read, and passed from hand to hand. In the early period it was dropped into your letter box in a plain envelope. Now it is usually, we believe, mysteriously left in the house on the table. It will be readily seen that such a patriotic enterprise could only be based on absolute confidence among all those concerned. Large bundles were distributed to friends, who divided and repacked smaller bundles until the individual copies were finally turned over à qui de droit. It was a matter of pride to have the first copy of each issue left on the desk of Governor-General von Bissing. We may easily imagine his sentiments on reading No. 49, for instance, of October, 1915, which contained a letter to his Excellence von Bissing, German Governor, from which we quote the following: "EXCELLENCE: Your secret "You overwhelm us with attentions. and public agents multiply their searches for La Libre Belgique.' You have even mobilized, they tell us, a special brigade of detectives to come from Berlin to discover the editors, publishers, distributors, etc. You are losing your time and spending your money uselessly. It is true that you have more than once laid hands on a bundle of copies of the paper, which is your nightmare, and you have inflicted severe fines upon those who have had it in their possession. But 'La Libre Belgique' still continues to appear as . . . irregularly as in the past, and its editions have not ceased to increase regularly, after each one of abandon the hope of having some Sherlock Holmes of contraband discover us. We know that nothing stops a German when he has once started on the wrong road, the sentiment of ridicule no more than any other scruple, nor the certitude of final defeat. That is why we present, Excellence, on the occasion of your past, present, and future disappointments this expression of our very sincere and most disrespectful condolences. "Signed "LA LIBRE Belgique." To lay such a copy on his desk demanded an act of heroism such as is called for from him who crosses the German lines, and yet the courageous patriot knew that he would meet an ignominious fate if caught. Nothing speaks louder for the morale of the occupied country. The trail of humor which we have already noted, and of grim practical joking runs through its history. Some of its difficulties as well as its love of fun will be evident from the following address to its readers entitled, "A Little Indulgence Please." "Some readers have complained of the disagreeable odor of certain of our issues; let them kindly excuse us, but they must understand that in war times one cannot always choose his traveling companions, so 'La Libre Belgique' found itself forced to travel with pickled herring, Herve cheese, and carbide of calcium. We ask our readers to have for 'La Libre Belgique' the same indulgence which they find themselves forced to show at times for certain of their neighbors in the tramway, but the spring is coming, HOLD ON! Citizens of Brussels, Hold on! Neutral Governments are protesting! The Pope is intervening in our favour! The American Trade Unions are rising against Citizens of Brussels, Hold on! It depends on your tenacity to save Belgium from slavery and dishonour! If they want to take us let them fetch us from Let them arrest us all! UNION IS STRENGTH! DEFIANT BELGIAN POSTER URGING CITIZENS TO REFUSE TO PRESENT THEMSELVES FOR DEPORTATION. NUMERO 83 DEUXIÈME ANNÉE JUILLET 1916 PRIX DU NUMERO Élastique, de zéro à l'infini (prière aux revendeurs de ne pas dépasser cette limite) LA LIBRE BELGIQUE "TO VICTORY."-NUMBER ISSUED ON JULY 21, 1916, ON THE BELGIAN NATIONAL HOLIDAY. and we shall attempt the impossible, to give to 'La Libre Belgique' the perfume of roses and violets. "The present number is late; this is the reason: we had to reprint the edition. La Libre Belgique' encountered the enemy. She threw herself into the water to save herself by swimming and was drowned. (Requiescat in pace!)" Here is another notice, "To Our Readers." "If they receive the visit of an honorable ecclesiastic, who will attempt to speak to them about 'La Libre Belgique,' of the good that this journal accomplishes, etc., they are requested to take this frocked Boche politely by the arm and put him out without more ado. "Nevertheless we grant full freedom of action to all those who would like to embellish this ejection with a master kick upon that portion of the anatomy vulgarly called 'the Prussian.' This would be merited if not meritorious." The Germans offered larger sums for information, and turned upside down every suspected house, barn or garage. Every now and then the Kommandantur at Brussels received an anonymous letter, giving very precise directions for finding the house and the room in which the journal was published. A squad of Ger man secret agents would be summoned, directions would be given, and they would converge upon the house indicated, rush the street door, run down the hall, climb the stair, count the entrances to the right and force the door-to a water-closet. Rash in its seemingly impudent imprudence, slipping out of every carefully laid German snare with baffling boyish ingenuity, and withdrawing like a defiant gamin, with thumb at nose and twiddling fingers, it is no wonder that this imp of the perverse began to rasp the nerves of von Bissing, for the worst of it was that he could not fail to recognize that this was not the desperate game of a single foolhardy adventurer. It could succeed only through the co-operation of at least hundreds of patriots, who edited, printed, received, distributed, and read it. It boldly served almost weekly notices of stupidity and impotence on the German Kommandantur. It was one of the most stinging rebukes to that Machtpolitik, of which von Bissing was the exponent. Behind it lay the challenge of the medieval butchers and clothmakers of Ghent and Bruges, defiant, if