Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1919-05-08
By Charles Alden. Seltzer.

But something lacked until i got
the thought that we were not alone
in the war; that behind us-in re-
serve-were hundreds Of thousands
OF our men. ready to back us in any
play we made. And behind those hun.
dreds Of thousands were millions OF
our countrymen, their eyes all turned
toward US. watching rs, waiting
ready to applaud US, and equally ready
to avenge Us. got the feeling Of
company more satisfying sensa-
tion than the sight of the fellows on
every hand gave me. And Just before
we got the word felt like used to
feel when band marched down the
street at home playing the Star Span
gled Banner'-with long column Of
soldiers in buoyant step behind them.
I went clammy all over, and my heart
swelled until thought 1t would burst.
could see my country, then-and-
Well, you all know the feeling. When
we got the word we went-and the
world knows how we went"
"And your wound?" questioned
Miller.
that will never be able to see again;
But when l think that I lost my sight
serving those loyal, watching millions
of my people, / don't worry about it
| much" 7#
For five minutes after the departure
of Ben and Molly. there was no word
spoken in Corwin's Office.
The three men heard Ben's halting
step on the stairs grow fainter until
J finally they could hear it no more.
| And still they sat, each man avoiding
the others eyes-all Of them feeling
ineffably small and unimportant.
The loyal, watching millions! Ben's
words were flaming before Corwin's
eyes; they wreathed and leaped in his
mental vision with hideous mockery.
Ben. facing death on the field Of
! battle, had been able to think nobly
of his country. Corwin, lounging in
the lap of luxury in the quiet peace
Of Falltown, had not yielded to one
generous and supporting thought for
the khaki-clad boys who had fought
for him! Ben. facing death, had felt
the spirit of the country; Corwin, safe
at home. had derided that spirit-had
denied it. He had haggled and
/, argued; had found fault with every
thing. His hands had not upheld
Ben and his fellows; it had not been
his face that Ben had seen among
those that had been turned toward him
on the eve OF battle-for he had
turned his back toward the boys.
Corwin felt that something was
slipping away from him. He felt
lonely and deserted = as though
something he valued was vanishing
from his sight. to be gone forever He
felt as Ben said he had felt Just be-
fore he and his comrades had gone
over the top-that he must have
something to give him that feeling of
companionship; he felt that he didn't
want to be on the outside-he wanted
to belong-he wanted to feel that
there were millions of people behind
him, too-and with him.
And he knew. now. that there was
only one way to attain that feeling OF
companionship-to become real cit.
izen Of the mighty nation that had
brought the arrogant Hun to his
knees; there was only one way to be
thoroughly American-or to become
thoroughly American. And that way
was to help the nation toward its
goal; to bear cheerfully and equally
the burdens It placed upon one; tc
add to its strength all the resources
at his command; to somehow get 4
share Of its power and its glory.
1 Corwin was intensely eager now. He
looked at his watch, got up and saic
shortly to Miller and Roberts.
Gentlemen" he said. "we'll have tt
postpone this business until tomor
row-I've got something important t.
attend to-"
Il Roberts got up also. "Me. too." HI
said: "well go together. Corwin."
"Where?" demanded Corwin.
| Roberts laughed lowly. ITO sex
Dillon" he said. "'That fellow KIM
has made me feel mighty cheap, car
tell you. used to have pretty strong
ideas about these Liberty Loans, but i
a fellow could listen to King talk ant
'efuse to subscribe to help push this
thing along he certainly wouldn't b'
worth fighting for. want to be wortl
it.. Come on!" he urged: well b.
eleventh hour birds. but we've still
got time to save our self respect"
A quarter Of an hour later the!
were facing Dillon in the latter's OF
fee.
"Still a. hundred thousand shy
gentlemen" Dillon announced in re
ply to Corwin's question.
"Ill take half of it," declared Coz
win.
"And I'll take the other half" SAT-
Roberts.
isn't this rather sudden, gentle
men," grinned Dillon; "you still hav
six hours. you know"
Both Roberts and Corwin reddened
'or the sarcasm of Dillon's remarl
l rxl, ~,