The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-08-15
Louisa Goes
Over the Top
By GIDEON HOE
OF Tho Yigl0sses

Louisa Is the school scrub woman.
She has been connected with the school
for years. She has been there with her
brooms, her pals, her mops and her
eternal ~thoroughness.
Louisa was German. She spoke
German She thought German. She
dreamed Germany. She was In America
only because she could not learn so
much as here" She had come here n
generation ago with n young married
sister. The sister had gone back To
Germany, leaving her baby with
Louisa. He grew up as most boys do
whose mothers are not about and
whose supporting aunts have to 20 out
to work.
He was stoop-shouldered. he smoked.
He spent his wages as he wished.
Louisa would look Mt him grlmly and
mutter: Zach, II only / had you In
Chermany."
1t was for the boy that she worked.
1t was OF him and the Faderlnnd'
that she talked as she rubbed, rubbed.
rubbed. Zach. what thInkP That boy
he lends five dollars to "A man on the
block and he move away and we can't
6nd him.
mot so II Is In Chermany. There he
could not do this. Make bills and hide
himself. There you have n little book.
From school yet you have It. In It
stands your name. your age, your hair,
your eyes, and all what you do for a
living.
First thing you do II you move, you
must go to the police and show your
book, then again when you arrive you
show your book to the police.
mo, no, In Chermany you cannot
run away. There they have It much bet
ter. You are all bosses. Neln. You
AVE not the discipline. Hrrp, Rrrp!
Forward march :" and Louisa shoulder.
Ing her broOms and mops marched
down the corridor to the applause and
laughter Of the little children marching
into school.
Louisa liked To mlnCle with the
teachers. At the beginning Of the war,
when the teachers gathered in their lit.
tie knots discussing the possibilities
and specializing on the outcome Of Il
A"As va lAtNAt llFA 'htlNA lFiNl'll . ]
".Ach. the discipline. Won Hlndenhurg.
Won Hindenburg. He is for discipline.
He Is the soldier. Such Il fine one
never lived. You will see he will
win. He Is n Gottllke man.
"Oh, Louisa, have n heart. Don't
scare us so early In the morning."
scoffed Boy Teacher. reaching for the
brief case that rested at his feet. But
Louisa was before him and placed II
In his hands.
"Oh, thank you. Louisn, but you
mustn't do that. You'll spoil me. I'm
not used to It."
II should hope not" shifted another
young teacher, II should hope not in
deed. The Idea Of n woman waiting
on a perfectly healthy, strong young
man.. / bet / wouldn't do It."
ZACH. no? In Chermany you would
be better disciplined. You would save
the man ALL
"W'hy? whyy" stamped the young
teacher. "Why should a woman save
q man anythingf"
Because" Louisa condescended.
Because he is a soldier. He fights
for the Faderland. without the man
what are you? Nothing. 1t Is for
you to marry a fine soldier, mother n
fine soldier, raise up n fine soldier.
p..ht Is your duty. That you We're
placed In the world for. Now he"
pointing 70 the Boy Teacher, "would
make n fine" But the young teacher
had fed.
Germany, Germany. Louisa Is al
ways cheering for Germany. Why
don't these people go back and fight
for the Fatherlnnd? No. They stay
here and root for Germany"
The t~usitani- Was Sunk.
Then came the news OF the sinking
OF the Lusitnnla. The teachers gath
cred and discussed the news nngrlly.
"The devils. Our people. Hundreds
Of them. Frohman, Archie Butts,
Hubbard. It's awful. II was full Of
women and little children. Shame
full" SO,
Wondering. Louisa poked her head
inside the door. "What IS? Is some
one dead you cry sof"
"Yes. they're dead" and a teacher
sprnng forward and pushed the head.
lined paper full In Louisa's face. "Your
lovely Germans killed them"
"Killed? What Isf"
"The Lusltanla was sunk by the
Germans. She was carrying many
Americans"
$50" said Louisa coolly. "well,
they was told to stay of that boat.
The fools. Served themselfs well
right"
Keep STILL" screamed the young
teacher. Wen ask your precious
kaiser whether we may sail over his
ocean when he isn't using II, I sup
pose. Well, we won't" Then taking
fresh umbrage at the Others stOlld
composure, she burst out: "What do
you think you would be doing II you
were In Germany now? Going about
q building like this one, dressed as