We represented Great Britain and Ireland. I
suppose I'm the only one left."
"I shouldn't have recognized you," laughed Joan. "What was the
occasion?"
"The great International Peace Congress at Paris," explained Mrs. Denton;
"just after the Crimean war. It made quite a stir at the time. The
Emperor opened our proceedings in person, and the Pope and the Archbishop
of Canterbury both sent us their blessing. We had a copy of the speeches
presented to us on leaving, in every known language in Europe, bound in
vellum. I'm hoping to find it. And the Press was enthusiastic. There
were to be Acts of Parliament, Courts of Arbitration, International Laws,
Diplomatic Treaties. A Sub-Committee was appointed to prepare a special
set of prayers and a Palace of Peace was to be erected. There was only
one thing we forgot, and that was the foundation."
"I may not be here," she continued, "when the new plans are submitted.
Tell them not to forget the foundation this time. Tell them to teach the
children."
Joan dined at a popular restaurant that evening.
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