The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-04-24

when we went over the top that
morning there was a great level
stretch Of country Immediately In
front OF me. II was a place OF
CHASTITY silence. bleak and gray In the
faint light that precedes the dawn.
We had been ready for several hours.
for we had been told at what hour
we would attack. and we had slept
those OF us who did sleep-with our
nerves strained to hear the word.
Ten minutes before the time set
for the advance we were aroused by
whispered word. passed down the
trench The fellows, chilled by the
cold night in dugout and trench. took
II in various ways.
II saw men half paralyzed with
fear. trying to smile-to show their
fellows that they were not afraid.
saw others with horrible pouts on
their lips. cursing at trivial things
working themselves into a rage in an
effort 10 keep up their courage. Many
OF the fellows did not speak a word
I think II was because they couldn't
trust their voices. Some of the boys
were jerky and touchy. with their
nerves so keyed up that they jumped
at the slightest sound: others ap-
peared TO be stolidly waiting. Those
were men who did not permit their
fright to become visible. | saw men
who gripped their rifles until II
seemed their fingers would press
through the steel: ] saw others hold
ing theirs gingerly. loosely. as though
they we're some strange objec; with
which they were not yet familiar.
And there were some fellows who
breathed shriiiy. with great gasps. as
though they had Just finished a long
run. And In every mans eyes was q
light that no man in this world can
describe.
II couldn't help but see those
things, because | looked closely al
every man near me. had to. II
there was any excess courage around
there wanted &c feel IT, For ! need
ed IL.
IF II hadn't been for a thought that
struck me Just before We got the wore
TO go, | believe | couldn't have gone
There were many of us fellows. anc
OF course those who took II most un
concernediy did lot to help the fel
low who might have wavered. Blu
that did not seem to be enough. Al
individuals we doubtless would have
gone over the top-driving ourselves
To do Il: and as an army we would e
over without being driven. Pride
would have made us do that-for non'
OF the fellows would have wanted thu
others to think him coward.
But something lacked until | go
the thought that we were not alon'
in the war; that behind us-in re
serve-were hundreds of thousand
of our mep, ready TO back US In an!
play we made. And behind those hun
dreds of thousands we're millions o
our countrymen. their eyes all turne'
toward US, watching Us. waiting
ready to applaud us. and equally read
70 avenge us. got the feeling O
company more satisfying sensa
ton than the sight of the fellows Of
every hand gave me. And just befor
we got the word | felt like ! used Z
feel when a band marched down tn
street at home playing the Star Spar
gled Banner'-with a long column
, soldiers In buoyant step behind then
went clammy all over. and my hear
, swelled until | thought II would burs
could see my country. then-and-
Well, you all know the feeling. Whe
we got the word We went-and IN
world knows how We went"
"And your wound?" uuestione
; Miller.
We'll. it's a little tough to realiz
that will never be able TO see again
, but when think that lost my sigh
serving thoss loyal. watching million
II my people. don't worry about
much"
For FIVE minutes after the departur
OF Ben and Molly. there was no wor
! spoken in Corwin's Office.
The three men heard Ben's haltin
step ON the stairs grow fainter unit
finally they could hear II no NOR
, And still they sat. each man avoidin
, the others eyes-all OF them feelin
ineffably small and unimportant.
! The loyal. watching millionsl Ben
words were flaming before Corwin
> eyes: they wreathed and leaped In b
: mental vision with hideous mockery
Ben. facing death on the field
I, battle, had been able TO think nobl
: OF his country. Corwin. lounging
3 the lap OF luxury in the quiet peas
: Of Falltown. had not yielded to on
, generous and supporting thought Il
the khaki-clad boys who had fougl