davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1918-11-08

Scarcely had we crossed the heights
when some shells burst behind us. The
French artillery even singled out indi-
viduals. While Vauquois was In their
possession they could coordinate the
entire neighborhood. We understood
now why this ash heap had been con-
tested for so bitterly.
We ran down hill till we came to
Varennes. The southern section of the
town had been wrecked by shells and
fire. Many chimneys were all that was
left standing of whole rows or
houses. Soldiers everywhere collected
scraps Of metal which were transport
ed to Germany. The church bells were
loaded on wagons and sent away. All
the copper, tin, brass and nickel which
could be found was gathered.
The next morning we went into the
trenches. We had to reach our posi-
ton before daybreak, for with daylight
the French kept all the approaches I'M
der fire. There was not much or
trench in Vauquois. All that could be
seen was single stone pile. Literally
there was not, in this town, one stone
left upon another. The ruins of this
village had changed hands more
than fifteen times. When we arrived
one-half of Vauquois was in German
hands. The French were in possession
of the highest points from which they
could overlook the country for many
miles.
In default of trench we sought
cover behind the stones. for 1t was i'm
possible to dig trenches here, as the ar
tillery leveled everything. The soldiers
concealed themselves behind stone
walls and fired. Artillery of all cali
these ruins. Amid all this
destruction lay an army Aof coTpsEs,
mostly German.
The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1918-11-08
How Birds save Farmers Crops.

A farmer who thought the robins
were pulling up his young cabbages
learned from student of bird life that
the birds were pulling up only those
plants which were dead; and this was
to get at the wire worms at the root,
which had caused the plants to die
and which would destroy other cab
bages if left alone. In anothe: case
group of farmers thought the meadow
larks were destroying their crops. An
ornithologist persuaded one farmer to
spare the larks on his place. The
other farmers shot them. The result
was that the man who spared the larks
was the only one for miles around who
had an oat crop. The birds killed the
insects which destroyed the other
crops.
The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1918-11-08
CHAPTER XVII.

We were of the opinion at first that
this was only temporary condition,
but after few days we saw a
slaughter bordering on insanity under
taken again and again. BY night and
day it was always the same. Using
Verdun as their base, the French con-
stantly brought up new masses of
troops. They had marshaled their
heavy guns from the nearer Verdun
forts by the use of field railways.
In the spring of 1915 both sides be-
gan an offensive Of local, but of an in
comprehensive, murderous nature.
German and French artillery lombard
ed VauQuois so that not square foot
of land could be found which had not
been torn up by shells. Thousands and
thousands of shells, large and small,
were hurled into the town for three
days and three nights.
This continued until not a single SOL
der was left in the village, for both
French and Germans had to retire
from this fire from both sides, as it
was absolutely impossible to have sur
vived this hell. The entire hill and ad-
joining heights were enveloped in
smoke.
On the evening Of the third day the
enemy bombardment abated somewhat
and we were once more sent into the
pile of debris, which had been torn by
a hundred thousand shells. 1t was not
f6n Oh,
advanced an attack developed They
came into our lines with strong reserve
units and the widest kind Of hand
to-hand encounter ensued.
Sharp daggers flew from head to
head, breast to breast. Men stood on
corpses in order to make new corpses.
New enemies continued to arrive.
For each man who was killed three
others appeared.
We also received re-enforcements,
thus permitting the slaughter to con-
tinue.
Each man fought frenziedly, expect
ing his death blow momentarily.
No life was worth penny. Each
man fought like beast.
1 stumbled and fell upon the stones
and in less time than is required to re-
late it saw before me a giant French
man with pioneers spade raised to
strike blow. With lIghtninglike speed
l lodged and the spade struck a stone.
In the next moment my adversary
had a dagger plunged to the hilt In his
abdomen.
He went down with a terrible cry
and crumpled up in agony on the
ground. 1 thrust the dagger into my
boot and seized the spade. There
were new enemies all around and the
spade came in handy.
struck an enemy between the head
and shoulders. The sharp spade en-
The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1918-11-08
CHAPTER XVIII.

