Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1914-10-24
DRAMATIC STORY
OF THE CLERGYMAN
His Duties, During the War, At Sois-
sons Keep Him Constantly
Busy.
BY WILLIAM G.. SHEPHERD.

z, (by Mail to New York)-I wish |
could show you the little grey-haired
priest Of this village near scissors as
he goes about his duties these days.
There, the peace of certain War.
less Land that he knows about on his
face and he reads his services over
a dead German with the same tender
tones and the same smile of hope that
he has for the dead soldier who sleeps
in the red, white and blue of France
| first saw him as he passed
through the village square in his
robes that had once been white His
Of hundreds of automobiles which
dash throuhg the narrow, wet streets.
On his feet were army shoes, as mud
dy as any soldiers. But he raised
his face as he chanted a service from
a book in his hands and when | saw
his smile, | forgot the CRIME Behind
him marched four men, guarded by
soldiers. Even before I knew who
or what they were I saw that there
was something especially evil and
grueSOme about them. A French Of
ficer explained the processing to me:
'"These men are Germans who were
caught wearing civilian Clothes May
be they were spies; who knows? But
they are worse than spies They
were caught footing the French and
German dead out there on the battle
field. They are being taken out now
to be shot"
1t was a thing to shudder over,
but the little clergyman marched on
with the look of hope and mercy on
his face as if he knew someone who
understood and even controlled all
this madness and evil into which
humanity has fallen Someone who
knows the weakness of humanity as
we'll that He might have pity on a
man. Then l saw him come to the
The nxet time I saw the little
clergyman was at the entrance to the
Red Cross hospital. Three caskets
stood in the high hallway which open
ee onto the street. A line of French
| soldiers stood at attention, facing the
| doorway. A Ked Cross ambulance
drew up and the soldiers broke their
| rigid formation to make way for five
| wounded soldiers who were carried
| past the collins wehere thre dead
soldiers rested
The soldiers reformed again. There
was evidently hitch in the proceed
| ings:> The church was across the
| street and, by the glances Of the Off
| GERS towards the church door, l could
see they were waiting for the clergy
man. Then I saw rim come to the
| door.
Five women and two little girls all
| in black, were following him, persist
emily. and speaking to him. He stop
him. He stopped and spoke a moment
with each woman. They knelt, one
at time, on the sidewalk, as he rails
ed his hand in blessing, over each
mourning bedecked head. He held
his hands on the heads Of the little
| girls and raised his face upwards as
| if he we're telling someone to take
| special notice of two little folks who
| needed extra care.
| All this time the soldiers were wait
| ing. The priest walked across the
street, through the mud, his soldiers
| shoes scattering the dirt onto his sur
plice, the officers saluted, the soldiers
rails the caskets, the little priest led
! off through the slush and the three
| dead soldiers Of France were started
| on their last march,
I've seen the little priest a score
| Of times since then. He marches more
| than any soldier. There are scores of
dead to bury; there are dozens Of
| stories and confessions to hear from
! dying men in the hospitals; there are.
the broken-hearted women and chill
dren of the village who have lost
| their soldier loved ones to be com