Ripley County democrat., 1916-05-19
SUBLIME COURAGE AS IT IS Seen
IN TIVE HOSPITALS bEHIND vERDUN
Unconuerabe Spirit Of the French Soldier Is Manifested at Re-
ceng Stations Where STIR Of Battle and Incentive to Brave
Deeds Are Lacking-Day With Wounded Described \
In Graphic Letter From Noted Writer. IN

u"hDs sAAu NhVy AoiAp nav thChA AAkAb
my sergeants, my neutenants, my or
derly--and he was such good boy;
but the others kept on running for.
ward. It was magnificent. And then
this wretched piece of shell caught me
IN the ribs, and how those boys looked
after me. They carried me m an over
coat. and when shell exploded they
lay down on me, they actually covered
me with their bodies. And to think
that left them out there oil alone, my
chasseurs, my boys!'
"'My boys sounded strange from
so young an officer.
"'Yes, madame, l promise you am
going to be calm. have now plenty
Of time. What help me to undress!
Ah. no, thanks; not that
"'Well, said the nurse with sigh,
that means 104 degrees Of fever this
evening"
Gradually the beds are filed. Each
little room has its share of suffering
Of silent suffering. The seriously
wounded do not complain much.
"The chief surgeon and his assist.
ants come along. He has Just left
the operating room; his linen coat is
stained with blood and he holds his
hands, covered with rubber gloves,
high in the air. Under his white cap
his face, crossed by thin mustache.
appears thin and hollow, with the
strained. sharp expression evoked by
o day Of work at high pressure.
He stops before each bed, consults
the chart, makes brief examination
and pronounces few brief words.
No time to lose, for there will be op.
erations all night long.
The Battle With Death.
"'Send this one TO the operating
room at once. Yes, captain; n will
be quick affair. Send that one next.
Give him 500 centilitres Of serum IN
the meantime. Give that other one
camphorated oil, maximum dose
1T Is the bitter, determined strug.
gle against death. which is eagerly on
the watch.
There is a more lengthy delay at
the bed Of lieutenant who has tust
been brought In. His stiff hair is cur.
ly and his face Is like q sculpture In
clear bronze. His eyes are OF q
bright clear color and they look
sharply at the faces that bend over
him.
IAN right says the surgeon at
last, in gentle voice. His eyes wan
dered TO the bed table and he observed
an open letter in graceful feminine
handwriting. on which the three
words. I love you!' stand out sharp
ly. He covered up the wounded off,
Ger and tucked IN the covering around
him quite tenderly.
"We shall net touch you tonight
he adds. You are not suffering too
much? Good. you will have a so.
dative. Best well and goodnight
"As the surgeon leaves the room he
makes q gesture across his abdomen
from one side to the other and whis.
pers: He Is lost; cut right across.
He has no pulse and he will not live
till morning. And what magnificent
boy; such courage and such o brave
look. It's dreadful to feel that one
can do nothing
Madame, the lieutenant with the
curly hair wishes to speak to YOU
says an attendant. The nurse re-
turns to the room on the tips of her
toes.
Madame the lieutenant says calm
y. I ask for you because I am lost
The Great sacrfice.
"'You lost! Why talk such foolish.
nessr
Thanks, madame, but II is useless
to deceive me. ! am lost; feel II.
and ! know It Oh, am not complains
Ing; 30 many of my comrades are
gone. II was my turn that's all. Be.
sides, I have the immense Joy Of know.
ing that die for something. They
will not get to verdun and they are
wearing out. Only land he turns to
the darkening Window, only would
have liked to see the sun again.
Madame. have some letters here and
q photograph. VIII you do me the
favor to burn themr
The bronxed hand reaches out and |
seizes the papers on the table and
presses them over his breast, which
rises In sigh. For brief moment
his fingers tremble and his mouth
contracts Then he holds out the pa-
pers.
Take them. Thanks.'
He is silent. His sacrifice has
been consummated. Tears fall from
the nurses eyes on her white bodice
and on the love letters. which she
presses tight.
my mother begins the lieutenant
again.
"'Do you wish to dictate letter for
herr
There is pause No: am not
strong enough. You will tell her.
You will know best how to tell her.
His eyes close. and then all al
once they open again.
MY notebook All my war life is
Inscribed In II. day by day. l have
entered the date of my wound. When
III 10 over win YOU please add the
lay and the hour