Evening journal., 1918-04-02
~ InAH MGLoNE gibson.

RY IDAH RGLONE GIBSCN.
was determined 10 get the front
and, Of course. the French War once
had refused me pass.
Then ! met young friend from Bos-
con. had known his mother well.
said: -Harry. want 10 get to the
front"
He looked me over rSther superoi-
nously and said: "Nou haven't the CUTS"
thought how Mortified his Boston
csc mother would be II she could hear
her boy speaking In this inelegaut man
ner.
Il am no4 sure whether l have OF
not. Harry, but want to try" ] said.
What are you wearing under that
skirtf" ne asked.
Riding breeches,~ ! answered
They'll do" was his comment
what do you mean 2" asked.
.You must have sense enough to know
that no skirt could so to tho front
when IL Is IN action" he answered but
n YOU really mean what you say. meet
- down the road shout three-guarters
Of mile tonight and I'll see that you
set there" And he got up and left a
Khaki overcoat and q tin hat on a chair.
Thst night most unsoldierly figure
iu KHAKI Vended its way down the pitch
dark road, and finally came TO a place
where a French soup kitchen was on
lts wav TO the communicating trench.
The figure bowed silently and scknowl-
edged an introduction 10 two French
officers and fell IN behind the soup
Kitchen.
From the conversation II was learned
hat on this night the exchange Of
companies In the trenches was TO be
made. and when the soup kitchen ar
rived az the communicating trench, The
men were just coming out
Since 7 have been home, mother
has shown me the picture OF her son,
iust after he had come out OF the
trenches at the English 'front.', and she
said with tears in her eyes, He looks
IS years older
I was glad 90 he able to ten her that
this are would wear on In few days
after The men leave tho trenches, but
- the French poilu stumbles out. COW
cred win mud and caked with grime,
ne certainly does not look human.
There is nothing more beautiful In
tho way OF fireworks than the French
'front.' at night. The star shells-shells
sent up on both sides to light mp NO
Mans Land'-are constantly IN the air.
Then there are shells OF different colors.
which tell that gas Is coming or 20 give
the artillery commands.
There the helchiug guns and here and
tlfere an airplane with dropping bombs
makes one wonder n tho neither regions
wil not be much like this In its terrible
pichlresqueness.
Nnd then the noise There Is no word
n the English language 10 describe the
noise Of the battle front. 40 wonder
men become wrecks from shell shook
The old story OF not being able TO hear
yourself think Is perfectly illustrated
inere. Your brain refuses 80 respond
10 anything except the horror and fright
occasloned by the noise OF guns and
shells and here and there a sharp cry
as a man is struck.
Not often. though. DO you hear these
cries. as very few men know that they
have been hit Immediately after they
have been wounded.
on the night OF which ! am writing I
shell burst in a nearby trench anC
round the corner stumbled a man.
The ngure IN Khaki held out witt
trembling hand bowl OF soup and the
discovered the whole side OF the fac
Of the man coming toward him" wa
blown away. and the blood was spurt
ing
The man. however, did not know HI
had been shot and as he held out hi
hand for the soup. the blood spurteS
over IT, and he marked In surprise: II
Is blood
He had hardly gotten tlls words out o.
his mouth when he crumbled at the feei
OF the trembling, horrined boy" IN
bhe khaki overcoat and the Tin hat
who was evidently almost in q STATE
of collapse.
Harry. The younr american. stepped
lp quickly and hisscd n 'his' ear
Buck up, buck up or I'M knock youI
FOOL head off,
r. was exactly what was needed Il
bolster up the poise. OF 'the boy" b,'
Nhen another man came stumbling pas
md dellriously said 1T Is tho hands oil
my little son. as nc took The bowl OF
soup from the boys hands, Harr,
hought p was 8 good place 10 get on