I prevailed upon the authorities TO
grant me an eight-day furlough to visit
nv home and / took advantage of this
to cross the Dutch border. left my
home under pretence of intending TO
visit relatives, wearing civilian CLOTH
ing. / bought railroad ticket to Kali
denkirchen, a medium sized town near
the Dutch border. During my trip to
Kaldenkirchen / had plenty of time to
review all that had happened.
How different everything was after
the first year, of the war! My home
town, once lively country settlement,
was now as calm as graveyard. In
this town. which had population be-
fore,4h warsof 1000 soalsy more than
40 fad been killed and many others
crippled. Food was very high with lit
tie to be had.
There was no enthusiasm for the war
manifest anywhere. The people were
downhearted, stunned.
It was the same in other cities. The
longing for peace was universal yet no
one talked of peace or expressed the
desire for 1t.
One word spoken, which displeased
the autocratlc government, merited the
severest punishment. That is how 1t Is
to be explained that the German peo-
pie cannot force the Hohenzollerns into
peace because the government, with
assistance of the military, smothered
every expression of peace with blood,
even at that early date.
The present Prussian government
will slaughter any German citizen to
further it's own interests in the same
way that it attacked the innocent pop
ulation of Belgium without regard.
With clean conscience and clean
hands!
"Gott strafe England. Err list strafe
es I"
Going through the streets this was
heard right and left as comment and
a reply.
To me, fresh from the front, this
kind of greeting was unknown.
Presently learned the reason of
this modern form of salutation. The
hatred within the German nation was
not so great toward France and Rus
STA.
The people quietly accepted the enor-
nous sacrifices which the war demand
ed from them in course of time.
But the government, which even
then, foresaw the unfavorable course
the war was taking, conceived the idea
of setting England up as the arch
enemy which intended to destroy Ger
many entirely.
The German war machine made use
of the blockade which England drew
around Germany to such an extent,
playing upon child murder, so-called,
that the people developed an ever-in-
creasing hatred toward England.
The French language was no longer
spoken anywhere. A large part of the
German people formerly used the
French word "adieu," as a farewell ex-
preston but that was stopped. Care
had to be taken In the use of this word
to avoid arrest on charge Of high
treason.
/ thought about these things as 1
neared my temporary destination. 1 |
was sufficiently acquainted with the |
border so that when / arrived in Kali
denkirchen was able to reach it with
out asking any questions The spot
which 1 had selected for crossing lay
In a forest. After a march Of two
hours 1 arrived near the border. 1t
was soon dark and decided to remain
In the woods over night.
The next morning at daylight I ven
tured on and without being seen by the
The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1918-11-08
"coIdIn the Head

IL an acute attack Of Nasal Catarrh; Per-
sons who are subject to frequent colds
m the head" will find that the use Of
HALLS CATARRH MEDICINE VIII
build up the System, cleanse the $1,000
and render them less liable to colds.
Repeated attacks of Acute Catarrh may
lead to Chronic Catarrh.
HAI,IyS CATARRH MEDICINE ts tax.
en- Internally and acts through the BLOOD
IN the Mucous Surfaces Of the System.
An druggists 75c Testimonials free.
10000 for any case OF catarrh that
F5LIIyS CATARRH MEDICINE viii not
eITe Cheney & Co. Toledo. Ohio.
The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1918-11-08
Three Causes for eIadness.

Boobies father had been out Of
town for a fortnight and the small
lad missed him much. Upon his retrun
BobbIe was at the station to meet him,
and as greeting said: Use so glad
you's here and I'm here and that Cd
trains gone"
The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1918-11-08
Immutable Distrust,

do you understand what Prussians
mean by the word kulturT"
NO" replied the man of sincere re-
sentiments; land whatever they say
they mean by it, don't believe 1t.
The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1918-11-08
A Proof.

