Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-03
NEW GOLD STAR
in FAMILY FLAG
Death Tidings, Instead of
Christmas Label, Reach
Cornley Household
SECOND LOSS in WAR

Confidently, II somewhat impatiently,
Ive-year-old Ned was waiting the big
package from Germany containing the
4 Kaiser his big brother soldier had
promised to send him for Christmas.
Sweet faced Mother" Cornley, with the
rest Of the family, just as impatiently
waited the coming of the label from
Private William M. Cornley SO they
could send him his Christmas packet
They wondered at the unusual delay In
hearing from the lad. But as they
waited they packed and repacked that
Red Cross Christmas packet dozen
times in their minds.
Instead Of the much-coveted label
there came telegram from the war
Department announcing the death Of
Private William Cornley. Of Company
M, 10th Infantry, on October 8. 1t is
the second announcement Of death the
Government has sent this home.
In simple black cotton gown, Mrs
Flizabeth Cornley, of 72S South Twen-
tieth street, stood in her little living
room today before the three pictures
similarly framed, of her boys in service
over the likeness of the most youthful
looking boy in khaki there was already
a gold star and the words: "Died in
Service"
Tore up Release Papers
FRANCIS was only sixteen when he
enlisted" the mother almost whispered
as she gazed through. gathering tears at
the clean, happy looking face of her
youngest. He was such good boy,
"a l.o ho1 1,ip
from home. Twice we obtained a re-
lease from the army for him because 1t
Just broke my heart to have him go.
Each time he tore up the release slip
and said he would be ashamed to give
up his uniform till Germany was beaten.
He was in Company X of the 1O9th
/. Infantry, and went overseas early. His
frequent and CHEEKY letters kept us be-
lieving he would come back safe.
Then he was killed in service last July
a ''william was wounded just a few
days later and was in the base hospital
for three months. This laSs letter I
had from him told of his release from
the hospital and return to the fighting
line"
As she talked, the mother fingered a
tiny gold star that was to take the place
of the blue star over Williams picture
Only One Blue star Lefl
rJoseph is the only one who can keep
his blue star" she continued. He, too,
enlisted soon after America entered the
war, and has been sailor on trans
ports carrying the soldiers across. He
is in New York now and may go over
\ seas soon. He is only twenty. He was
married, few months ago."
In addition to the three boys who
enlisted, Mr.. and Mrs. Cornley have
/ three children at home. Miss Gertrude
Cornley has helped her mother to knit
socks and sweaters not only for their
own boys but for other service men in
France who were not so fortunate as to
< have relatives. Money. letters and
dainty boxes of homemade cakes and
goodies from the Cornley home have
cheered many soldiers overseas.
William Cornley. father of the family
IL night watchman at the Bellevue Court
Building and Mrs. Cornley has also
worked to bring greater comforts to her
home folk and to the boys overseas who
used to help the family Golfer with their
earnings.
''They were good boys" she said
simply and proudly. Il am glad they
could serve. 1t is hard, but God bless
them, they have done their part"