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About The Maupin times. (Maupin, Or.) 1914-1930 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 1918)
WILSON SAYS TRIP IS DUTY "OVER By An American Arthur Guy Empey SoldierVho Wnlt Machine Gunner, Serving in France CHAPTER XXVII Continued. 27 Tommy generally replies that he did not atop to figure It out when he win bit. One very nice-looking, overenthusl astlc young thing, stopped at my bed and asked, "What wounded you In th facer' In a polite but bored tone I an swered, "A rifle bullet." With a look of disdain she passed to the next bed, first ejaculating, "Oh 1 Only a bullet? I thought it wns a shell." Why she should think a shell wound was more of a distinction bents me. I don't see a whole lot of differ ence myself. The American Women's War hospi tal was a heaven for wounded men. They were allowed every privilege pos sible conducive with the rules and mili tary discipline. The only fault wns that the men's passes were restricted. To get a pass required an act of par liament. Tommy tried many tricks to get out, but the commandant, an old Boer war officer, was wise to them all, and It took a new and clever ruse to make him affix his signature to the coveted slip of paper. As soon as It would get dnrk many a patient climbed over the wall and went "on his own," regardless of many signs staring him In the face, "Out of bounds for patients." Generally the nurses were looking the other way when one of these night raids started. I hope this Information will get none of them Into trouble, but I cannot resist the temptation to let the commnndmit know that occasionally we put It over on him. One afternoon I received a note, through our underground channel, from my ftiiuale visitor, asking me to attend a party at her house that night. , I answered that she could expect me and to meet me at a certain place on the road well known by all patients, and some visitors, as "over the wull." I told her I would be on hand at seven thirty. About seven-fifteen I sneaked my overcoat and cap out of the ward and hid It In the bushes. Then I told the nurse, a particular friend of mine, that I was going for a walk In the rose gar den. She winked and I knew that ev erything wns all right on her end. Going out of the ward, I slipped into the bushes and made for the wall. It was dnrk as pitch and I was groping through the underbrush, when sudden ly I stepped Into space and felt myself rushing downward, a horrible bump, and blackness. When I cume to my wounded shoulder was hurting horri bly. I was lying against a circular wall of bricks, dripping with moisture, and far away I could hear the trickling of water. I had In the darkness fallen Into an old disused well. But why wasn't I wet? According to all rules I should have been drowned. Perhaps . I was and didn't know It. As the shock of my sudden stop gradually wore off It came to me that ,1 was lying on a ledge and Unit the least movement on my part would pre cipitate me to the bottom of the well. I struck a mutch. In Its faint glare I aw that I was lying lu a circular hole about twelve feet deep the well had been filled In I The dripping I had fceard came from a water pipe over on my right. With my wounded shoulder It was impossible to shinny up the pipe. I could not yell for help, because the rescuer would want to know how the accident happened, and I would be haled before the commandant on charges, 1 Just had to grin and bear It, with the forlorn hope that one of the returning night raiders would pass and I could give him our usual signal . of "siss-s-s-s," which would bring him to the rescue. Every half-hour I could hear the clock in the village strike, ouch stroke bringing forth a mnllled volley of curses on the man who had dug the well. After two hours I heard two men talking In low voices. I recognized Corporul Cook, an nrdent "night raid er." He heard my "slss-s-ss" and came to the edge of the hole. I ex plained my predicament and amid a lot of impertinent remarks, which at the time I did not resent, I was soou Ashed out Taking off our boots, we sneaked into the ward. I was sitting on my bed In the dark, Just starting to undress, when the man next to me, "Ginger" l'hllllps, whispered, '"Op It, Yank, 'ere comes the mutron." I Immediately got under the covers and feigned sleep. The matron stood talking In low tones to the night nurse and I fell asleep. When I awoke In the morning the night sister, an American, was bending over me. An awful sight met my eyes. The coverlet on the bed and the sheets were a muss of mud und green slime. She was a good sport all right, r.nd hustled to get clean clothes and sheets so that no one would get wise, but "on her own" she gave me a good tongue lashing but did not report me. One of the Canadians In the ward described her ns lielug "a Jake of a good fel low," Next visiting day I had nn awful time explaining to my visitor why I hml not met her ut'the nppointed time ami place. THE Copyright 1817, by Arthur Ouj KmfJ And for a week every time 1 passed n patient he would cull, "Well, well, here's the Yank. Hope you ure feel ing well, old top." The surgeon In our ward was an American, a Harvard unit man, named Frost. We nicknamed him "Jack Frost." He was loved by all. If a Tommy was to be cut up he had no ob jection to undergoing the operation If ''Jack Frost" was to wield the knife. Their confidence In him was pathetic. He was the best sport I have ever met. One Saturday morning the command ant and some "high, up" officers were Inspecting the ward, when one of the patients who had been wounded In the head by a bit of shrapnel, fell on the floor In a fit. They brought hlra