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About The Gate city journal. (Nyssa, Or.) 1910-1937 | View Entire Issue (April 30, 1920)
THE Belgium Sketches T h e P rie s t o f P o e lc a p e lle I I I I* By Katharine Eggletlon Roberts (C o p y rig h t, 1110, W m i i i o * N . w . p . p . r U n ion ) Poelcapelle Is a pleasant sounding name. Isn’t it? Something like the name o f the Mexican volcano, that al ways fascinates the youthful geog rapher. Poelcapelle Is not a volcano, though It might as well have been built on one as to huve been located In West Flanders. A fte r the Germans and the Kelglans and the English had finished ■ending shells and bombs through it, nothing but the musical name o f the town remained. Now, one by one, little wooden houses are growing out of the battle field. The people o f Poelcapelle are coming back to reclaim their land. There’s one house larger, longer than the others— that Is the church. Near it Is a smaller one, to which you’ll be invited If you visit the lost village. W e were there. The young priest kicked his d in g ing, long black skirt. “ I ’m always tear ing it," he lamented. As he sat down and crossed his knees, khaki-colored trousers showed above his army shoes. H e wns one of Belgium's "fighting priests’* who had served In the trenches, not in the robes o f the church but in the uniform of a regular soldier. Now his sinewy shoulders bulged beneath the tight-fitting vest ments o f his order. “ I t ’s hard to get used to these skirts again, especially In this sort o f place. I hope you’ll ex cuse the fact that my house Is not yet in order.” H e poured our coffee from a canteen on the stove. “ You see, we just finished building It four days ago. The trouble is I ’m so busy I don’t have time to get settled.” Some one looked out of the window at the few shacks which made the * M | strueted across the old battlefield made me shiver. “ O f course It will be cold, and I've no doubt the breezes will blow through many w a lV But thank God. I've plenty of clothes fo r the people." “ You have plenty o f clothes!" The exclamation sounded foolish, but real ly, it didn't seem possible that one man had collected enough gurinents to clothe a town, even If It was a very small town. “ Yes,” he explained. "They came from a relie f organization In the Unit ed States. Not long ago a lot o f them arrived, addressed to "T h e I ’ riest of Poelcapelle." W e went to look a.t the clothes. There was almost every kind of everything. As I held them up for inspection, I smiled at the kaleido scope o f Incongruous fashions one would see in Poelcapelle the coming winter. The priest read my thoughts. “Oh, we aren’t particular about style out here, as long as the clothes are warm," he answered. "So you really do get our things, a f ter all? W e've heard all sorts of stories about them going astray, not being used, and other dreadful tales." “ W e get them, and we are mighty glad to get them. I ’m keeping these to distribute when and where they are needed. It won’t be long, you see, before I ’ll be in the clothing business, too.” “ And incidentally," some one added, “ you play host to wandering travelers. I f you keep it up next summer, when the tourist season opens, you’ll have to run a tevern, too.” “ I'll let the other citizens do th a t; it's really the only business they can follow successfully here. W e can’t farm or grow garden— there’s too much debris In the ground.” Our train was due soon, and we were rising to leave. “ It’s so convenient to have a train that stops here now. It has been do ing it fo r Just two weeks. All our food has to come from outside, you know, and now it comes much more regular ly. I'll go to the station with you, or rather the ticket stand. Our station is stlil a thing o f the future.” W e protested that we had taken too much o f his time. "Oh," he demurred, “ I ’m glad to see people, always. Won’t you let me walk ' ' \ S -¿x . ’v • v Poelcapelle— Nothing But the Musical Name of the Town Remained. 4 > o "town,” and asked if the congregation was big enough to fill the chapel. “ Not Just the people from Poelca pelle,” he said. “ The soldiers who come from the reconstruction ramps hbout here fill It pretty well. But my religious duties are not what keeps me so busy. It’s the other things.” I was sitting on a low cot. A sud den movement sent n small round parcel to the floor, and a handful of hazelnuts rolled in every direction. W e all dived to rescue them. “ They are a gift from one of my parishioners." The young priest gath ered them together. "Goodness only knows where he found them in this Priests Keep Hope in the People. land. I ’ve seen nothing but dead trees myself.” “ Is the town growing very fast?” W e wanted information. “ Is It? I should say so. Visit us In three years and you’ll see a c ity !” H e dropped his half-laughing tone. "But the trouble is that people come back and have ho place to stay till the government committee puts through an order to send out materi als for a shack, and then the shack has to be built. That's one of the things that keep me going every min ute. They seem to think the priest