Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-08-31
WHAT'S In
A Name?
Sometimes There Is a
Lot of Trouble
By r. A. mitchell

Prussian nor warrior, but Han
overian and professor. Indeed. the
old fellow was bookworm, who, II
fiy had attacked the tip OF his nose,
would have been too absorbed In his
studies 20 have defended himself. And
II the fly had succeeded In arresting
his attention he would not have In
tured the intruder for the world. He
would have opened a window and put
Il out
His son. Caspar, was called to the
Chair OF university In France.
Thenceforth the family became French.
The men, of course, kept the German
surname. but by the time the fourth
Caspar Kneiblitz came this was all
the German there was about them.
Not one OF them could speak word
OF German, and the third Kneibiitz
had given his life for France In the
war OF 1870.
When Germany advanced into Bel
GUM TO seize Paris. Caspar Kneibiitz
OF the fourth generation. the hero or
this story-if the word hero is proper
appellation-was twenty-one years old.
He was only deferred from Joining the
colors nv being so desperately In love
with Hortense lie Verrier that he was
unable 10 tear himself away from her,
though II must be admitted that IL he
had been able TO master his own feel
ings sufficiently 10 leave her she would
not have let him go.
For a Frenchman 10 have German
name accrued TO his disadvantage as
soon as the war broke out. Caspar
Kneiblitz was at last driven 10 part
with his beloved Hortense on this ac-
count. When others had Joined the
colors and Caspar remained at home
II was suspected that the reason he
did not go To the war was because or
German svmpathies When he came
70 know OF this suspicion he was
much pained He told Hortense that
he must not listen 10 the voice OF love
any longer and at once began TO make
preparations 10 20 to the front
or course he met with great opposi.
ton Hortense was sure .that she
would never see him again and that her
life would be blighted He tried to
reassure her. but I'm vain. However,
since the suspicious OF his countrymen
that he was loyal TO country he had
never seen and OF whose language he
did not know q word had been aroused
! his resolution was taken.
In order to make the separation
easier for his sweetheart he promised
: 70 write her letter every day tha: y
would be possible for him TO write.
Another thing she insisted on which
would not likely be possible was that
after every battle, II he came out alive
he telegraph her TO that effect. Caspar
fully realized the crowded conditions
of the telegraph lines, especially i'm
mediately after battle, and that they
) were under control of the government
but he had not the heart TO make II
known to the girl, thus denying hei
this crumb Of comfort. However. not
knowing what possibilities might arise
he drew up cipher code by which ht
might add few eRdearing words OF
information concerning himself.
1t was decided by the lovers thai
they would be married before a sep
< aration that might last forever. Th'
ceremony was performed privately
with few persons present. Within
week after its conclusion Caspar de
parted for the front
While Caspar's loyalty 10 France wa
not questioned by those who knew
him personally, his name at once ex
cited suspicion in strangers. He ha'
scarcely broken away from the cling
ing Hortense and gained his regimen
before he began 10 be looked upon a
X possible German sympathizer, thougl
why he should be in the French arm.
II he was loyal TO Germany was no
& explained. Truth is that many a MAJ
loyal 10 France OF England who ha'
q German blood in his veins experience
4 a like suspicion.
y Caspar Joined the army as privat
\ and would have been promoted ha
q IT not been for bis German name. Sey
Y eral times he distinguished himself
i and, officers Immediately above hir
Y having been killed Off, there were Va
e cancies. But when II came to que:
X ton Of filing them and Caspar was pre-
y posed his name caused his rejection.
y what Lieutenant Caspar Kneiblit
& 20 command Frenchmenf lmpossible'
= or course Caspar knew nothing Q
= this; he only knew that when vacancie
= occurred he was not promoted. Ii di
Z not trouble him. for his heart wa
8 with his dear Hortepse, and all b
= desired was that the war should /
= erded and ne might return TO her.
= AS luck would have II, Caspar foun
y n friend, an operator In the militar
Z telegraph department. One day whe
3 he was feeling very homesick Caspf
Z went to the Office and asked his frien
= TO send dispatch for him. No figh
Z ing was going on at the time, and II
g telegraph was not very busy, so Il
= friend told the lover that IL he woul
g leave his message with him he wou
= endeavor to smuggle IL through b
9 tween messages for the government
= Caspar left his message. which Il
9 operator put on file without looking
= Il and when a convenient time f
9 sending IL arrived took IL up for Il
Z purpose.