"They say his intelligence and men
tai grasp are something wonderful"
II should say so. Why, he filled out
his QUESTIONABLE all by himself"
The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1918-11-08

During the latter months Of the
siege Of Ladysmith tobacco was sold
in the town, at $50 pound.
The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1918-11-08

In japan girls twelve years old work
ten and 10 hours a day.
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-12-24
LOON LAKE

LOON LAKE
About twnty-fve miles northwest OF
Spokane Wash, lies Loon Lake. 1t is long,
narrow stretch of gray-blue water edged by
rocky heights which tower high into the sky
and are guarded by rank upon rank of sharp
~ pointed pine trees Not infrequently for
est fires sweep these hills, and thick white
clouds of smoke trace paths over the noun
tains above Loon Lake, leaving black, dead
spots behind.
Loon Lake is one of the few mountain
lakes that is attractive when the weather is
bad and rain is pouring down. Where most
lakes look gloomy and desolate, Loon Lake
merely assumes a charmingly mysterious veil
The little rustic cottages perched about the
rocy shores send tiny smoke feathers into
the frowning skies, which bespeak cosy
hearth-ffres in the living rooms inside. The
harder the raindTops Aimple the surface of
the lake, the more silver and CHEEKY it ap-
pears The gay young folk on the rambling
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-12-24
AMERICANISM
BY DR.. Frank Crane

In these times Of upturning, and the gen.
eral scrapping of old ideas and institutions,
it is very important that we keep in mind
what Americanism is.
And the most important distinction in this
connection is the one between Americanism
and Socialism.
The gist of Americanism is that people
are to be governed by theory. In most of
racy The gist of Socialism is that people
are to begoverred by a theory. In most of
the practical examples we havC had of Social
ism in Europe this theory is to be administer
ed by small group of apostles who think
they know what is good for the people much
better than the people know themselves.
Socialism aims to establish the best posi-
BILE government. Americanism is Democracy,
and Democracy does not always get the best
government.
l think it was Edward Everett Hale that
said that Democracy does not always get the
best, but it always gets what it wants
Democracy reserves fol the people their
right to make their own mistakes. 1t pro-
ceeds toward the ideal by the process OF
growth. Socialism proceeds by theory.
While Democracy and Socialism have much
the same end in view. which is Brotherhood
of Mankind, the roads which they take to
that end are absolutely different.
Socialism is not an American idea. 1t is
not event akin to Democracy.
The trouble with Socialism is that it was
made in Germany.
It was created by minds stepped in the pref
udices ana passions of class. Having long
been oppressed by an upper class, their idea
of the Millennium is to put that class down
and put their own class on top.
Americans have no such notion. They have
no sympathy with the class idea-either an
upper or lower class Their basic feeling
is that one man is as good as another.
Socialism will never thrive in this country.
1t is an imported article. 1t will not grow
in this climate.
Most of the names you see among Social
istic leaders are foreign names. Very few
of the Joneses, Smiths, or Robinsons are So
cialists.
Americans-genune Americans cannot
feel Socialism. They cannot understand
those vivid hates which are the lifeblood Of
Socialism.
The American laborer getting five dollars
a day working in the steel shops does not
hate Mr. Schwab or Mr.. Carnegie because
they are millionaires. They may be million
aires themselves some day.
There is nothing that Socialism has to OIL
fer that cannot be bette: secured by the proc
esses of Democracy anu the spirit OF Amerl-
canism.
Let us keep our hands clean and our minds
clean from this septic and mistaken theory
that bids fair to wreck Europe.
Socialism and autocTacy are but opposite
faces of the same coin. They are made out
of the same metal. The name of that metal
is class. Where there has been no autocracy
there can be no Socialism.
Copyright, 1918, by Frank Crane)
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-12-24
"NaUaHsm. 4"