round, and then looked for the word orderly to carry the putlent back to his bed at the other end of tiie ward. The or derly was nowhere to be found like our policemen, they never are when needed. The officers were at a loss how to get Palmer Into his bed. Doc tor Frost was fidgeting around in a nervous manner, when suddenly with 1 ne Author Just Before Leaving for Home. a muffled "d- n" and a few other qualifying adjectives, he stooped down and took the man in his arms like a baby he was no fenther, either and staggered down the ward with him, put him in bed and undressed him. A low murmur of approval came from the pa tients. Doctor Frost got very red, and ns soon as he had finished undressing Palmer, hurriedly left the ward. The wound in my face had almost healed and I was a horrible-looking sight the left' cheek twisted Into a knot, the eye pulled down, and my mouth pointing In a north by north west direction. I was very downheart ed and could Imagine myself during the rest of my life being shunned by all on account of the repulsive scar, Doctor Frost arranged for me to go to the Cambridge Military hospital ut Aldershot for a special operation to try and make the scar presentable. I arrived at the hospital and got an awful shock. The food wns poor and the discipline abnormally strict.. No patient wns allowed to sit on his bed, and smoking was permitted only at certain designated hours. The face specialist did nothing for me except to look at the wound. I made appli cation for a transfer back to Paignton, offering to pay my transportation. Tills offer was accepted, and after two weeks' absence, once again I arrived In Minisey ward, nil hope gone. . The next day after my return Doc tor Frost stopped at my bed and said : "Well, Empey, If you want me to try and see what I can do with that sear I'll do It, but you nre taking an uwful chance." 1 answered : "Well, doctor, Steve Brodle took n chance; ho halls from New York and so do I." Two days after the undertaker squad carried me to the operating room or "pictures," ns we called them because of the funny films we see un der ether, nud the operation was per formed. It wns a wonderful piece of surgery and a marvelous success. From now on that doctor can have my shirt. More thnn once some poor soldier has been brought Into the ward In a dying condition, resulting from loss of blood and exhaustion caused by his long journey from the trenches. After nn examination the doctor announces that the only thing that will save him Is n transfusion of blood. Where is the blood to come from? He does not have to wait long for an answer- sev eral Tommies Immediately volunteer their blood for their mate. Threw or four are accepted ; a blood test is made, and next day the transfusion lakes place nud there Is another pale face in the ward. , Whenever bono. Is needed for some 99 special operation, there nre always men willing to give some a leg If necessary to save some mangled mate from being crippled for life. More than one man will go through life with another man's blood running through his veins, or a piece of his rib or his shlnbone In his own anatomy. Some times he never even knows the name of his benefactor. " The spirit of sacrifice Is wonderful. For all the suffering caused this war Is s blessing to England It has made new men of her sons; has welded all classes into one glorious whole. And I can't help saying that the doc tors, sisters, and nurses In the English honpltuls, are angels on earth. I love them all and can never repay the cure and kindness shown to me. For the rest of my life the Bed Cross will be to me the symbol of Faith, Hope and Charity. After four months in the hospital, I went before an examining board and was discharged from the service of his Britannic majesty as "physlcully unfit for further wnr service." ter my discharge I engaged pass age on the American liner New York, and after a stormy trip across the At lantic one momentous day, in the haze of early dawn, I saw the statue of lib erty looming over the port rail, and I wondered if ever again I would go "over the top with the best of luck and give them hell." And even then, though It mny seem strange, I was really sorry not to be back In the trenches with my mates. War Is not a pink tea, but In a worth while cause like ours, mud, rats, coo ties, shells, wounds, or death itself, are far outweighed by the deep sense of satisfaction felt by the man who does his lilt. There Is one thing which my ex perience taught me that might help the boy who may have to go, It Is this anticipation Is far worse than realiza tion. In civil life a man stands In awe of the man above him, wonders how he could ever fill his job. When the time comes he rises to the occasion, Is up and ut It, and Is surprised to find how much more easily than he anticipated he fills bis responsibilities. It is really so "out there." He has nerve for the hardships; the Interest of the work grips him ; he finds relief in the fun and comradeship of the trenches and wins that best iovt of happiness that comes with duty well done. THE END. ROMEO WAS CLAD IN KHAKI Played the Popular Game, Choosing the Dinner Table to Work on Af fection! of Waitress.