The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1919-05-29
BY GRACE GoulDeR
with the American Y. w. c. A. Over
seas)
CoblenZ. Germany,
March IS (By Mail)

March IS (By Mail)
Ii happened right here in Coblenz
A big corporal came into the Y W.
c. A. Hostess House and asked for the
director. Miss Ruth Woodsmall, who
comes from Colorado springs, Colo.
Gould my mother stay heref' lie
began at once, trying his best TO cover
his excitement
"Your mother" gasped Miss Wood
small How did your mother ever get
heref"
We'll, she isn't here yet. but If size
comes will you keep herr
"Of course | will, but"
She didn't finish, for the hoy had
smashed his cap back on his head and
was out OF the door on run
The corporal's visit remained mys-
terry for two days. Then one evening
Just at dusk a little white haired wo-
man dressed eXquisitely in black ap-
peared IN the sitting room Of the Host
ess House. and the corporal was hover
ing behind her, trying to he beside her
and back of her and in front Of her
all at once. He was carrying her
coat-a big fur one. With them were
three doughboys, pals of the corporal
They tried TO keep in the background,
but their eyes were glued on her face.
Everyone In the sitting room sat AT
a h.lH
speaking men or women out of uni
form in the Third Army area. Yet
here was Il woman in civilian clothes.
Mothers are unheard Of with the army.
But this was mother, everyone knew.
After awhile someone found out
about this mother
Had Been lnterned During War
She and her husband, who We're
/ born in Germany. hut had been nat
uralized lived in San Francisco. Re
/ fore the war they left for Weisbaden,
! Germany, that their invalid daughter
might have treatment at this famous
/ health resort.
/ They brought their other children
with them. One was Walter, small
boy, and the other was Ralph, now
Corporal Stepp Of the American Army
I When the war was declared they
sent Ralph back to America, because
he was OF military age. and they did
not want him to fight for the kaiser
Then America entered the war
Mrs. Stepp-Mrs. Anna Stepp she is
told this part Of the story
until month ago | hadn't heard
from Ralph for two years and half
even before America got In the wal
mail was held up. | didn't know
whether he was In the army Ur not
but | was sure he was, because Well
because he Is an American" Here
she stopped minute to smile up al
him.
After awhile we heard from some
friends that he was in the army-ant
that he had come over here. That was
all ever knew It's nearly five year,
since | have seen him
couldn't get word to him and h,
couldn't to me. My husband used t
tell me 1t wouldn't help Ralph any foi
me to cry. tried not to-before tn,
rest of them anyway. My daughte
got worse steadily she Is no better
We couldn't get the proper food fo
her after awhile And she hated +,
see me worried about Ralph, so | use,
to try to keep up before them.
Last January my husband came t,
Coblenz about his citizen papers Al
American soldiC" in Ralph's compan,
who was in the office heard his nam
and asked him if he was any relation
to Ralph. He didn't tell him Ralpl
was in Coblenz, but Went after Ralpl
He didn't tell Ralph his father wa
here When they met they couldn'
believe their eyes.
Ever since then | have been tryln
to see Ralph. He couldn't come t
Weisbaden because It was ont Of TN
American area, and | couldn't ge
through until today-more than tw
months
They asked her II her Ralph ha
changed much in all that time.
"Oh, yes-yery much But do yo
know, | think il Is because all tina
long time when I didn't know whpl
he was or how he was-I got in III
habit Of thinking of him as he wa
when he was baby-l kept seen
him as baby ana remembering lh
way he felt when he was little Ism
that queer? And now look at him -
Aud the corporal tried not to see til
alteration in her eyes
give years is a long time TO wa
TO see Your boy she murmured, an
kept her eyes on him Again she ha
forgotten the people around her
The corporal cleared his throa
This is why asl YOU il YOU coul
keep my mother, Miss Woodsmall
didn't want her TO come unless 81
had good place to stay All, e-e-r-
thanks awfully."
And tint is the story Of how II
Hostess House happened to entertai
the only known A f. + mother wi
has visited the army Of Occupation.
lGI n