Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1910-11-08
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An International
Difficulty
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Hans Becker and Gretchen Stiefel
were German peasants. aged respec-
lively Sixteen and fifteen. Their ia
Tiers little farms adjoined. and they
went 10 school together. Hans was
tall. dark eyed young fellow. with 1ne
frame, though not yet properly hlled
out Gretchen looked out OF a pair OF
mild blue eyes. and heavy coil OF
hair the hue of fax hung down her
backto her knees. The two had played
together as children and when they
came into their teens were still in
separable.
One day Hans, after u consultation
with his father, told Gretchen that he
was going 10 America. An uncle had
written from there that II Hans would
come out he would give him Il place IN
his brewing business and help him to
make a 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 II had ben determined that
he should go before his next birthday.
Hans and Gretchen were as 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 we'll up in her blue eyes.
Hans. too, felt a choking IN his throat.
He folded her in his arms. For the
frst time il 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-
tunity. He told him that II he would
remain at the business for ten years
without returning TO Germany he
might have a 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. II competent. be Its manager
At the end Of the time Hans had COM
piled with the conditions and proved
himself we'll fitted for a managers pc
sition.
Hans and Gretchen had correspond
ed and pined for each other. and at the
expirat ion OF the ten years Hans went
to Germany He 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
a SON But alas the boy WAS born
with a club foot.
When Hans and his family were
about to sail for America an officer
served paper on him d!straining 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-
manned more than nine months In Ger
many he again became German cit
izen and liable to military duty.
Here was u misfortune. TO remain
In Germany for the purpose OF hang
ing around a barrack for several years
would be equivalent to giving up Il
fortune in America. Hans knew that
the law OH this subject was inexorablc
aud was about to write his uncle re
linQuishing his interests In the brew
ing company when he discovered that
the period spent in Switzerland had
made him alien to Germany. He could
stay In the fatherland for nine months
more before again becoming German
citizen. This gave him a leeway OF
nearly two months. His wife was In
poor health, and he deferred his de
parture for the United States till few
days before the expiration OF the sec.
ond nine months period, which would
again make him a German citizen.
On reaching New York he found that
II the fatherland is Jealous OF her sons
leaving her shores without having done
military service the United States Is
equally jealous of any one coming
within her borders who is not IN ali
respects a desirable citizen. Little
Heinrich Becker's club foot was an
insurmountable obstacle to his being
admitted to the national domain. In
vain his father pleaded that be would
not permit his boy to become a bur
den on the American people. The law
refusing cripples is as inexorable as
the law respecting army service in
Germany. though the reason for It IS
more humane.
1t seemed that the only plan for the
Becker family would be to go back 70
Germany. But II this plan were adopt
ed the husband and father would reacl
German shores shortly after the ex'
piration Of the nine months period
which would make him liable to mill
tary duty. Hans began to wish thai
the nations OF the world would unite
under one government. so that he
might be a citizen Of all. He was
wanted in Germany, where he could
not make a respectable living. that the
emperor might be prepared to fight
the powers; he was kept out Of the
United States. where a fortune await
ed him, because his son happened e
be born with club foot
However, Hans Becker had become
an American and did not complain OF
the exceptional injustice Of just laws
1t was suggested to him that he go tc
Mexico with his family, from whose