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'page seventeen
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M m MM P X t I W .-: M J
5
L' ' CHAPTJERlVfe; .", .
rt "W are at rest five miles he
hid the front. Yesterday we were i
' relieved, and now our bellies are
full of beef and haricot beans. We I
are satisfied and at peaee..rEaeb
roan has another mess-tin fall foi
. Take. :
What's" more important stfll Is
the issue of a doable ration of
smokes. Ten cigars, ;2T claret
and two quids bf chew ier man:
now: that Is decent.'7 ' I bate et-
" changed my chewing tobacco" with
Katezinsky for bis cfeareta. wkich
: means I bare 40 altogether: That's
cuougu iur a uaj.
" It Is true we hate no jight .to
this windfall The Prasstan-fe Hot
So renerous. We haTe only a mis.
calculation' to tbank for It,;''
Fourteen days ago we had to go
op and reliere toe front ltae. It
-was fairly quiet on oar sector, so
the quartermaster who remained
in the rear bad requisitioned the
nsnal quantity f ratlons'and pro
. Tided for the full company; of ISA
men. But on the last day an aston
ishing number of English field
- guns topesed iup on -ms-withiblgli
: eJiblofitiKf drammingf i eeasckeBBly
on oar position-, so' that f we eutr
fared hearlly and came' back only
80. strong.
' Lask night we moved back and
settled down to get a good sleep
for once; Katcrincky Is righrwhen
lie sayi it would not be such "a bad
war if we could only-get a little
more sleeo. In the line W ltare
had next to none; and 14 days la
a lone time at one EtrttcB? -'i!
It was noon before the first of
us crawled, out of our " quarters.
Hair an hour later erery man had
hU mesB-tin and we gathered' at
the cook-house," which smelt
greasy and nourishing. At the
head of the queue ef course "were
the hungriest little ' Albert
Kropp, the clearest thinker itnOng
us and" therefore the first -to he
lance-corporal: Muller,' who 'lilt
carries his school textbook with
htm. dreams of ex&mfhktldve'and
during A bombardment mutters
propositions in physics; Leer., who
wears a full beard and has a, pre..
ferenee for the girls from officers'
brothels.'. And as the fourth, my
self. Paul EaumerrAH jour axe i
years of age, and all four Joined
up fiom the same clasgasvelaa
teers for the war.
Close behind us were our
friends: Tjaden.' a skinny lock
smith of our own age, the biggest
eater of the companyt He alts
down to eat as thin as a grass
honer and rets u4 as big. as a
bug In the famnywiyrllHaie West
hu3. of the same age. ap peal dig
ger ' who Ran.4a6ily Ha-rttJo.n.
loaf la his -hand and" say f Guess
what1 I've eot in my ?fialfe Jthen
TJeterlng. a peasant, whrT.nrhk
or nothing but his farmyarand
his -rife; and linaUjSfinlslaui
Katczinsky, the leader of our
roup, snrewj. cunnrng, ana jiara-
"bitten, 40 years of age, with a
face of the soil, blun eyes, bent
shoulders, and a remarkable nose
for dirty weather, gocd food,' and
Our gang formed the head of
the queue before the cook-house.
We were erowicz Impatient, for
the cook paid no attention to
Finally Katcxlnsky called tout to
him: "Say, Helnrich, open up the
aoup kitehen. Anyoae' can 'see the
beans ere done. ' ' .
- "You must all hthereJUrst.'
Tiadea grinned. "We are "all
here.
The sergeant-cook still .took no
notice. "That may do for you," he
aid. 'Buf where are the dtherst?
"They won't be fe by yOu W
day. They're etthef:in, the dress-
lnK-station or pushing up- d Steles.
The cook was duqite disconcert,
ed as the truth dawned enJdm;He
was staggered. "And i l-f-lraTe
cooked for 150 men
; ' Kropp poked him la tht'srihS.
"Then for once we'll hare enough.
Come on, begin!" . ' .