can do everything— even unwind the red tape o f government I'm town scribe, and a hunter o f homes for the homeless rolled into one. But It's Surprising to see their hope. In spite o f all the difficulties." "W hat will the people do In the win ter? These houses look so thin. W on’t It be cold oaf here?” The very thought o f the wind sweeping unob- down with you? The town cats may he coining In today. W e've expected them every day this week.” “ The town ca ts!” “ Yes. The government gives each district that’s rebuilding a certain number o f goats, cows, dogs, pigs and cats. W e are anxious for our cats. The mice are thick here.” “ And do you always meet the ani mals at the train?" “ Certainly. Their coming is an event o f Importance. W e 'do all we can lo welcome them—-and besides, some one hns to sign the receipt for them and see to their distribution. The office hns devolved upon me.” As we stood before the coaeh o f our train we said good-by to llie priest. In response to a noisy meowing from somewhere up in front, he hastened along the path to greet the eats. W e sank Into the cushions, glad to he going back to the comforts o f cit ies. “ No wonder they put young priests out here. An older man would be worn out Inside <1 f a month.” John settled more comfortably. " I t ’s these young fellows, fresh from the trenches, full o f energy, who keep hope going in the people. I ’d think the soul of a man who lives in this depressing place would need a lot o f help to keep from losing its God." I thought o f the laughing young priest, with his clear eye# and his straight. Vigorous shoulders, and one o f the black draped skirls of his cas sock flapping about the khaki army trousers. “ They are well named— these ‘lighting priests,’ ” I said. FEAR BLASTS OF THE SHELLS Accidental Bursts are Numerous and Lives Are in Danger When Col lecting Unused Weapons. In the vast, desolate fields thou sands o f unexploded shellii have been picked up by prisoners and, though there are details haulfng them sway and exploding them in remote valleys every day, there are still long ranks o f them everywhere. Sparks from lo comotives and from small fires where battlefield rubbish Is being burned, oc casionally aet fire to patches o f dry weeds and the accidental hursts are numerous. Roads passing place* where shell* are being set off ar* guarded, but It la from the accidental blasts that the danger comes GATE C IT Y JOURNAL, NYSSA, OREGON, The ATOICÀN LEGION WITH THE POSTS OF THE • NATIONAL SERVICE MEN (Copy for Tha Deportment Supplied by N»tioo»l Headquarter» of the American Legion) THE S O S . * ; By C R A W F O R D LU TTRELL. (<& 1910. by M e C lu re N e w s p a p e r S y n d ic a t e .) Helen's visit came, and Anne knew that no girl who had ever been enter tained there had enjoyed greater pop ularity. There had been rides, lunch eons, teas, dinners and theater p a r ties to the nearby city, all of them sponsored by the able, quiet-looking colonel. Anne was grateful beyond the power of words to express, hut Ihe vis it had been a trying one for her. She was conscious every time that she saw the commanding officer at the post that all he did was for her. She had worn her blue dresses because she had heard him say so many times In the old days that blue was his favorite color, and she wanted to please him because he was doing so much for her. He came to call, alone, the night be fore Helen was to leave. The girl seemed strangely excited, ns If she were Just bubbling over with happi ness. Anne said good night to them early and went to her room, thinking over her own care-free days nnd her unwise choice o f a partner. She would try to save Helen from the same fate. She wondered If the girl had come really to care for any o f the men w ho had danced attendance on her. None of them probably cared a straw for the girl herself. O f course, they rushed her to please the colonel. There was a little lieutenant who hart seemed sincere In his attentions. Could It be that he— Anne was startled from her reverie hy Helen tlp-toelng Into Ihe room, with her Huger on her lips. The little visitor was In a name- colored taffeta with wide-platted ruf fles that served to round out her slim, girlish figure. A high Spanish comb held her yellow curls on top o f her head. Sne was eager, vivid, keenly alive. Her eyes were sparkling. "1 have a secret, a wonderful one,” she confided rapturously. “ Yes?" questioned Anne; hut nlrendy that strange sixth sense was at work, prophesying the astounding news. “ I'm coining back— to be lending- Indy at the post— think o f It! The- colonel’s w if e ! Maybe I’ll snub you and Tom.” she laughed, rocking her self hack nnd forth on the low stool hy Anne’s dainty dressing table. "Y ou know I was wild about him before I came here. Tom had told us so much about hlin. I cared even before I saw him. So yon see your quiet, demure Utile sister-ln-lnw hns something Hint nil Ihe lovely, scintillating visitors who- cume here before must have lucked. 