The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-01-06
THE GENERALS SHILLING.

Irwin S. Cobb in the Saturday Even
ing Post: Now as q general PROPOSE
ton, think it may be figured that 4
Frenchman, turning sentimental, will
give free vent to the thoughts that are
in his heart: that an American Will
try to hide emotions under a mask OF
levity, and that an Englishmen, ex-
pressing, after a somewhat different
pattern, the racial embarrassment he
shares with the American, VIII seek to
appear outwardly Indifferent, inciden-
tally becoming more or less inarticu-
late
/ But there are exceptions to all rules
and, SO far as the rule pertains to the
Britisher, am thinking of one except
ion in particular. The incident was
told to me by a man who was present
! when it occurred.
He said he was passing through
Charing Cross station one night when
he saw couple of Canadian subalt
erns emerging from one OF the refresh
ment booths. Both OF them had been
wounded. One had his right arm in a
sling and limped as he walked The
other was the most pitable spectacle
this war can produce young man
blinded Across his eyes was drawn
a white cloth band and he moved with
the uncertain fumbling gait of one
upon whom this affliction has newly
come. /.
With his uninjured arm the lame
youth was steering his companion
The two boys-for they were only
boys, my informant said-halted in an
arched exit to put on their topcoas be-
fore stepping out into the drizzle. The
crippled officer released his hold upon
his friends elbow to shrug his own
garment upon his shoulders.
! The second blesse was making a
sorry job at finding the arnholes of
his coat when a handsome elderly Off
Ger, with the badges of major gener-
al upon his shoulders and a breast
loaded with ribbon decorations stepped
up and. with the words, Let me help
you, won't your" held his coat in the
proper position while deity he guided
the blind boys arms into the sleeve
openings
! In second the unexpected denoue.
ment came. The youngster reached in.
to his vest pocket; then felt for the
hand OF this volunteer who had come
to his assistance.
Thank you very much" he said;
and there in the palm of the aston
fshed general lay shilling.
The other lieutenant. the youth with
the bandaged arm, stumbled to hts
comrades side. He may have meant to
whisper, but in his distress he fairly
eshouted it out:
You've just handed I. tkp to a ma
jor general"
Mortified, the blind boy spun about
on his heel to apologize.
I'm so sorry, sir!' he gasped. 81
~ thought 1t was a porter, of course.
beg your pardon-a thousand times.
sir. | hope you'll forgive me-vm,
Know, can't see any more sir" And
with that he held out his hand to take
back the miserable coin.
The splendid looking old man mt
both his hands upon the lads should
ers. His rudy face was ouiyerina ann
the tears were stresnlng down n
cheeks.
Please don't, Please DON'T" be
gulped almost incoherently II want
TO keep your shilling, If Won don't
mind. Why God bless you. nv son
Il want to keep it always. wouldn't
take thousand pounds for it'll"
And then, falling back one pace he
saluted the blind lad with all the re.
iverence he would have accorded hts
commander in chief or his king