Evening journal., 1918-03-13
An EXPLANATION AND A DEDICATION.

An EXPLANATION AND DEDiIAIION.
ON another page OF paper there will be found
~ today war poem entitled "on the Border Of No
Mans Land"
Eighteen years ago the writer of those left his
Delaware relatives and friends and went to New York
to engage in metropolitan journalism He was stranger
in strange land and in the early stages Of his life
there, often beset by homesokness To relieve that
feeling of depression his practice TO spend many
Of his leisure hours wandering through the East sido
rubbing elbows with men. women and children foreA
gathered from all parts OF the world and getting
folk who for varying had much greater cause
than he TO hunger for home.
on one Of those excursions no saw the curb in the
celebrated pushcar District the Ghetto vehicle loaded
with old books aud sheet music. Going 10 It, he picked
shabby portfolio and opened II. The first sons that
his eye encountered entitled, I'm Thinking OF
Those Who Are Thinking Of Me" lie said TO himself
referring the relatives and friends whom he had left
Back Home Were not far apart, after all
Six weeks ago the writer OF the was over in
New York more. During part Of the time nc was
entertained In the home OF a Fifth photographer
who resides in Flushing l.. l. Robert the only son OF
that man. bright and wnsome lad. who quickly won
the rank corporal had enlisted in the Twentyihrd
Engineers and to France with early contingent OF
American troops When the writer entered that Flush
ng home he quickly discovered that the hearts Of that
man and his wife were raw but resoute. While they
regretted the national necessity which had called for his
enlistment they did not want him hack. He had dedi-
Gated young life 10 his countrys service and they
honored him for that dedication But all their thoughts
all their utterances were Bobby; and they talked
Of him tears coursed down their cheeks The rooms
were studded with his portraits. They showed him in
the varying stages Of development from babyhood TO
that hour il young manhood when he donned his uni
form and Joined the American colors Bobby peNaded
their hearts, their souls and their thoughts lie sufused
their eyes with His spirit seemed TO occupy the
vacant chair at the table.
After dinner the father OF that boy produced Bobbys
letters They showed that his whole thought of his
father his mother his sister and his friends And tho
mind Of the writer flashed back eighteen years to that
homesick day the Pushcart District OF the great and
congested East Side. He that tattered
music portfolio and that unknown song entitled I'm
Thinking OF Those-Who Are Thinking OF Me-" And he
said TO himself "This father and this mother here in
America and that boy in France are not so far apart
after air.
Following his return to Wilmington the writer thought
more deeply upon the subject lie could visualize
great bridge Of sentiment archng from the hearhsone
In America to No Mans Land in France and Flanders
It's towers were OF patriotism us golden cables were
spun of hear,cords Of fathers and mothers brothers
and sisters sweethears and wives. Its great deck COW
cred with the flowers Of love, was suspended from
those cables by unbreakable ties. Passing across
that great bridge OF sentiment he seemed to see myriads
Of American fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters
syyeethears and wives going to their Bobbes in No
Mans Land and myriads OF Bobbies speeding homeward
10 those whom they loved and wished to comfort
Having visuazed that unfaling channel Of oommuni-
cation between the hearthstone and tho trench, the
author wrote the eight Aer he had written them
no rewrote them and placed at their head the title
rOn the Border of no Mans Land
subsequently he read them TO his very good friend
Harry Palmer Of New York. war artist and caroonist
/ of international reputation.
Let me illustrate them for YOU" Mr.. Palmer said.
They were given to him. He took them to New York
collaborated with French army officer and the hand
some illustration which accompanies the poem the
result
The verses dedicated TO that Flushing father and
mother and their SON. Bobby, and TO all other fathers
and mothers, brothers and sisters sweethearts and
wives who have Boobies in any branch Of the service
no matter whom they may be or where they may be
stationed.