Suddenly a visions-came ov
Tjaden. His sharp, mousey "feat
ures began to ahine hit eyes grew
nail 'with cunning,, hja Jaws
twitched, . nd ' he -wrbispered
hoarsely:. !Man!rthea you've got
bread for 15ft men, too "th?1
The sergeant-cook nodded, ab-
entminded and bewildered, x
Tjaden seized him by tho tunic.
-.nd sausage ?'; - :
m Ginger nodded again,
J - Tiaden' chops quivered. "To-
V "Yes. everything
4 - . Tjaden beamed: "What a bean-
featt! That's all for us! Eacn man
nets wait a bit yes, practically
tWO isSUeS", -'y , ,if
Then Ginger stirred himself and
aid: "That won't do,-- -Then
we get excited, and begin
in crowd -around.
. "Why wont that do, you old
carrot?" demanded Katczinsky.
"Eighty men can't hare what Is
meant for 150
"We'll soon chow yo-; growled
Muller. :"ti'-'.;f "j- - r
. -I don't tare about -the slew,
hut I can only Issue rations Tor
Ri men." uersisted Ginger,
Katcxlnsky U got angry. "You
might be generous for once. You
haven't drawn food for 89 men.
:vah't drawn it for the Second
company. Good. Let's have It then.
. . AL. n. n . M w
ve are uw onu""-!""
We began to Jostle the fellow,
No- one felt kindly toward Mm, for
it was his fault ' that the food
twice came on to as ta the line
: taa late' and cold.:. Under shell.
fin he wouldn't bring his kitchen
-on nar enonxh. so Uiii'onXJlonp-
r.rriers had to. g much farther
'than those of other companies
: rnw Knleke ef the First company
t-. - "
r . -
at as a hamster ia wjnter, hut
he trundles his pots when it comes
to that right tup to the very front
line. . -
We were ia just the right mood.
and there would certainly hare
been a dust-up if our company
commander had not appeared. He
informed himself of the dispute.
and only remarked: Ye. we .hid
hare heary losses yesterday." , . -
He looked In the edixie. "The
oeans iook good." . -
Ginger nodded. "Cooked with
meat and fat."
The Iteutenant looked at us. He
knew what wewere thinking. And
knew many other tbiajrs too.
because be came te the eomDanV
ja a noo-com, ..and was, promoted
irom me rancs. ne lutea tnf-a
from the dixie again and sniffed.
Then pawing on he said: "Serve
out the whole issue. We can do
with it. And bring me a plate full
oo.' - 1 ,
' Ginger looked sheenlsh as
"Tjaden danced' around. him
V"It doesn't post youi anything
One woud think the anartennaa-
ter'a store belonged to himl .Aadi
now get on with it, you old blub.
ber-sticker, and don't you mis
count etther. -
Ypu be hanged," spat out
Ginger. When things get beyond
him he throws up the sponge alto
gether; he just goes to .pieces.
And as if to show that all things
were now the ssme to him, of his
own free, will he shared out half
a pound of synthetic honey equal
ly to us.
Today Is wonderfully rood. The
mail has come, and almost erery
man nas a couple of letters.
Kropp pnlts out one. "Kantorek
senrs yoo all his 'best wishes." -
We Unxh. Hnller throws his
cigar et away and -says: "I
wjrt-
he was here.
Kantorek had been our school
master, an active little man tea
fray tail-coat, with a face like a
shrew-mouse. He was about the
same size as Corporal Himmels-
-
- - - - ' 1
' I" ' . -Js:' 'ftjS rft ;wi . .iu i y n-j,.-, .v:,r t r, u
T dtJ- V 4'But'on the last day an astcnbhhtg number of English Held-
yh-&9 opened op on as with high-explosiTe, drunuuing cease-
' WmMh - lessly on our position so that we suffered heavily and came
- '4k WW&WM C& ' " back only eighty strong.
2320 S. Ccaifaercial
6
toss, the "Terror of Klosterberg."