Noting that there is no alarm at the pro
posed naval in 'reases of the United States
but rather recognition of assured co-opera-
ton" the New York Herald remarks: THE
navies of the Allies in this war have saved
not only England but also America and civili-
cation from the horrors Of German domina-
ton"
Sea power, It may he added is the historic
bulwark of national and human freedom
against aggressors like Germany. The Pots
dam intriguers sought to divert censure from
their monstrous militarism by crying out
against what they termed Britains naval
ism" They entirely blinked the fact, how
ever, that they themselves had sought to es-
tablish a Prussian "naYalism' as well as
Prussian nilitarism, and that British pro-
posals, made years ago, for mutual cessa-
ton of battleship building had been sneering-
ly rejected.
They ignore, too. the fact that navy, no
matter how great, is not weapon for often
sive warfare unless accompanied by great
armies. MilitaTism, as the history of the
last half century has SO plainly demonstrated
is constant menace to peace. and in the
hands of a nation like Germany a peril to
liberty. But where within that entire period
can be found AN instance of naval power
being used ia ruthless aggression or for
other than righteous ends?
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-12-24
DRINK AND BOREDOM.
By'H. Addington Bruce

BY II. AQQlngtOn Bruce
f YOU know anybody who habitually
drinks intoxicating liquors and fire.
Quently drinks them to excess, you
may set it down as practically certain that he
is a man who finds life uncommonly dull
And you will be pretty safe in assuming that
he can be readily cured of his drink habit
if a way be found to make life interesting and
satisfying to him.
This is the conclusion to which experience
is more and more inclining physicians who
have much to do with the treatment OF
chornic alcoholism. They are coming that
is to say, to regard it as essentially psyche
logical problem. Or, as stated in more de-
tail by DR.. Richard Cabot:
eve hear a great deal of the physical
craving for liquor. l do not believe there is
any such thing except in the people who are
in the middle of drunk.
ga person who has slept it off and got it
out of his system may very we'll go back to
it, and, of course, often does. But he does
not go back from any merely physical craV-
ing but generally because he is bored or be-
cause he is blue or because he is restless.
"Most often, think, he drinks because he
has a general sense that it needs something
or other to fill up vacancy, but this is not
chiefly physical vacancy"
Study the habitual drinker carefully, ques-
ton him as to his mental states, get him to
talk canddly about himself, and you will no
longer doubt that boredom has most to do
with MS
But why is he so bored?
Because. consciously or subconsciously, he
realizes that he is not getting as much out of
life as he might, is not making as much or
himself as he should, is drifting rather than
purposefully achieving.
Naturally he feels discontinued, dissatls-
fed with himself, weary of things in general
AS means of escape from this burdensome
feeling he turns to drink
Obviously the thing to do is to help him
find life more attractive, through guiding him
to activities that will satisfy his instructive
craving to accomplish something worth while.
If he has been an idler it may be ques-
ton simply of aiding him to select some con-
genial occupation. Ii already engaged IN
work it may be that he needs to be reused to
greater interest in that work, or to be aided
to find other work better suited to his natural
apttudes.
Or perhaps what he needs most of all is
sympathetic encouragement to work more I'M
selfshly than he has been doing. 1t is large
ly because religion inculcates self-forgetful
striving that the religious appeal often is
most eflcacious in the conquest of alcohol
ism.
In other words, there actually is hope for
nearly every chronic alcoholic, provided only
that he be individually and patiently studied,
and tactfully led to occupy himself to bet
ter purpose than he has been doing.
This is the thing Indispensable A prac-
teal life-interest must be found for the
drunkard, else he will continue to be bored
and will continue to drink as before.
Copyright, 1918, by the Associated News
papers)
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-12-24
Our Army Atter Peace.

