The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-06-29
A British
Volunteer
By F. A. Mitchell

Ralph Sackville left London TO the i
plaudits of crowds of people who were |
viewing his regiment march to the sta
tion to be entrained for the coast and
thence to Belgium. In six months he
returned under very different circum
stances There were no crowds to
greet him Instead Of the handker
chiefs waving from the windows and
the sounds of martial music many of
the blinds were closed, and there was
oaly the rattle of the cab in which he
was driven through the streets
Sackville had lost foot and ankle
and was discharged from the ranks.
He had been among the first to re-
spond to his country's call, leaving the
service of bank in which he was
employed to join the colors. His posi-
ton in the bank was still open to him.
but it required him to stand all day
paying checks, and he was unable to
fill 1t. Indeed, there were few posi-
tions he could fill The only occupa
tion that occurred to him as suited to
his altered condition was that of chauf-
feur He was a gentleman without
means and shrank from doing mental
work, but ii was the best he could do,
and he hobbled to garage and Sc
cured a position.
, One day he was directed to go to a
J hotel and call for Miss Amelia Duncan,
| ali American young lady travelling with
, her invalid mother, who was confined
' to her room under her daughters care,
assisted by nurse. The daughter
needed the air and proposed to drive
D out every day when the weather ad
' mitted This was not very often, for
0 the sun seldom shines in England. She
. had called for a reliable chauffeur
/ whom she might use when required.
On this first afternoon that Sackville
: drove Miss Duncan they became cor
nered in a street crowded with people
! who were witnessing the departure OF
e troops for the war Drums were beat
a ing flags were flying, and the air was
4 filed with cheers.
Isn't it splendid" said Miss Dun
d can, partly to herself and partly to
e her chauffeur "If were a man
r would surely go to the war.
s And either leave your bones in Bel,
gium or return minus an arm or leg
d or an eye or perhaps all three" replied
d the chauffeur.
|. "Well. | never" exclaimed Miss Dun
r can in disgust. Have you no patriot
ISM
" Il don't believe In Il nation relying
, solely on its best men in case OF war
\, think every man of proper age should
q be liable to military duty. These sol
,r diers are all volunteers.
n That's what like about them" re
o piled Miss Duncan our war between
d the states WAS fought by volunteers
N Our manifest men enlisted
h. And bore The brunt of the struggle
n for two years when those on the north
n ern side began to pay the laggards Il
I enlist Jus. before the war closed mel
N were enliSting and deserting to get thu
"a bounty. DO yo,l consider that justiceT
~ II don't know anything about tina
IN war. was not born till many year
20 after II had closed 1t must be nice t
y be one Of those noble men who volun
teer. Don't you think SOY
~ mo, don't"
- Then YOU admit that you belong t.
= the class of laggards?"
= II don't admit that either. | belier'
in copscription.'
There's nothing noble in man 90
:! ing to war because he Is Obliged to go
:. | WAR is n duty. not something 10 b
= proud of. 1t is horror Did you eve
10 see men standing In line ready to fac
a. deathg'
:, mo. of course not.
: Every face is serious, solemn. No
a word is spoken They are like pris
oners facing a firing squad. only VIII
- I. a prisoner death is certain, while W.T.
~ them IT Is probable, or, what Is worse
they may expect to be manned for lire
Are they cowardsF
NO; they are men, but when Tn
fight is on they cease to be men an
" y become wild beasts"
ID ITS a shame for you to talk In thi
way Instead Of sitting comfortabl
er in an auto you should be among thos
noble fellows marching to war.
70 1T will not be SO fine when the
return
They will come back victorious VII
their battle stained banners hyint
m greeted with the applause they d'
81 serve"
MANY of them will never come oaci
be Many will hobble back. II the reg
p ment returns as a unit most Of its men