Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1919-06-04
BIG CORPORAL DUTlFUL SON.
No kniohtIy courtiers Ever Acted With
More Gsllantry to Lady Fair Than
Did He and His Doughboy
Pals to This Little White
Haired Woman Dress
ed Exquisitely In
Black.
BY GRACE ooULoER.
with the American Y. w. c. A. over
seas.)


Il 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 here?" he
began at once. trying his best to cover
his excitement
your mother" gasped Miss Wood
small. "How did your mother ever get
herer'
well, she isn't here yet, but II she
comes will you keep herr"
"Of course will, but"
She didn't finish, for the boy 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 be 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, rails 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
attention. There are no English
speaking men or women out of uni
form in the Third Army area. Yet
here was a 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 informed During War.
She and her husband, who were
born In Germany. but had been nat.
uralized, lived in San Francisco. Be.
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, a small
boy. and the other was Ralph. now
Corporal Stepp of the American. Army
When the war was declared they
TthA AN1iblA tANh ~ <aAnFtiNhs btI&u~t
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 a month ago | hadn't heard
from Ralph for two years and half
even before America got in the war
whether he was in the army or not
but I was sure he was, because-well.
because he is an American" Here
she stopped a minute to smile up at
him.
After awhile we heard from some
friends that he was In the army-and
that he had come over here That was
all ever knew. It's nearly FIVE years
since have seen himl
"Of course II was awfully hard
couldn't get word TO him and he
couldn't to me, Ny husband used TO
tell me II wouldn't help Ralph any for
me to cry. : tried not to-before the
rest Of them anyway Ny daughter
got worse steadily-she is no better.
We couldn't get the proper food for
her after awhile And she hated to
see me worried about Ralph, so / used
to try to keep up before them.
Last January my husband came 10
Cobienz about his citizen papers. An
American soldier in Ralph's company
who was in the Office heard his name
and asked him II he was any relation
to Ralph. He didn't tell him Ralph
was In Coblenz, bat went after Ralph
He didn't tell Ralph his father was
here. When they met they couldn''
believe their eyes.
Ever since then I have been tryins
to see Ralph. He couldn't come tc
weisbaden because 1t was out Of the
American area, and couldn't get
through until today-more than two
months"
They asked her II her Ralph hat
changed much In all that time.
"Oh, yes-very much But do yor
know, think it is because all tina
long time when didn't know wher,
he was or how he was-I got in tn,
habit OF thinking Of him as he wa.
when ne was a baby-I kept seeinl
him as a baby and remembering I'll,
way he felt when he was little. ISM
that queer? And now look at hint"
And the corporal tried not to see tn,
alteration In her eyes.
/ Five years is long time to wal
to see your boy" she murmured, an,
kept her eyes on him. Again she has
forgotten the people around her.
The corporal cleared his throat
This % why ask d you II you coul,
keep my mother, Miss Woodsman
didn't want her to come unless sh,
had a good place to stay. All, e-e-r-
thanks awfully."
/ And that Is the story of how IN,
Hostess House happened to entertain
the only known A. E. r. mother VIII,
has visited the Army of Occupation.