The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-23

myself" And the order was given i'm
the same tone OF friendly seriousness.
The war had brought about no
change In this most peculiar man.
He remained In Lorraine just exactly
what he was IN the provincial quar-
tors OF the military school. where he
made out at night detailed account
Of the condition Of the mems shirts
and shoes. lie was a pure type of a
respectable bourgeois. who carefully ,
puts up jam every summer for tho
following winter. and who. forever
practical. continues during the most
,ncmentous hours to believe in the
Importance Of all small things of life.
This attention to the smaller details
is generally most offensive to more
exalted minds who cannot believe In
the usefulness of an officer who is
81. the same time an official and re-
mains strictly In his own place and
n, his WI work. leaving to others the
discussion and consideration Of .highcr
thoughts.
War. life. death arc all very bcauti-
fjl subjects for the civilian TO discuss:
he has much time to spare. But a
Captain has no time to lose. lie must
watch the supplies given to his men.
He must take care of their food and
their stomachs. Philosophers. who
lave not been modified. can take care
Of the weird works Of destiny. the
erea, problems Of human existence
and the great unanswered questions
Of the war. The military profession
constitutes a barrier erected IN front
of all these problems. The soldier
must act. he must not think As
-.a, .a hA 1nni,c 20 fhtnE thD oyNntyNt
r,mre on his back. The first acS of
war il to forget every article of i'm
Imagination. Capt. Puchc. who seemed
to have no imagination whatsoever.
vas therefore a most valuabic chief.
Nome If his men. not even Burette,
noticed his during the first few days.
Caspard. who remained az his pots asid
pans and therefore did not attend the
drills. spoke Of these exercises in a
highly contemptuous manner. He
thought tnem entirely uncalied for and
un,:mely. but
Tin tn. business you're not sup
rc~ed TO try TO understand. They're
our hossc n we're just plain num-
b~-s.'
We'll. that's going a bit too far"
said Morcau.
Romarin. the BARRIERS assistant from
A.. proved more energetic.
well. I've come here TO fight and
that's all ! want now"
Clopurt~. the grocer, had nothing to
say.
At times young Pinceloup. a big,
heavy set farmer with a face thor
ougnly bN~ed N the sum-. would say:
"For all we know we may never
see the ~alooches."
Don't NC foolish" said Gaspard.
Foolish nothing: don't forget that
We belong to the reserves
Go on: I like to hear you talk
"If the active troops do their job
we'll
Poor fool. where do you come
tom: Were you born this morning.
I'm not more OF "a fool han YOU
are"
You're no, a fool: you're a damn
fool"
Well. all ] know is that we've been
here nvo days and the others have
skipped. Why do you think they beat
III"
where do you come from?' said
Gaspard.
my home is in Pin-la-Garenne."
Are there nan fools like you
there?'
Sergeant Fosse rushed into the hay
loft INC said:
We're going. You'll have to get
ready in fifteen minutes
Where are We going" asked MO-
reau.
We're going right to it. my boy.
You'd better number your arms and
legs
The deuce you say" excIaimeo
Caspard, Are you sure OF it,"
Il heard the Colonel say 1t to Puche'
Murray, pals, this is the life!'
He cornered poor P~inceloup. ex'
Claiming. You're some prophet
p.nueloup had turned white and sc
had Clopurte, while Ronar!n wa:
beaming with joy. Gaspard danced
around the place with Burette.
Didn't you hear him.
"Df course l did
Wei, how about u aren't yol
happy?'
You be, I'm happy"
We'll. then, it's time to begin Il
hugh. Old pal. We're going TO see jus
what the alboche is made Of"
HIS happiness was so sincere that
put courage into the hearts or th'
weakest, AS he was preparing for tn
march his parting remark was: "a
lst We'll get a chance OF a real ngh
w.,hou' fear OF the cops
The regiment started at once.
Tho weather was exceptionally mn
and the morning breeze gave courage
10 these inexperienced troops on tn
first day of their misery. Gaspar'
kept on smoking. talking. singing o
eating while marching along. From
time 20 time he would be seen carrying
two rifles while Moreau was shaking
o pruue tree. The latter would returl
with his cap full OF prunes which n
distributed to the others. but the frul
Vas not ripe. Two minutes late
Moroau was carrying two rifles, Gas
psrd having disappeared in a farm
He reappeared shortly. exhibiting to nj
friends what he had found:
Butter, pals; yes. real butter. An
fresh too
Just like in the Avenue du Maine.
said Moreau.
And it was just as in the Avenue d
Maine. A line of twelve motor buse
from Paris passed the men on the roas
r