The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-01-30
AN INTERNATIONAL
DIFFICULTY.

lHcrS httie iuiinS uuJolneu, anu they
went TO school together. Hans was a
TALL dark eyed young fellow. with fine
frame. though not yet properly filed
ont. Gretchen looked out OF. pair Of
mild blue eyes. and a heavy coil of
hair the hue of fax hung down her
back TO her knees. The two had played
together as children aud when they
came into their teens were still In
separabe.
One day Hans. after consultation
with his father, told Gretchen that he
was going to America. An uncle had
written from there that IL Hans would
come out he would give him a place In
his brewing business and help him to
make q fortune. The offer had been ac-
cepted. Hans would soon be seventeen
years old, an age when every German
man must serve his term of military
duty before leaving the fatherland,
therefore it had been determined that
he should go before his next birthday.
Hans and Gretchen were MS ignorant
Of love as at the day they were born.
When Hans told her that he was go-
ing to America she turned pale, made
few little breath catches, then tears
began to well up in her blue eyes.
Hans, too felt choking in his throat.
He folded her in his arms. For the
first time it dawned upon them that
they were lovers.
The day before Hans was seventeen
he sailed for America. His uncle. who
had made money, gave him an oppor-
tunty He told him that if he would
remain Mt the business for ten years
without returning TO Germany he
| might have years vacation. at the
end of which he would receive block
| of the stock of the brewing company
! that would make him rich and he
| should, if competent. be its manager
| At the end of the time Hans had com.
| piled with the conditions and proved
| himself we'll fitted for managers po-
| sition.
| Hans and Gretchen had correspond.
| ed and pned for each other, and ut the
| expiration of the ten years Hans went
| 10 Germany. lie found Gretchen q
lovely woman. though still peasant,
| and they were married. 1t was In the
| summer. and they spent their honey
moon in Switzerland. A couple OF
months before the expiration of Hans
vacation his wife presented him with
son But alas the boy was born
with n club foot.
When Hans and his family were
about TO sail for America an officer
served paper on him distraining him
from leaving Germany till he had
served his term in the army Then
Hans knew what he had not known
before or had forgotten that If he re.
mained more than nine months In Ger.
many he again became German cit
izen and liable TO military duty.
Here was misfortune. TO remain
in Germany for the purpose of hang
ing around barrack for several years
would be equivalent TO giving up n
fortune in America. Hans knew that
the law on this subject was ineXorable
and was about to write his uncle re.
inquishing his interests in the brew
ing company when he discovered that
the period spent in Switzerland had
|
stay in the fatherland for nine months
more before again becoming n German
citizen. This gave him leeway of
nearly two months. His wife was IN
poor health and he deferred his dc.
parture for the United states til Il few
days before the expiration of the see
ond nine months period, which wonld
again make him German citizen.
on reaching New York he found thai
If the fatherlend Is jealous Of her sons
leaving her snores without having done
military service the United States is
!. equally jealous of any one COMING
within her borders who II not in al
respects desirable citizen. LittlC
Heinrich Becker's club foot was al
insurmountable obstacle TO his being
admitted to the national domain. III
vain his father pleaded that he wou,
not permit his boy to become bur
den on the American people. The law
refusing cripples Is as ineXorable as
the law respecting army service IL
Germany. though the reason for 1t is
more humane
II seemed that the only plan for the
! Becker family would be TO go back e
Germany. iut il this plan were adopt
ed the husband aud father would reacl
, German shores SHORTLY after the eX
plration Of the nine months period
. which would make him liable to mill
tary duty Hans began to wish tina
the nations of the world would unite
under one government, so that IN
; might be citizen Of ALL He wal
wanted I'm Germany, where he coult
not make Il respectable living. that IN,
emperor might be prepared to ilgh
: the powers; he was kept out of tn,
; United States. where Il fortune await
ed him, because his son happened t,
be born with club foot.
However, Hans Becker had becom,
! an American and did not complain o
! the exceptional injustice of just laws
1t was suggested to him that he go t,
Mexico with his family, from whose
border he could easily enter the Unite,
States. But he dlsdalncd TO break tn,
law. He determined to send his wifi,
and boy back to Germany. TO have hi
hnv's foot onprntpl on bv A surpaOi