New Britain herald., 1919-01-25

Guys, on the Street Corners al
ways tell of wrong mindedness in
the Temples and High Places.
though Guys" will congregate on
Street Corners just so long as the
Street Corners remain the most
attractive meeting place in that
town or city.
That gives a high-light picture of
the Tough Guy" Well-intentione ed
people have been trying to entice, him
into prayer meetings where he will
be told that God is Love- and a few
other things he already knows. The
bait held out is a luncheon, which
usually consists of tarts and hot chloe
olate In his heart, the>'Tough Guy
is too polite to tell his host or hostess
that he is having d terribly mean
time but he is aching to get back to
the gang on the corner and tell them
all about it and to show them his
clean fingernails.
What sociologists have failed to do,
perhaps the war has done. Before
the war-how long ago that seems
New Britain, like every other city and
town, had it's quota of Tough Guys.
When Uncle Sam called for men they
did not jump aboard the first train
for Washington and get their spurs
planted firmly in an oak desk. They
strobe ND to the recruiting office and
thew said: "Where's MY gum" Then
thew marched away and those who
knew them felt that Hindenburg's
reputation was scheduled to have
terrible smash. 1t did
Ever since the Americans went
over the top with a yell, we have
been hearing good reports from our
though Guys" Quite frequently one
toward Berlin. They simply did not
know the meaning of the word quit.
Now the news of the citations be-
gins to come in and within the past
few days The Herald has printed the
announcement that the alleged leader
of one of our gangs has been cited
for bravery. The citation is signed
by Major General G. r. Edwards, who
commanded the Twenty Sixth diVi-
sion, ''for dispatch carrying and aid
ing the wounded". He is cited again
in another order for unusual gallan-
try last July. Before the war the
| cited into court.
This Tough Guy was too modest
| to write of the honor conferred upon
him but a companion sent the news.
| Before winning the citations, how
ever, he did write to a friend in this
city, saying in part
I suppose they were glad we
did go. This means the noble
police force. Ha, Ha. The reason
why | put down police force is |
am one who loves them all and
they love me.
Gee, there's a lot of rough
boys in the army. Sure,-they
only think so. 1t took me long
time to find out how | was wrong
most of the time. Say, if any of
them Rough Necks back in New
Britain want to fight nights and
at any balls tell them | said to
come over and see how much
! game stuff is in them by going
| over to see Fritz. | thought [
was HeIl-and-alI till [ heard some
of Fritz's lead whizz by my nut.
Then my yellow stuff started to
come out. so when [ ever get
back-that's if the good Lord
above brings me back safe--Ill
know how to be good fellow
and I'll bet all of the would-be
Rough Necks will be the same.
The question is whether this he
soldier on returning to New Britain.
is going to be allowed to drift back
! into his old ways, whether the COM
munitv is going to accept him on
equal terms as a good citizen or al
! low him to remain a though Guy
There are a great many more like
! him They don't want sentiment or
! sympathy All they want is a fair
chance to be somebody and to do
! something. When they come back
don't forget that they have been over
, in France facing death while the rest
! of us have remained behind and have