It is very queer that the unhappl
ness of the world ia -so often
brought on by small men. They
are so much more energetic and
uncompromising than the big fel
lows. I 'hare always taken good
care to keep out of sections with
smal company commanders. .They
are mostly confounded little mar
tinets. DttTnig drill-time Kantorek gave
us long lectures until the whole
of our class went under his shep
herding to the District Command
ant and TOlanteered. I can see him
now, as he used to glare at us
through his -spectacles., and say in
moving voice;., won i you join
up; Comrades? -
. These teachers always carry
their feelings ready in their waist
coat pockets, and fetch them out
at any hour of the day. But we
didn't think of that then.
There, was, indeed, one of ns
who hesitated and did not want
te fall Into line. That was Josef
Behm, a plump, homely fellow.
Bat he did allow himself to be
persuaded, otherwise he would
have been ostracized. And -perhaps
more of us thought as he
did, bat no one could very well
stand out, because at that time
area one's parents were ready
wita tne word 'coward;" no one
had. tne vaguest Idea what we
were In for. The wisest were just
the poor and simple people. They
knew the war to be a misfortune.
whereas .people who were better
off were beside themselves with
joy, though they should have
been much better able to judge
what the consequences would be.
KateaiasKy said tnat was a re
sult of their upbringing. It made
them stupid. And what Kat said,
he had thought about.
Strang to say, Behm was one of
the first to fall. He got hit in the
eye daring an attack, and we left
him lying for dead. We coodin't
brings him with us. because we
had to come back helter-skelter.
-I 34x f : -"
-. i .e.w. i : ;
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S0MEH0W;lt jnore satisfactory to have a bridge table
rather than clothe on a Kce adorning your lawn of a
Monday. This ace of Laundries will cleanse your clothing ;
prontptlyand'at submoderate cost,.' 7 . , - .
4
TO
it
In the afternoon suddenly we 1
heard him call, and saw him out-1
side creeping: towards ns. He had
only been knocked -unconscious.
Because he could not see, and was '
mad with pain, he failed to keep
down before anyone could go and
fetch him In.
Naturally we couldn't blame
Kantorek for this. Where would
the world be If one. brought every
man to book? There were 'thous
ands of Kantoreks. all of whom
were convinced that there was
only one way of doing well, and
that was theirs." $
And that is just why they let
us down o badly.
For us lads of. IS they ought to
have been mediators and guides
to the world of maturity, - the
world of work, of duty, of culture,
of progress -to the- future. We
of tea zoade fun of them and play
ed Jokes on them, but In our
hearts we truster them. The idea
of authority? which they repre
sented, was associated In our
minds with a greater insight and
a manlier wisdom. But the first
death we saw shattered this be
lief. We ha44o recogaiie that our
generation was more to be trusted
than theirs. . They surpassed us
only in phrases and la cleverness.
The first bombardment showed us
our mistake, and under' it the
world as they had taught it to us
broke In pieces.
While they continued to write
and talk, we saw the .wounded; and
dying. While they taught that
duty to one's country Is the great
est thing, we already knew that
death-throes 'are stronger. But for
all that we were no mutineers, no
deserters, no cowards they were
tree with all these expressions, we
10T7 our country as much as
thev: we went courageously Into
every action; but also we dis
tinguished the false from the true.
we had suddenly learned to tee.
And we saw that there was noth
ing or their woria lert. we wen
all at once terribly alone; and
alone we must see It through
e
Before going orer to see Kem-
merJch we pack up his things: ne
mm
Tclephcne 1756
U LULLU U :
FT
will need them on the way hick.
In the dressing-station-. therets
great activity; It reeks as ever of
carbolic ether and sweat. Most
of asLare aceustomed to this In the
billets, but here it makes one feel
faint. We ask for Kemmerich. He
lies in a large room and received
us with feeble expressions of Joy
and helpless agitation. While he
was unconscious someone had
stolen his watch. f
Muller shakes his head:. "I al
ways told you that nobody should
carry as good a watch as that."
