The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-04-05
Louisa Goes
Over the Top
~
By GIDEON HOE
OF The VigilGnfes

| DroomS, her pallS, ner mopS anu Aer
eternal thoroughness.
Louisa was German. She spoke
German. She thought German. She
dreamed Germany. She was in America
only because she could not "earn so
much as here" She had come here q
generation ago with 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 60 out
to work.
He was stoop-shouldered, he smoked.
He spent his wages as he wished.
Louisa would look at him grimly and
mutter: Zach, If only had you in
Chermany."
/ It was for the boy that she worked.
| It was of him and the Faderland"
that she talked as she rubbed, rubbed,
rubbed. Zach, what think? That boy
| he lends five dollars to a man on the
block and he move away and we can't
find him.
"Not so it is in Chermany. There he
could not do this. Make bills and hide
himself. There you have 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 If you move, you
must go to the police and show your
book, then again when you arrive you
show your book to the police.
"No, no, in Chermany you cannot
run away. There they have it much bet
ter. You are all bosses. Nein! You
have 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 E1ing1e with the
4 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 it
all. Louisa made her contribution:
Zach, the discipline. Won Hindenburg,
Won Hindenburg. He is for discipline.
He Is the soldier. Such fine one
never lived. You will see he will
1 win. He is a Gottlike man."
/. "Oh, LeIisa, have a heart. Don't
j 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 it
In his hands.
4 sob, thank you, Louisa, but you
mustn't do that You'll spoil me. I'm
not used to It."
"I should hope not" shifted another
young teacher, II should hope not in
deed. The idea of woman waiting
on a perfectly healthy, strong young
man. I bet / wouldn't do it."
Zach, no? In Cherrlany you would
be better disciplined. You would save
the man ALL"
"Why? Why?" stamped the young
teacher. "Why should woman save
1 d man anything?"
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 fine soldier, mother a
fine soldier, raise up fine soldier.
That is your duty. That you were
placed in the world for. Now he,
pointing to the Boy Teacher, would
make fine" But the young teacher
had fled.
The teachers began to grumble
Germany, Germany. Louisa is al
ways cheering for Germany. Why
don't these people go back and fight
for the Fatherland? No. They stay
here and root for Germany"
The Lusitani- Was Sunk.
Then came the news of the sinking
of the Lusitania. The teachers gath
cred and discussed the news angrily
sThe devils. Our people. Hundreds
of them. Frohman, Archie Butts
Hubbard. It's awful. 1t was full Of
1 women and little children. Shame
full"
Wondering, Louisa poked her heat
inside the door. "What is? Is some
one dead you cry 500" =
ssYes, they're dead" and a teacher
sprang forward and pushed the head
lined paper full in Louisa's face. "9oui
lovely Germans killed them"
aKilled? What ISL"
"The Lusitania was sunk by tn
Germans. She was carrying man!
Americans"
"sol" said Louisa coolly. swell
they was told to stay off that Loaf
The fools. Served thenselfs wei
right"
"Keep STILL" screamed the yduni
teacher. Wen ask your preclou
kaiser whether we may sail over hi
ocean when he isn't using it, ! sup
pose. Well, we won't" Then takin
fresh umbrage at the others stoi
composure, she burst out: "What d
you think you would be doing Ii 20
were Ia Germany now? Going abou
building like this one, dressed a
YOU are, mingling with the sort 0
people you meet here7 Not for a mir
ma You,d he dressed in rags, you