Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1919-05-23
BY GRACE GoULDER.
with the American Y. w. c. A. Over.
seas.)

1t happened right here in Coblenz
A big corporal came into the Y. w
@. A. Hostess House and asked for the
director, Miss Ruth Woodsmal, 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
here?"
well, she isn't here yet, but II she
comes will you keep her?'
"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 a run.
The corporals visit remained mys.
terry for two days. Then one evening
Just at dusk little white haired wo.
man dressed exquisitely in black APP
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, 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 ut
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 Welsbaden,
Germany, that their invalid daugh. or
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.
When the war was declared they
sent Ralph back to America, becaus"
ne 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 a half
even before America got In the war
mail was held up. I didn't know
whether he was in the army or not
but was sure he was, because
because he Is an American" Here
she stopped minute TO smile up Mt
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 him
"Of course II was awfully hard
couldn't get word to him and he
couldn't to me. My husband used 10
tell me II wouldn't help Ralph any for
me TO cry. tried not tO-beforc the
rest OF them anyway My daughter
got worse steadily-she IL no better
We couldn't get the proper food for
her after awhile. And she hated to
see me worried about Ralph, so I used
to try to keep up before them.
Last January my husband came n
Coblenz about his citizen papers. An
American sOldlC- I'm Ralph's company
who was in the office heard his nam,
and asked him IL he was any relation
TO Ralph. He didn't tell him Ralph
was In CObenz, but went after Ralph
He didn't tell Ralph his father was
here. When they met they couldn't
believe their eyes.
"Bver since then | have been trying
TO see Ralph He couldn't come Il
Weisbaden because II was out Of III,
American area, and | couldn't go
through until today-more than two
months"
They asked her II her Ralph haC
changed much In all that time.
"Oh, yes--very much. But do yol
know, | think It is because all tina
long time when I didn't know where
ne wns or how he was-I got in the
habit OF thinking OF him MS he wa'
when he was baby-I kept seeinl
him as n baby and remembering thu
way he felt when he was little. ISM
that Queer7 And now look nj hlmw
And the corporal tried not TO see thu
alteration in her eyes.
give years is long time to wal
10 see your boy" she murmured, anC
kept her eyes on him. Again she haC
FORGOTTEN the people around her.
The corporal cleared his throat
"Thls IL why I aGl d you II you coulC
keep my mother, Miss Woodsmall.
didn't want her TO come unless sh'
had good place to stay. All, e-e-r-
thanks awfully"
And that Is the story Of how tn
Hostess House happened TO entertain
The only known A Il. + mother VIII
has visited the army Of Occupation.