The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-07-21
A HEROIC SOLDIER OF The CAR

! The present conflict in the Far East
has furnished occasion for many ex-
cellent short stories by the Russian
writer's. While these tales treat war as
horrible business, they bring out the
noble side of humanity. showing that
the soldiers of the Car carry out their
Christian faith in action amid scenes of
danger and carnage. One of the most
interesting of these stories, as it ap-
pears in the Nineteenth Century. is as
follows:
"a regiment of Russians is advanc-
ing through wood to attack a Japan
csc position. The wood is all silent and
gloomy, and the topmost leaves are
gently waving to and fro, barely rust
ling in the wind A thick gray mist
deadening the sound. But the troops
have not advanced far before the 81
lence is broken by a hail of shell crash
ing down into the midst of the forest.
The Japanese in their feverish anxiety
seem to wish to annihilate every living
thing, and to rend even the forest trees
by their fire. Every moment seems
precious to them. And they hurry to
throw shell after shell before the Rus
stead of peaceful rustling, branches
boughs, and leaves are falling on all
sides as if a mighty storm were pass
ing through the forest. Men, too, are
falling. The grass is red with blood,
and groans are heard on every side.
One wounded man lying on the ground
tries to raise himself on his elbow.
His feverish eyes are eagerly following
his advancing companions while he IS
left behind. His white lips move slow
ly and without an audible sound. His
eyes become larger and clearer, lit, as
it were, by some inner light. AS if, in
deed, the soul. weary of the strife,
were knocking at it's windows to at
tract the attention of those kindred
souls outside its earthly habitation, en-
treating them to come to it's help and
free it from it's deep and cruel torment.
But time is short, and the advance has
sounded-he is left behind, and no one
heeds his appeal.
Steadily the regiment marches for
ward a soldier dropping here and
another there This time a bullet has
gone straight through comrades
heart, another is hit in the breast and
sinks down with a groan, only just able
to murmur, My comrades, my COM
rades.' When he succeeds in half rails
ing himself he finds he is alone, and
only dimly hears the dull tread of the
disappearing soldiers. In an almost
final effort he lifts his eyes if by
chance he may catch sight of some
familiar form, but a dark mist OBJ
scures his vision. At last he family
whispers, 'Ah, comrades, ah!' But ever
and ever onward, passing dead and
wounded, passing dying and fallen, the
regiment unheeding marches on. Words
OF command now and again re-echo
through the forest. and at intervals
explanations of No surrender Eyes
to the 'front.' sound through the ranks.
And so the body moves on.
Presently an officer is wounded in
fall out. AT the sight of the wounded
officer a soldier leaves the ranks and
asks If he can assist him, but the look
of the wounded man grows stern, and
with a wave of his hand he cries,
Join your rank. I shall manage alone.
Get you gone Peter But Peter did
not move, in spite of the imperious and
reiterated command of his superior.
The officer made an attempt to walk,
but was not able to stir and finally
put his hand on Peters shoulder say
ing. Well, then, lead me away But
although he did so, he felt feeling of
animosity against his subordinate. He
had noticed, too, that on a former oc-
casion Peter also offered assistance to
a wounded man. offering to bring him
to the field hospital. And he put down
Peters action to cowardice. While ac-
cepting Peters assistance he could not
help exclaiming to himself, What a
scoundrel, it's funk makes him lag be-