- It is natural that we should be eager to do whatever we can for the boys In khaki ; but sometimes, when the pa triotic zenl Is not accompanied by a sympathetic Imagination, the benefi ciary mny pray to be delivered from our friends, writes "An American Woman" In the Outlook. A homesick lad is likely to want either nn atmosphere like that of his own home or else the exotic flavor the expectation of which has helped him to undertake the great adventure so cheerily. , In one family among my neighbor? the son of the house wus scandalized when one of their guests at Sunday dinner made the perfectly simple and natural request that he be permitted after the meal to repair to the kitchen where the pretty waitress was. Per mission wns denied, but young Romeo was not discouraged, nnd this letter came "To the Girl That Waits for Mrs So-and-So : You are the best ever Are you keeping company with any body?" He ndded his name and a few personal details, and this delicious bit of Identification; "If you don't know which soldier wrote this, It Is the on( that touched your hand under the dish when you passed the potatoes." When Horses Get "Pipped." When an army horse Is wounded about the faco or Jaw It Is not senl down to the veterinary lines, but is kept to be tended by Its driver. Then It Is that a good driver's cure conies In, for the men tend them most carefully, feeding them by hand, boil ing their oats, making them mashes and spending most of the day with their charges until they can feed lr comfort again. It Is this personal care of the man for his horse that has been the cause of the new order thai all horses have to be returned from hospital to their own units again ; for n man's care Is by no means transferred to the same extent to a new team of horses. Long Loaves Are Most Economical. A loaf weighing one pound contains 11 per cent of water If It Is round anil only 34 per cent If It Is cylindrical Therefiire. she who buys long loaves gets 1 10 grammes more actual food for her money than she who buys round loaves. t The reason for this Is that the sphere Is the figure that contains tin largest possible volume under tin smallest possible surface, and, as evap oration Is a mutter of surface, this I greater from a cylinder than it Is rr a sphere of the same weight. TOP President to Keep In Touch With Con gress While in France. Washington, D, C Declaring that the allied nations desired his pres ence at the peace conference in Paris to Interpret his bases for peace which they and the enemy have accepted, President Wilson Monday told con gress In Joint session of his intention to go abroad, promising to keep the legislative body advised of all his ac tions. He Bpoke for 42 minutes and left the house chamber amid the ap plause of democratic members, the republican aide maintaining silence. Expected interruptions of his speech by members with questions did not materialize. He said he owes to the troops who have fought for their ideals, which were his own, to see that no false In terpretatlon is put upon them. Paying a glowing tribute to the sol dlers and sailors, whom he credits with turning the tide of war when It seemed the Germans would sweep all before them, the president also praised all persons and parties at home for their united purpose, and especially the women of the country, to whom he said were due the thinks of the nation for the conservation Of food and for the speeding up and maintenance of essential industries. Their just compensation, he declared, should be equal rights, inasmuch as they had shown their ability to take the place of men in all walks of life. He declared that he had not found anyone with a feasible plan for pro viding employment generally for re turning troops, but expressed the opinion that the skilled men would, with typical American push, find their rightful places or be sought out by positions awaiting them. For .the un skilled men he urged congress to pro vide, by instituting public work,' urg ing particularly Secretary Lane's plan for- reclaiming land with and for ex soldiers. The matter of the railroads the president candidly puts up to congress as a problem to which he has no an swer. He frankly appeals to the con gress for advice and as frankly points out some of the evils that obtain both In the pre-war system and under gov ernment control. It would be a disservice to the coun try, he said, to return to the old "con ditions of enforced competition and duplicated service and he veers from the other extreme, government owner ship, to suggest a possible middle line. Declaring he had no "private thought or purpose" in going to France, but he regarded it as his highest duty, the president added: "It Is now my duty to play my full part in making good what they (America's soldiers) offered their life's blood to obtain." He paid a glowing tribute to all men in the army and navy and also to all who stayed at home and worked for the war, particularly the women, for whom he urged equal rights. No definite program of reconstruc tion can be outlined now, Mr. Wilson said. He expressed the hope that congress would not object to confer ring upon the war trade board or some other agency the right of fixing export priorities to' assure .shipment of food to starving people abroad. As to taxation, the president in dorsed the plan for levying ?6,000,- 000,000 in 1919 and for notifying the public in advance that the 1920 levy will be 14,000,000,000. Washington, D. C A regular army of approximately half a million men Is provided for specifically in esti mates submitted to congress Monday for the fiscal year 1920, beginning next July 1. Detailed items on the pay of the army show that in the total of 11,922,000,000 asked for, exclusive of the fortification estimates, provi sion is made for the payment of only 21,259 officers and 382,667 men of the line and approximately 130,000 non- combatant troops with 'the requisite staff officers. The inclusion in the estimates, how ever, of five items of pay with a nom inal appropriation of $100 each asked, shows that the whole question of the strength of the army after the con clusion of peace has been deferred and that supplemental