Muller is rather crude and tact
less, otherwise he would hold his
tongue, for anybody can see that
Kemmerich will never ccme out
o fthis place again. Whether he
finds his watch or not will make
o difference. At the most . one
will be, only be able to send it to
nis. people. ...
"How goes It, Franx?" asks
Kropp. Kemmerich's head sinks
"Not so bad . . . but I hare
such a damned pain in my foot
We look at his bed covering.
His leg lies under a wire basket.
The bed covering arches orer It.
I kick .Muller on the shin, for he
is Jusf about to tell Kemmerich
what the orderlies told us outside:
that Kemmerich has lost his foot.
The leg is amputated. He looks
ghastly yellow, and wan. Already
the strained lines that we know
so well we hare seen them hund
reds of times.'
They are not so mucn lines as
marks. Under the skin the life
no longer pulses, it has already
passed out to the boundaries of
the ; body. Death Is working
through from within. It already
has command in the eyes. Here
lies our comrade, Kemmerich, who
a little while ago was roasting
horseflesh with ns and. squatting
in the shell-holes. He It is still
ail yet It is not he any longer.
His features have become uncer
tain and. faint like a photographic
plate en which two. pictures have
lyteta give youfuH value foe
every dollar's worth of mUe
X age you have , left, and
youll have the satisfaction '
f of driving on safe, depend
able - tires, at the lowest ;
- possible cost. " v;.; . ,
WOLF'S Tmk SHOP
:: WALTER WOLF, Prop.?; - '
-PHONE 786-
'Jorner So. Commercial and Ferry
Opposite Martea Hotel (
01
; All-Cord
vesa tucHi ius v jewwuua
like ashes, t-v -.i-?'-? f
.1 think of thertiaewfeeH we
went "away, t .Big mblhe(iarood,
olumn matron ' brer -httiitn to
.the etattem-She wepi-ronttnuallyrl
her face was bloated. aadw,ouea.
Kemmerich felt embarrassed, for
she was the least composed of all:
she simply -dissolved lata fat ana
water. Then she caught sight of
me and took hold of myerm again
and : again, and Implored me to
look after Frans out there. In
deed he did hare a face like, a
child, and -such frail bones that
after four-weeks pack-carrying he
already had flat, feet, But how
can a man look after anyone In
the field, . f -
- ;j!Now; you will soon be going
home," says Kropp: "Yon would
have had to wait at least three or
four months for your leave."
Kemertch nods. I cannot bear
to- look at hia hands, they are
like .wax. Under his nails is the
dirt "of" the trenches, it shows
through blue-biaek like posson. It
strikes ' me that these - nails will
continue to stow like long, fan
tastic .eellar-pIahts.Uone- after
Kemmerich breathes no-more. -I
see the picture before, hie. - They
twist themselves. Into corkscrews
and grow and grow and with them
the hair on the decayed skull, just
like grass in a good soil, just like
grass, how can it be" possible.
Muller leans over. . "We have
brought your things, Franz."
Kemmerich sighs with Tils hand.
Put them under the bed."
Muller does so. Kemmerich
starts on again about the watch.
Ho wean one calm him without
making him suspicious
Muller reappears with a nalr of
eJrmaasi boots. . tTheyt - are fine
English boots of soft, yellow1 lea
ther which reach ti the 4ee and
lace all the. way they are things
to be coveted.
Muller is delighted at the sight
of them. He matches their soles
against his own clumsy boots and
sayB: "Will you be taking them
with you, Franx?"
we.sj itnree nave tne same
tnougat; even ir be should get
better, he' would be able to use
only one they are no use to him.
But ta tnliie-s ar, n 1 l. a
- - -
that they should star here: the
orderly will of course grab them
as soon as be Is dead.
"Won't you leave them with
us?" Muller repeats.
Kemmerich doesn't . want to
They are his most prized' posses
sions.
"Well, we could exchange."
suggests Muller again. "Out here
one can make some use of them."
Still Kemmerich is not to be mov
ed.
i treaa on Muiier's foot; re
luctantly he puts the fine boots
back again under the bed.