1 met him two or three days before you asked him to ten. He said then that If you didn't soon nsk him to rnll he would have to hint to you.” Then sud denly she changed the subject. "I think that I will hnve a brown golng- away dress. Anne. I thought o f blue, but he hntes It. Isn't that queer? Most men adore It. Why don't you say something? Aren't you perfectly thrilled to hnve a sisler who Is the colonel’s Indy?” Anne was staring nt her, eyes dark ns shadowy pools, ns If she were see ing her for the first time. “ Why, o f course, I m i delighted.” “ I wanted him to tell you, hut he said It would be belter for ine to break the news. Wasn't that thought ful of him? Women do love startling secrets, don't they? Ami Just think. Anne, he says that he has never loved a girl before, nnd he Is nearly forty years old." Army men on a post welcome visit- Ing girls as the glad old earth wel comes spring, but It was quite evi OFRCE OF THE COMMANDER. AT NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS dent, after the first week o f her so journ in the bouse o f Captain An- struthers, that his sister Helen was going to have a sorry time o f It. She was »pretty enough In her way, but that elusive something that makes or mars a g irl’s success with men held no prom ise for the captain’s uneasy wife. Anne. What was she going lo do with her stster-ln-law for a whole month? Men came, perfunctorily, at her bid ding. They ate her dinners, nibbled her cakes and drank her tea, but they returned the courtesies with the air o f men paying Just and honest debts when they could make far happier use o f the money. None o f them on leav ing lingered a little to grasp her hand and whisper, “ She’s some little peach, your visitor! Say a good word for m e! How about dinner with me to morrow night, and could you squeeze In a horseback ride for the next after noon ?” Something had to be done and done quickly. Anne thought over the list o f pos sibilities. Her heart gave a little con Lemuel Bolles, National Adjutant of the American Legion, Conducting a vulsive gasp at thought o f sending an Staff Meeting of Heads of the D ifferent Division« in the Office of Frank S. O. S. to the colonel, and yet she lin D’Olier, National Commander, at National Headquarters, Indian looked forward happily to the oppor apolis. tunities that It would offer to exhibit herself in all her mature loveliness O P A T R IO T IC organization In The men who gathered at that event to the man whom she had refused to the history o f the world has ful meeting did many important things, marry Tom Anstruthers. There wns had such remarkable growth Including the selection o f a home for always a little glow o f feminine satis as the American Legion, and the new patriotic organization. They faction when she reflected that he If Is going forward with a speed that called It the American Legion, and was a bachelor because o f her. His Indicates a membership o f 2,000,000 under that name it will go down In eyes were Inscrutable, unfathomable. before the end o f the present yea* the patriotic history o f the United They looked at her as If they were The Grand Army o f the Republje. States. still seeing the pretty. Innocent young founded follow ing the C ivil wyr, The caucus also named a committee girl she had been when, visiting the reached its peak in 1000, when vne o f fifteen to work In the United States post years before, she had chosen a roster showed a half million members. and to plan for a national meeting husband because he was the best- With 4,800,000 to draw from, It Is pre within a year. This committee came looking officer there, the best dancer dicted that with the present campaign home and a caucus was arranged for and the most adept at making love. fo r 100 per cent Americanism, the at St. Louis, May 8. Well, she had paid for her failure to roster o f the American Legion will be The St. Louis meeting wns a revela discriminate, but nobody knew how above the 2,000,000 mark by 1921. tion. There several hundred men who much she had paid. Outwardly she The Grand Arm y o f the Republic had served their conatry nt home and was the toast o f the officers’ mess, has played an Important part in the abroad met and, forgetting both creed beautiful as a star and Just as cold, life o f the republic. Once or twice and politics, worked to Inject the prin men found who ventured to make up politics threatened its total disrup ciples o f Americanism In one great for Anstrulher’s obvious lack o f at tion, particularly In the year preced movement, the American Legion. At tention. ing the election o f Gen. John A. Lo this meeting a Joint executive com She had never asked a favor o f Col- gan as commander in chief. General mittee was formed by men o f 34 states ongl Kent, hut the time had come when Logan succeeded in steadying the boat. with units In the Legion. This com she felt that the end justified the The disaffection grew out of reports mittee formulated a basis fo r perma means. She could not have Tom ’s that men with bad Civil war records nent organization and agreed that a quiet little sister go hack home with wore receiving preferment in appoint constitutional convention o f the Le a tale o f unhappiness to tell. The girl ment to political offices. gion w o r’.d be held