at bay, the still joyous life and liberty-loving spirit of the land of the Kermess and Mannekenpis. War Reprints The monthly War Supplements to THE HISTORY TEACHER'S MAGAZINE are being reprinted in inexpensive form immediately after their appearance in the MAGAZINE. ALREADY ISSUED No. 1. The Study of the Great War By Prof. S. B. HARDING (40 large pages, equivalent to 100 ordinary book pages). Price, 20c. each. No. 2. War Curiosities and the Belgium Secret Press. (16 pages, equivalent to about 50 ordinary book pages). Price, 10 cents each. READY IN MARCH: No. 3. A Bibliography of the Great War READY IN APRIL: No. 4. War Geography, with Many Maps. Liberal discounts when ordered in quantities. MCKINLEY PUBLISHING COMPANY PHILADELPHIA THE STUDY OF THE GREAT WAR By Professor Samuel B. Harding This remarkably full syllabus of the Great War, accompanied with copious extracts from public documents and references to more detailed reading, has been published as a WAR REPRINT of forty large pages (equivalent to over one hundred pages of an ordinary book.) One large Ohio city department of education has ordered 1990 copies, for distribution to all teachers and to higher students. Admirably adapted for study purposes in high schools, colleges, women's clubs and similar organizations. Price, 20 cents each, with liberal discounts for orders in quantity. McKinley Publishing Company PHILADELPHIA Outline Maps of the Great War HERE have recently been added to the MCKINLEY SERIES of 94 a and b. 95 a and b. 96 a and b. The North Sea, British Isles and English Channel These are issued in two desk sizes as follows: Large Size, (b), 7 by 10 inches, at 60 cents a hundred; and double size, (a), 10 by 15 inches, at $1.00 a hundred. The new maps make it possible to trace the progress of the War in all its principal campaigns. In addition to the OUTLINE MAPS of the Great WAR, the McKinley Series contains wall and desk outline maps of all the parts of the world and of most of the European countries. For Free Samples, write to MCKINLEY PUBLISHING CO., 1619 Ranstead Street, PHILADELPHIA The Committee on Public Information Established by Order of the President, April 14, 1917 Distributes free, except in the case of No. 2, No. 3, and No. 7 of the Red, White and Blue Series the Subscriber should forward money order or coin to cover the cost of printing. I. Red, White and Blue Series: No. 1. How the War Came to America (English, German, Polish, Bohemian, Italian, Spanish and Swedish). No. 2. National Service Handbook (primarily for libraries, schools, Y. M. C. A.'s, clubs, fraternal organizations, etc., as a guide and reference work on all forms of war activity, civil, charitable, and military). Price, 15 cents. No. 3. The Battle Line of Democracy. Prose and Poetry of the Great War. Sold at cost. Price, 15 cents. No. 4. The President's Flag Day Speech with Evidence of Germany's Plans. No. 5. Conquest and Kultur. Aims of the Germans No. 6. German War Practices, by D. C. Munro, Other issues in preparation. No. 7. War Cyclopedia, 321 pp. Price, 25 cents. II. No. 1. The War Message and Facts Behind It. Address Requests and Orders to Committee on Public Information, Washington, D. C. Materials for the Study of The Great War In co-operation with the National Board for Historical Service of Washing. ton, D. C., the publishers of THE HISTORY TEACHER'S MAGAZINE are enabled to announce a noteworthy monthly feature. A series of articles is now appearing in the MAGAZINE designed to furnish material for the use of schools, colleges, reading clubs, current events classes, and lecturers. THE WAR SUPPLEMENTS appear as part of the regular issues of the MAGAZINE. In January, 1918, was issued Harding's Topical Outline of the War; in this, the February issue, appears a number of extracts, translations, and photographic reproductions from a remarkable series of Belgian Documents; in March, the Supplement will provide the most complete annotated Bibliography of the War, which has yet appeared in English, in which over four hundred books on the War will be arranged topically, and a brief expert appraisement of each will be given. In the April issue War Geography and Maps will be treated; in the May number, The Economic Background of the War; in June, French War Curiosities. Other topics will follow. ANSWERS TO INQUIRIES UPON THE WAR During the War the National Board for Historical Service will conduct in the MAGAZINE a department of queries and answers on the War. A body of experts have agreed to co-operate in furnishing the most authoritative and timely answers to the queries presented. Persons not subscribers to the MAGAZINE as well as subscribers, are welcome to use this means of obtaining information. HISTORY AND THE SCHOOLS The MAGAZINE is publishing many articles, in addition to the War Supplements, which bear upon the War and its influence upon the schools of the country. Suggestions for revision of the course of study, practical lessons, and news items serve to keep teachers and others interested in the schools abreast of the most recent thought. WAR REPRINTS The monthly War Supplements are being reprinted as fast as they appear, in an inexpensive pamphlet form for use in classes, reading circles, clubs, and public meetings. The Reprints are sold at 20 or 10 cents each, with a generous reduction in these prices when a quantity is ordered. SUBSCRIPTION PRICES THE HISTORY TEACHER'S MAGAZINE is published monthly except in July, August, and September. Single issues are 25 cents each; a year's subscription (9 issues), Two Dollars. A reduced rate of One Dollar is granted to members of the American Historical Association, and to members of other history teachers' associations. A Trial Subscription for three months is offered to New Subscribers for Fifty Cents. MCKINLEY PUBLISHING COMPANY 1619 RANSTEAD STREET PHILADELPHIA |