Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-09-23
XxXI


THERE are all kinds of men in the
l. trenches fighting shoulder to Shout
der, living their lives intimately side
by side. sharing their food and their
but serve in ~leveling barriers that
wealth and social position have built
up so carefully and with such apparent
strength.
There are the physical towards, men
who are not afraid because they want
to shirk in any sense of the word, but
who because of certain physical limi-
tations are forced to nerve themselves
to brave deeds even while their flesh
rebels. These men must be considered
among the bravest, because 1t is more
of an effort for them to risk their lives.
Then there are the men in the lowest
walks of life, the men who are spoken OF
as needing the army training to help
make men of them. Som of these
in fact. all of them-are bettered by the
incentive to do something really worth
while, and they are unconsciously helped
by close companionship with men who
have had ideals and big ambitions, and
who are trench mates comrades in
the war, fighting for one big ideal.
The most sternly practical of men,
mon lacking Imagination of every kind,
are fred by the dreams and magma
lions of the dreamers, who see in the
war a big romance, an adventure, ana
Scott RAYMOND was one of the last
named.
Trench warfare, in spite OF the gen.
eral opinion that going over the Top
makes butchers of the men, mas a MOST
%humanizing effect. There is no oouut
that The soldiers are able to distinguish
bet what is required In a charge
and the general acceptance OF uahs Hie
under fire. Scott Raymond was u
dreamer as has been said before, put
that did not prevent him from peils
even loved. While the men jeered az
him pocd-naturedly for his ability 10
make the best of things that they
thought needed complaint and plenty OF
II thew were no doubt unconsclousiy
cheered by his attitude in spite Oh
themselves.
Scott had been pretty badly hurt be-
| fore he had left New York Tor camp,
His dreams had been closely cohheGteu
with Ruth. and his love for her haa
grown so unconsciously that he hilnseit
did not recognize in this mn 'hat
| gripped his life and thoughts the COIL
radely feeling hat he felt LOT W..
in their friendly companionship: Sco.l
aid NOT plan ahead or he might nave
known how he was drifting. If he mao
been lack Bond, the idea would haVe
been so firmly implanted in MS minu
that he would have known just VIVA.
day to speak to Ruth and in just VIVA.
manner. To Scott, however. love carne
with n rush when he realized ina NJ
was actually going across Then ms
active brain visualized perlious'y
dear things, things all connected VIII
Ruth and the acceptance of his ioVe 10,
ber Love had rendered Jack determined
and resoalrceful 1t had rendered Scv,'
confused and Filtered with its possipii-
ties So turbulent were his thoughts 'nat
he had not stopped to think OF what IKE
would he without Ruth. and her con,
fession of her love for JACK eonu " ",i
left Scott with his arr cas'ies az
crashed around him, his dreams OF hte
Ali gone. and with nothing at an W
| cling TO but the new life in the army
and the cause that needed his nelp'
Whatever there had always peeh un,
dornaath the surface requirements o'
prtb,s nature. Scott had someho"
known although he could not nave pun
this vague belief into words even wheH
ha feIt that there must be a chance tot
him hfterward he came to reel Una