-We talk a little more and then
take .our leave.
"Cheerio, Franx."
I promise him i come back in
the morning. Muller talks of do
ing so too. He is thinking of the
lace-up boots and means to be on
the spot.
Kemerich groans. He Is fever
ish. We get Lold of an orderly
outside and ask him to give Kem
merich a dose of morphia.
He refuses. . "If we were to
i
715
! 1 .
Ml
s s m x m -W mm m m a mr m m "' . m m r' - m w m m m m m -M -
gite morpMa to ' everyone we
would, have to have tubs full--"
rew . onhr: attend . to officers
r properly." says Kropp Ticlously.
hastily tntervene and give him I
Are you', usaalty . allowed to
giro It. tien?" I asif tlm
-' He is annoyed, "if you don't
tWnk' so. thee why, do -yon ask?"
I .press' a couple more cigarets
Into his hand. "Do us the favour-''
v .r- -.
: "Well, all right," he Says.
Kropp- goes in - with - him. He
doesn't trust, him. and wants to
see. we remain outside,'.'., .
Muller returns to the subject of
the hoots. 'They would: fit me
perfectly. In these boots I get
blister after blister. Do you think
"he will last till tomorrow after
drill? It he passes out in the
night we know where the boots"
Kropp returns. . "Do you
think" he asks.
fDone for," says Muller em
phatically: i
We go back to the huts. I think
of the letter that I must, write to
morrow to Kememrich s mother.
School Days Are Coming
Is Your Bicycle
Ready to give you good service. Remember you can't
take the chance on being late. Take advantaze of our
School Opening Specials
Bicycle Tires Special 1.45, 1.85 and Z25 each
Bicycle Rubber Pedals (Large Size) 95c pr.
Handle Bar Grins 25c to 50c pr.
CUncher Casinzs (Big Stud) each
BICYCUE 8PECIAI Motorbike model, heavy rima and
vpokes, wide bars. Beat saddle and pedals. Morrow coaster
Brake ' Q7
BpecUl this wee aliJalaJ
Everything for your Bicycle Expert Repairing
. . : , . V;i'-,-
IHIai?E'sr Wo S$t3;
"The Cycle plan
VS33SESSKS3SSSSSSSSSSSSs2aSSS3SSEESSSSKEU
T7 TT V '
Means : More than
When you purchase in this cemetery beauti
ful you get, not only a plot of ground, but an
interest m "-e" - v.
Thirty acres of artistically landscaped park: -r
Lovely, bordered "Memory Lake ' ' ' v
Graceful winding drives
Beautiful English-type buildings
The doves that circle, and croon in the dove-
"cotes - ,
. - .- '
And the fund of $76,000 that Is set aside to
keep the,park green, and attractive forever.-
Compare ' this with weed-grown cemeteries
that are cleaned up, perhaps, once a year and
understand the s - '
A'ahfr obtained in Belctest Memorial Park;
emorialtiarfe'
First National Bank Bid., Salem, Ore.
I am freezing. Mailer pulls up
some grass and chews it. Sudden
ly little Kropp throws .his dgaret
away, stamps on It savagely, and
looking around him with a brok
en and distracted face, stammers:
"Damned :.; swine the damned
swine!"-. . . -
vve waia on -tor iou() ubic.
Kropp has calmed himself;- we
understand; he sees red, out here -where
every man gets Mk that
sometime. -
What Vas Kantorek wrlttea1 to
you ?" Muller asks him.
He laughs. "We are the Iron
Youth." . r .
We all three smile .bitterly.
Kropp rails; he is glad that he
can speak. - V -
Yes. that's the way they think,
those 100.000 Kantoreks. Iron
Youth. Youth! We are none of
us more than 20 years' old. But
young? Youth? That la long
ago.. We are old folk. .
(To be continued) "
4.' . :
Follow the Sports in the States
man full sport news reports fresh
each morning. .
... . , .
147 So. Commerdal
- ill,
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f 4 mnch better fellow. He is "as
r