New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-06
The Spirit of
AlSaCe
,,oslatcd bv W. /. Mcpherson

Translated by W. l. Mcrherson
loUT house Of NJ. Hermann was the third
10 the left ON the Place au CUR, fac
inc the market. shop occupied the
I'D foor-a gloomy ground floor. where 1t
often necessary TO light the lamps before
asct
!. the springtmc the linden trees on the
ak filed II with perfume Of honey,
~ mingled with the crude odor Of linens
= .o,tons. When winter came, ono saw the
=. abandoning Alsace, fly by just over the
| -. IN long, noisy train.
u,g,n I'm tho back Of his shop, ignoring
| avs and feast days NJ. Hermann came
| : yrrt. pushing his ladder. rolling and un-
| .,ri,c his pieces stopping only to verify his
/ 800. TO measure his cloth twice. to sell TO
= ,s,rons bodices and blue blouses. or trou-
4 :. which kept for weeks, in spite Of the rain
| - wind. the deep creases worn in them on
| 4. shelves. Once a year he closed his shut
=. and disappeared. Then the neighbors
3D.
m. Hermann has gone to Haguenau to
| z,her his hops
Because ". Hermann had still down there
Is old parents. little farm and house--s
| !, house. which tho PruSsians had turned
"a casino for the officers, since it stood near
| he new barracks.
u, Wa there on July 80, 1914, and returned
d. the day when they posted on the walls the
.,.i,s Of mobilization. The whole village was
i, fee. The old people smiled and rubbed
ssir hands, The young people went away
s,rirc. their bags over their shoulders. Stand
~ on his front doorstep, he watched what was
Sng on. bu, said nothing.
That same evening a squadron Of dragons
vs,ed through the village on a trot. The next
corning a battalion Of chasseurs made brief
sr. The people pressed about them on the
,ain road. throwing them flowers, and crying
.su reyoir' to the soldiers. -
Then for two days one heard nothing and
uw nothing but a French aeroplanc, which
wheeled for moment in the sky and then
aappesrci. But on the third day, carly in
no morning. they heard a distant cannonade,
and about , o'clock the chasseurs passed
through again without singing, gray with dust,
followed soon by gendarmes, weary and be
grimed The gendarmes stopped in the village
SQUARE. The inhabitants came running to hear
The news. VI. Schmoll, the Mayor, very pale,
came up and asked;
Have things gone wrong, brigadier?
They didn't 20 very well. Monsieur lie Marie.
Ware retreating, and the Boches are follow
Nus closely. 1t is necessary that the women
AID children and all the young men between
mteen and nineteen should leave the village.
hey must start within two hours. 1t is the
Wovost's order
NJ Schmoll read the paper, folded it and put
into his pocket. Then, turning to the group
around him, he said:
MY friends, you have heard what the briga-
der said. You must leave. "Only those whom
duty or advanced age detains may stay behind.
You others, put your most valuable posses
SONS in wagons, lock your doors and go!'
About o'clock the Germans entered, playing
their flies and beating on their fiat drums.
Before the Mayors Office, wearing his scarf
his military medal and his medal Of 1870
mined on his coat, VI. Schmoll awaited them.
The sentinels having been placed, the ofhcer
Who commanded the troop said:
you will guarantee with your person the
s.urity Of my soldiers. If one Of them IS IN
Elted shall arrest you. If one Of them is in
.gred you shall be hanged"
N. Schmoll Strengthened out his angular
squire.
$50 long as your men respect the lives and
honor Of the inhabitants, no one will do them
any harm. That is all that can guarantee
wu."
The officer slapped his boot and grinned.
Agreed. And now take me to Hermann
he draper"
" Schmoll was speechless for minute
Hermann, the draper? Do you know him
Probably. Let US CO.
W. Schmoll bit his lips and obeyed.
When he saw the officer and the Mayor en-
u ". Hermann came TO the door Of his shop
pgiting on his spectacles. The officer took
Sst at the counter, looked around and sad;
Your house at Haguenau is more comfort
&s than this one, VI. Hermann. But, no mat
m Take a chair. You are an intelligent
nan want to talk with you. How many
.sad Of cattle are there in the village!
N. Sehmoll interrupted.
Monsieur Hermann is not authorized 10
answer that. ] alone
"You will speak when l address you sald
he officer Answer me, Monsieur Hermann