From the War Departments intlmatlon
that the United States will have approximate
w three-uuarters of a million men still I'M
dor arms nv the summer of 1920, may be in
farrad something of the extent and import
ance of the military duties to be performed
long after peace is contaminated. Inc UNIT
ed States will have its part, and WelShIy
part il will be, in administering the terms OIL
settlement which the Versailles conference
prOclaims.
That task may be simple or it may be COM
nIicated Germany may meet the require
ments of the peace edict as tractably as she
Is now fulfilling those of the armistlce; or,
either through lack of responsible govern
ment or through lack of good faith, she may
cause serious trouble. Certainly the NATIONS
that have spent so vast a sum OF reasure anu
human life to win righteous peace cannon
AFFORD to hazard its benefcent fruits by leaV-
ing the future to chance. They must pc pre-
pared to enforce the terms of justice, nope
full though they are that Iorce will not be
needed. Another grave problem-graVer IN
some respects than that " Germany, be-
cause much more uncertain-is Russia. What
course events will take or what action by the
Allies will be required seems as yet quite IN
determinate. But it is commonly agreed tnat
the vast empire, so rich in possibilities tor
either good or ill, should not be left VIC
tim to Bolshevist ruffianism or to Prussian in
trigue Throughout middle Europe anf. in
the Near East as well, conditions are in fer
ment so much so that the most discerning
statesman would hardly venture to predict
what six months or a year will bring forth.
As world Power vitality concerned in the
carrying out of the peace terms and in the
establishment of good order, the United
States has high and definite responsibilities
in common with France, Great Britain and
Italy-respOnsibilities growing inevitably out
of its participation in the war. Hence the
intimation that we shall have three-quarters
of million men still under arms year from
next summer is in no wise astonishing but al
together accordant with the part we must
play in making a just peace secure.
The kaiser, ill with the flu, the ex-AustriaD
emperor and his family i'll with the same dis
ease, indicate that the world is not safe for
autOcracy.
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-12-24

these sick and wounded men that need the
rose color. mother, though l see their neeo
first. It's EVERYBODY! It's neglected
children and old folks, and lonely women, rich
and poor, and bewildered young folks, and
tired working men and women, and sick
hearted. cynical rich folks-everybOdy aching
and struggling for more rose-pink!
And you needn't smile sadly, mother, and
tell me there isn't enough rose color to go
round There is! We've all got a LOT of
il right in our own hearts and hands. It's
only that we don't spread it around enough.
A smile is rose pink, and so is song, or
little Joke, or Just friendly greeting. Flow
ers are rose-pink, and cheerful letters and
scraps of human sympathy and understanding
that cost us nothing at all are very pink In
deed. Even money CAN be pink.
Mother it will be a very happy Christmas
this year! Two weeks ago the contending
armies ceased firing and we know that we
have received our last batch of broken men.
Those who are here will need many weeks OF
care but we are rid, forever, please God, OF
the nightmare thought: How they come and
come; so broken and so young! For the
first Christmas in five years we can lift our
hearts and sing, without culver OF pain
and doubt: "Peace on Earth, Good Will To-
ward Mcn!"
We have all seen the war-world black with
hate and gray with despair and red with
blood; but we have seen, too, the rose-plnk
of love and service and humanity triumphant
And. in this Christmas letter to you, mother.
| want to send you a recipe for making rose
pink-and you must give the recipe to all the
neighbors and ask THEM to pass it on too
To make the world rOse-pink just LOVE-
and SMILE, and SERVE!
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-12-24
A POEM FOR TODAY

Mote: The following poem was written In
memory of Henry Fulgham (for his mother),
a former Atlanta Journal employee, who died
in France in the service of his country in the
Aviation CORPSE
DEAR LITTLE MOTHER
Dear Little Mother: Lift up your head
Hold high the crown of the blood you've shed,
And although your eyes are dimmed by pain
Smile through your tears, like the sun through
rain.
Dear Little Mother: Don't look so sad;
Somewhere in FGrance" your noble lad?
All, yes; but what nobler death could one
crave
Than his life for his country which he freely
gave?
o Dear Little Mother: Remember the power
That encircled the charms of that sad, parting
hour;
His lips trembled so when he whispered
"GoOd-by!
Now. come. cheer up, momee, and don't you
cry!"
You say that your heart is buried in France
Well he left you his, so give it chance
To shine for the world through your love for
another,
And God will reward you-Dear Little
Mother
-MELROSE LAWRENCE.