The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-06-22
Washington. D. c., June q.

Guided between his English friend and
William Campbell. Of Charles Town,
on the dock at Liverpool, a few weeks
ago, than the Englishman espied q
button.badge IN the lapel OF the West
v~irginian's coat.
What is that, old chap" he asked
with sone show OF serious concern,
pointing to the little gold crescent b.
~furcated by a diminut!ve jeweled
sword.
That's a shrlner's button-Masonic
side degree. you know" was the ex'
PLANTATION.
Better take # down. old top. They
might suspect you being a Turkish
SPY. or rather. I should say. sympa'
thizer. you know"
Mr.. Campbell looked surprised and
u~nbelievtng.
Really. you know. I'm not spoofing
quite in earnest. We do moi have
that order. What is II you call It? 0,
YES. Skriner-we do not have 1t over
here, YOU know. 1t isn't done, really.
II may embarrass you"
So the Charles Town editor politician
and apple exporter. tucked his little
emblem in his inside pocket.
Espionage" he told the reporter,
'js the greatest fear the English peo'
ple had. They are picking up spies
daily. While they get a good many
. who are not spies and can prove it,
they also get = good many who are
the genuine spy article. / was in
Bristol one day when they picked up
thirty spies dressed in the khaki uni
form OF the British army. This is the
a 1t was done. Every soldier there
was ordered not to ride on street cars.
BICYCLES, or in vehicles OF any kind
on certain days. They must walk that
day or pay the penalty. The thirty
German spies, not being in the army
of course. knew nothing OF the strange
order. That was there undoing."
While the Shriner button tucked
away in his inside pocket doubtless
saved Mr.. Campbell some embarrass'
ment. he experienced enough Of it
frcm day TO day to make it decidedly
unpleasant. The average Englishman
is peeveG and ore because the United
States isn't fighting in the war on the
side of the Allies. President Wilson'S
sentence in his Philadelphia speech
that a nation can BE too proud TO
fight" is frequently interpreted TO mean
that the United States won't fight.
II was this line Of talk that Mr.. Camp
bell heard at the banquet OF q Rotary
club in which he was invited to attend.
and il can be imagined that his even
Eeeled temper took on a crimson glo"
as he listened to speeches which con
fained these iusinuations. When he
was introduced. the diners were evil
IDENTITY surprised that there was a clti,
zen of the United States present. and
one 10 whom the English are a closed
hook. He began by delivering a !ttIe
lecture on the courteSieS mutually
dine host and guest in any gentlemans
country, and then he answered the
insulting insinuation thai america
wouldn't fight" He reminded them Oh
their country's own history. which, II
they had read. disproved the asperslon
in Al least. two instances. They hau
every reason to remember from their
history that the United States could
fight, however painful to their patriotlc
nride the recollection might be. Inc
first instance that proved that his
country would fight when its cause was
inst was when your ancestors, by inc
direction OF their king who could speak
German better than he could. your
own language, shot down American
c~oIonists for defending the very prlr-
cinies OF human liberty which your
forefathers fought and died for al
Runnvmede." And much more. which
made the Englishmen at the dinner
souirm. redden up. and a~fterWarI
apologize for. 1t was a hlgh'tenSlo"
dinner.
rawther good. | should say-whst
said Mr., Campbell's friend when
asked II he thought his remarks had
baan rather hard" on the English
men. 49,,
"Exceot for soldiers everywhere you
would never know that less than lO0
miles away as ny -
fighting and dying in Flancers. alo
Mr.. Campbell. business hasn't Deen
co GOOD in many years as 1t is now IN
EngIand. nor has work been so plenti'
FnI ANYBODY who wants work can
cot II at advanced wages. The real
workers Of the country are elmer
eghtjng In the trenches or in great
csmns ready to be sent. There are
two million and a half soldiers who
have been in training camp for SIX
months and more who haven't been
cent to the front, and nobody seemed
20 he able TO tell when they would De.
rs The English way-and the explana.
ton viii be clear enough when the
world gets 1t. ~,
cav at night. Cafes and theaters are