estimates are to be expected under these headings when it is possible to present a com plete project. The items thus held in suspension are those providing for the pay of reserve and national guard officers and men. Army's Cost Is Enormous. Washington. It cost 15,645,000,000 to run the American army during the year ending June 30 last; $1,368,000, 000 for the navy, and $1,516,000,000 for the civil government proper. The Shipping board spent $862,000,000, and $181,000,000 was paid out in pensions. These figures are shown by the an nual report of John Burke,, treasurer of the United States, to Secretary Mc Adoo. The report showed the public debt on June 30 was $12,396,000,000. An International Service Built on Tiny Profits Per Pound Some industries have been able to get in step with war demands more quickly than others. In many cases mighty plants have sprung up but at a prodigious cost. The packing industry was able to adapt itself to unheard of demands more quickly, perhaps, than any other industry. And this was because the vast equipment of packing plants, refrigerator cars, branch houses, etc., had been gradually developed to its present state of efficiency, so that in the crucial hour it became a mighty international system for war service. And how had this development taken place? Not by making vast, inroads into the capi tal wealth of the country, but largely by using, from year to year, a portion of the profits, to provide for expansion. Swift & Company's profits have always been so tiny, compared with sales, that they have had practic ally no effect on the price of meat (amounting to only a fraction of a cent per pound). And yet the owners of the business have been content with reasonable returns on their capital, and have been able, year after year, to put part of the profits back into the business to provide for its expansion. ' These fractions of tiny profits have been repaid to to the public many fold in the form of better service, and better and cheaper meat, and made it possible for Swift & Company to meet, undaunted, the sudden cry for meat for overseas. Could any other method of financing a vital industry involve less hardship to the people of the country? Could there be a better instance of true "profit-sharing" than this return in added usefulness and in national preparedness ? Swift & Company, U. S. A. Don't Worry About Pimples. On rising and retiring gentljsinenr the face with Cuticura Ointment. Wash off the Ointment In five minutes with Cuticura Soap and hot water. For free samples address, "Cuticura, Dept. X, Boston." At druggists nnd by mall. Soap 25, Ointment 25 and 50 Adv. Rhubarb Useful to Gardeners. Rhubarb, apart from its usefulness, has values for Its beauty. The giant Chinese variety, with its enormous leaves, is often employed by landscape gardeners to produce bold sub-tropical effects; nor do they always disdain the charms of the more modest pie plant itself, of which the tall, graceful spikes of white flowers and large leaves, deeply veined and stained, are as certainly handsome as the succu lent stalks are palatable. Daily Thought. . No really great man ever thought himself so. Hazlitt With the Fingers! Says Corns Lift Out . Without Any Tain You reckless men and women woo are pestered w'th corns and who have at least once a week Invited an awful death from lockjaw or blood poison are now told by a Cincinnati authority to nse a drug called freezone, which the moment a tew drops are applied to any corn or callous the soreness Is relieved and soon the entire corn or callous, root and all, lifts off with the fingers. Freezone dries the moment it is ap plied, and simply shrivels the corn or callous without Inflaming or even ir ritating the surrounding tissue or skin. A small bottle of freezone will cost very little at any of the drug stores, but will positively rid one's feet of every hard or soft corn or hardened callous. It your druggist hasn't any freezone he can get It at any wholesale drug house for you Adr. SAGE TEA KEEPS YOUR I DA When Mixed with Sulphur It Brings Back Its Beautiful Lustre at Once. Gray hair, however handsome, de notes advancing age. We all know the advailtaep.R of a vnnthfiil nrmenr. ance. Your -hair is your charm. It makes or mars the face. When it fades, turns gray and looks streaked, Just a few annlicationn . nf Sai Tea and Sulphur enhances its appearance a nunarea-roia. Don't stay gray! Look young! Either prepare the recipe at home or get from any drug store a bottle of "Wyeth's Sage and Sulphur Com pound," which is merely the old-time recipe improved by the addition of other ingredients. Thousands of folks recommend this ready-to-use prepara tion, because it darkens the hair beau tifully, besides, no one can possibly tell, as It darkens so naturally and evenly. You moisten a sponge or soft brush with it, drawing , this through the hair, taking one small strand at a time. By morning the gray hair u.sappears; alter another application or two, its natural color is restored and it becomes thick, glossy and lus trous, and you appear years younger. Wyeth's Sage and Sulphur Com pound Is a delightful toilet requisite. It Is not Intended for the cure, miti gation or prevention of disease. Adv. Effigies Thought to Bring Luck. The scarab of the land of the Pyra mids is the expression of the hope of resurrection and the desire to live long. As the beetle was supposed to be always born anew, so the carrying of the beetle or its image came into the customs of tb ancients. The war riors of an elder day hung the Images of gods about their necks, and many of the brooches and pins of the old fighters were the effigies of luck-bringing divinities.