In Minneapolis in had looked forward to the visit for T o Maj, Benjamin F. Stephenson o f November. An organization commit years. Anne knew. She remembered Decatur, III., belongs the honor o f tee of five was appointed to complete how It had been when she wns young. founding the Grand Army o f the Re plans for the Minneapolis meeting. So Anne wrote a little perfumed note public. In 1800, the year following This committee was composed of and asked the colonel to call nt ten the close o f the Civil war, M ajor Henry D. Llndsley o f Texas, Rennett time the next day. She planned to Stephenson called together a handful C. Clark o f Missouri, Franklin D’Olier have a few others In so that she could o f veterans at Decatur and established o f Pennsylvania, Dr. Richard Derby of take the colonel nslrle anil explain Just the first post. Only one charter mem New York, and Eric Fisher Wood of what wns wanted without having ber o f the Grand Army still is living, Pennsylvania. Mr. Llndsley was Helen suspect anything. t ’apt. R. A. Smith o f l ake City, la. She longed to wear a bine georgette chosen chairman of the committee and M ajor Stephenson, in council with because o f that service and his sub frock elaborately embroidered In steel | MOSCOW CITY OF DESOLATION some o f his comrndes drafted a secret sequent work as chairman o f the Min bends, hut the colonel luid often men ritual. It wns a wordy, oratorical a f neapolis convention, the title o f first tioned Ills fondness for her In that col London Newspaper Correspondent Re fair and was revised in later years. eommnnder o f the American Legion or In the never-to-be-forgotten days o f fers to It as a Place of Second- The ritual was so pretentious that It wns conferred on him. Mr. Wood was youth, so she resolutely pushed nslde Hand Stores. was hard to find printers who could named the secretary. One Important the alluring little garment nml select set the type, hut M ajor Stephenson step taken nt the St. Louis meeting ed a drab gray to which only her sap The desolntlon o f Moscow tinder the finally rounded up Isnac Coltrin and was that o f asking the congress of phires gave color. reign o f l.enine Is described hy "Pier- Joseph Prior, printers who served In the United Stales for a charter. This O f course they had met nlinnst ev inarlnl,” the correspondent o f the the Ur Ion army and entitled to know request was Intrusted to Luke T,c« ery day In the year, but he never went Evening News, who hns Just re the contents o f the ritual when they and Thomits W. Miller. The measure to Anne’s house unless he was Invit turned from a visit to the capital o f Joined the Grand Army. wns Introduced In both houses June ed there, nnd Anne only asked him soviet Russia. Here are some of the T w elve men constituted the first 27, last year. It passed the house of when there were many other guests. facts which he hns to tell o f life In Lately she had seen little o f him lie | post and the hall In which they met representatives August 27 and the sen Moscow today, ns reprinted In the I .on- President Wilson was beginning to plead that middle- don Tim e*: still is n hallowed landmark in Deca ate September ff. tur. The Grand Army at first was a signed the chnrter September Iff, com aged officeis ought to turn over social The only goods exhibited for sale sort o f vlgilnnce committee that sought pleting the work o f granting a charter, nffairs to the younger fellows nnd let nre old things. Everybody sell* any out persons given to disloyal ut the first ever granted to an organiza them have their fling. thing, nnd the most dissimilar odds When Ihe few people whom she had terances, and soon had them marked tion o f the nature o f the American anil ends nre exhibited together III Ihe asked had all been served. Anne left Legion. The legislative committee of for punishment i f they did not de sinnrte*l shops. sist. Tlie men o f the Grand Army de the Legion also placed before the con the gay little tea table nnd casually The value o f n Ihlng Is In the In manded a hundred per cent American gress many other Important leglsln- moved over to sit beside the colonel. verse proportion to its size. The hunt " I ’m so glad that you came," shp ism, just as the American Legion tive matters. Including bills covering I* for portable property. Such trans makes It plain that only one flag, Old land grants for form er service men, said. “ 1 want to nsk a hlg fnvor o f portable goods ore either stored safe Glory, will he tolerated In this land of hills dealing with the question o f the you." ly away or sent by some means t r “ Granted," he answered, smiling In ours. On through the years llie Grand deportation o f alien slackers and other other Into foreign countries. scrutably. “ before yon nsk. ns you must Army has stood for this same prin matters o f Interest to men o f the Le- Though there nre certain lim itation* have known It would be.” ciple o f patriotism, hnt death has been glon. to the sale o f liquor, the number o f “ Captain Anstrutlier’s little sister Is removing Its comrades at a rapid rate Important steps taken at the S t drunken people to lie seen