The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1903-12-24

Christmas On q Battlefield:
RENT Of a French Officer.
Retod for the Phi OF by F. r. BASTEIn


still without making the least move. A
Christmas hymn sung in the field at
midnight and under such peculiar cir
cumstances and rendered voluntarily to
enemies who were leveling their guns at
the performer The remarkable act ex-
ercised an immense influence over us.
The Parsians, as is well known, are not
devoted to religion in an extraordinary
degree. Their life is very much taken
up with frivolity and giddiness and they
are, generally speaking, quite incapable
of looking at the serious side of human
existence. But here was an occurance
that made them listen with deep feeling
and true devotion
But this deep feeling aud true devo-
ton were evoked not only in the camp of
Frenchman. The extraordinary act Gre
ated the most profound sensation among
the Prussians. The German nation is ex-
ceedingly fond of celebrating Christmas
in their homes by means of beautiful
trees lighted mp with candles and loaded
with presents, and no family in the
/ Fatherland ever thinks of being without
these things during the most solemn,
the most holy and at the same time the
most cheerful period OF re entire year
And now, before the walls of Paris
many II German soldier thought of his
! far away home and his family gathered
'round y Christmas tree. Many a grim
veteran thought of his anxious wife who
amid the noise and laughter of the little
ones, heaved sigh upon sigh, shuddering
at the thought that she might. possibly
Mt that very time, be IA widow
Engrossed in such and similar thoughts
the grim soldiers We're snddenly aroused
from their dreamy preoccupations by
the lonely soloist singing II song of love
and cheer into their very hearts. Small
wonder that they listened intently, fol-
lowing every syllable of that precious
hymn. The aiming guns were slowly
and noiselessy lowered before the singer
had finished the first stanza, and no
friendly audience had ever listened so
breathlessly to n hymn rs did those sym,
path2ing German veterans.
When the singer had concluded ha
saluted sgain, and turning round on his
heel, rs is the custom among soldiers he
marched with martial step into our
camp.
Now, Captain" he began, do you
regret having given me permission to
leave the trench?"
| was about to answer, when on the
enemy side we saw tall, stately cui-
rassier rising ont of the moat lie was
noble fellow. On his head be wore
helmet that shone brightly in the moon
light and IA he approached us we per-
ceived that he was II young man of
beautiful countenance. Altogether he
presented very handsome appearance.
Like our volunteer he came within a
few PAGES of our intrenchments where
SO many fully armed men where in hid
ing and where for months past everyone
of them had ihirsted for the blood of the
Prussians who had won so many victor
les over our forces
Having saluted quickly he began to
sing, with u voice that could be heard
for n considerable distance, the famous
German Christmas choral:
20 du froehliChe o du Selipe
Guadcn bringcudc Weihnachtszcit"
oh thou glad. ONE ever blessed
Mercy bringing Christmastde!"
With rapt attention we listened to
this justly celebrated German choral,
and none of my men was permitted to
move bis weapon, much less to aim at
the handsome singer, The Child of Beth
lehem for the time being united in bonds
of friendship the most obstinate and in
veterate enemies. Saluting again and
turning about, the cuirasser marched
to his own. All was quiet after that and
when the sun was rising in the East we
were once more detiantly engaged in ex-
changing bullets with the enemy.