The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-08
RHETORIC ABOUT HEROES
MAKES OLDlERS SHEER
Adulations in French Newspapers Meet With Contempt
in Trenches, Where Men Remember Canards
Army Is Image of the Best of France

beautiful. deep northern eyes. Spotless
In attire and passionately fond OF his
profession. A writer OF the Pierre Lott
style. always making notes IN an oblong
leather cased note book. the author OF n
novel On which he had worked for three
years but always shrank from publish
ing. fordly rewriting and polishing. al
ways hesitating between half a dozen
prospective titles.
He was very we'll read In English
literature. lie once confided to me II
was often on the point OF marrying.
but what I wanted was not only a
wife for myself. but also a daughter FOR
my mother" Then he added THE
girl ! have been most deeply In love
with is a novel heroine. T~hackcray's
Ethel Newcome."
He had read a few. American poets
and was n great admirer ~ Poe for
his lines ITO Helen" Intensely French.
love of France. its soil. its people, its
traditions. its language was deeply
rooted In him. the flame Of patriotism
burning white. He suffered as from
physical pain from the presence of the
Germans in France. Gentle. full Of tact.
he had a soft muffled voice. which ever
In commanding never reached the MILL
tary rasp Of harshness.
4 Thoughtful Hero.
His general disposition was thought
full and reserved. Seldom have ! seen
him really gay. ! remember n in
stance when he frightened up and
laughed outright. b~oyishly. We had
been sent bach to the trenches before
the appointed time to reinforce "A po-
sition where an attack (Which did not
take place. was expected. To get there
urp na0uAI n1npU tEannbnS hnlI hk hil.
sars. Doubtless you know that. To the
immense delight of the poor slogging
infantrymen. the gentlemen on horse
back" have been sent to the trenches Ia
do as we do. though armed with their
ridiculous toy carbines instead Of real
rifles. There was no restraining our
men from good humored banter. to which
the dismounted hussars answered as
best they could.
Where are your horses" Have YOU
eaten HEM Your saddles must make
splendid pillows" Don't forget to put
IN our spurs IL YOU ever are sent 10
attack =" Mice Christmas presents,
these toy rifles And so On.
The Lieutenant laughed heartily and
said to me. ~ think we got the best of
IL. didn't We" But that was an ex-
ception to his general and somewhat sad
silence. though he always smiled when
speaking or spoken 10. .
The presence Of the Germans in
France really made him suffer. ] re.
member going the round OF the sentries
with him n night. At an advanced
post l had placed "A double sentry In a
bush. In front stood a tall ash tree and
the rising moon flung its shadow far out.
He led the sentries to the far end Of the
trees shadow n whispered to them
TO keep within 1t. Back in the trenches,
he said aloud. but as IL speaking Ia
himself. this French tree hides In It's
shade our sentries. and as the moon rise'
they will be brought Jack covered in Tho
dark shroud."
Three days before he was killed II
action we were talking OF the promise
Of spring. OF a change from mud ant
dark sodden vistas. He murmured slowly
~ should like TO fall in an attack a
sunrise. when the bayonets are gilded
and shine out fiercely like gold. to die
after having recovered some of our sol
and lie down among the peoples. hya'
cinths and buttercups." He fell before
sprins came with its flowers. but thu
bayonets glittered and his eyes glistenet
with JOY OF battle.
NV effort to describe him fails =,
miserably that ! feel as II | had com
mitted a sort OF sacril, ge. The infu'
ence OF a man Of his stamp Is great In
deed. The most ignorant. matter o,
fact soldier Of his company fell under
the magic OF mis- spell. He was a PROOF
that gentleness, perfect urbanity anC
delicate feeling can be allied with mill
tary efficiency and the leadership %
men In war. His was a kind OF de
vouring patriotism yearning for com
plete sacrifice.