everywhere and the ranks have diminished until Louis meeting provided fo r the open visiting me for a month. For some at all times of the dny nnd night Is now only a few more than 100,000 re ing o f national headquarters in New reason, not known to me, she Is not simply amazing. main. York and for the publication o f a proving very popular. My sixth sense One cannot buy nny new clothes or The American Legion was horn In weekly periodical that would he o f In- | tells me that.” hoots or linen In Moscow, hut all the “ Woman’s Intuition.” Plans j France, and It wns fitting to have It terest to former service men. "pow erful ones” nre richly. If not “ She Is young, ns yon can see, so so, for in Flanders fields repose thou also were made to have three well- i smartly, dressed. The female portion sands o f American soldiers who died known men o f the legion visit different young that her heart nnd her eyes are (which, by the way. exceeds the male- still filled with dreams. I want her ihaf the principles o f American free parts of the country to further the In hy three or four limps) wear hilts am» dom might live. On February Iff. 1919, terests o f the new organization. The to he gay and happv while she Is hpre. fashions evidently fresh from Paris. Already she Is beginning to feel that i-.venty American officers, who had me* chosen were Theodore Roosevelt. I saw, worn by actresses and courte keen assembled In Paris to discuss con Jr.. John P. J. Herbert and John W. the men are not rushing her ns she sans. more expensive and modish ditions In the American expeditionary Inzer. These made tours o f the coun had hoped they would. Can yon help frocks than one would find In any forces, met at the Inter-Allied club and try to advance the organization of me? W ill you help me to make her other city at the present moment. When the American Le visit here all that I want It to he?" •herp talked o f the formation o f an local posts. A little wistful smile played about after-war organization that would look gion met in Minneapolis the member Had to Stick. to the well-helng o f the men of the ship had passed the 750.000 mark, and his full lips and etched with a bold The most embarrassing moment I stroke the fine lines Hint were already It was predicted that the million mark service both on land and sea. showing at the comers o f his brown can remember was the rime my hus T lie decision was made at this con- | would be reached In a few months. eyes. “ It’S a hlg task to put up to a band accepted an Invitation and un There now are more than 8.000 Amer ference to start an after-the-war or- ; man whose own dreams have never derstood It was for a dinner Instenit gnnlzntlon. while the men were yet In j ican Legion [K»sts In tlie United Ht Wtien we come true, hut I’ll do my best. What of |u«l for the evening. France. Thus they would go hack to ! Alaska. Cuba and Hawaii. ever you say goes, yon know. I told arrived nt seven the host was Just America with their minds and heart* Franklin D’Olier o f Pennsylvania Is you that same thing fifteen years ago." returning from work, and It was *|i- centered on protecting the principles ihe new command or of the American Only that once did she let the mask pnrent from hi* manner that we were they had fought for. And t.. ., i me Legion. H ", with other new officers fall. Her face went white as a «now- not expected for dinner. W e wished horn# to find that the great army i t o f the Legion have opened headquar drop and her hand. Idly Angering the that we were far away, hut had to men In American training camps were ters offices o f the Legion In Indian bar o f aapphlres on her brenaf. stick and admit the mistake.— Ex ready, too. They had not crossed the apolis. And Indlannpolis and Indiana, change. trembled vlalbly. There was the ag sea, but they were willing to go and feeling a joint pride In the honor paid nny o f confesalon In the eye* she lifted were equally willing to participate In the state hy the American legion, w el Has s Long Memory. to his for one brief moment. " I f it any movement that meant a bigger, comes them. When they came they Jinks— O f all mean, grasping men. I hadn't been for the memory o f your Bfronger America. heard that Indianapolis was preparing klndnesa. I couldn't have endured It think Minks Is the worst. I don't be The twenty men who met In confer to erect a memorial to her fighting all fheae years." lieve be ever get* hla thoughts off Ihe ence February 15, 1919, In Paris agreed sons that will serve not only as a home “ 1 know.” His clasp on her hand subject o f money. fo r the American Legion, but for other at that time to call e caucus o f men Blnka— What ha* !ie been doing? was warm, reassuring. “ I l l do every representing every branch o f war serv patriotic bodies. Including the ve»er*na thing that I esn for the girl." Jink*— He'* been n*ktng me for it ice and the caucus assembled In Paris o f the Grand Army o f the Republic I f s m lmcle can happen. Ihen one paltry pound I borrowed off him some 1-rcA l i eaaUnulag far two day» and the Sponish-Aa ectcaa war. happened at Ihe post. The end o f years ago.—London Answers. N
