the company of General Bailer, Colonel Miiller, Major Elert,
Captain Lamprecht, and a couple of other officers. Our com-
pany was also joined by Lieutenant-Colonel Schaubode, who
had commanded the siege artillery and had been rewarded
for his merits with the Iron Cross of the first class. He was so
used to fire that he slept soundly while shells were whizzing
around him. He told us various instances of the strange
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