Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1920-04-02
CHAPTER l.


In the beginning OF things, he was
merely number; but even that was
creditable, because his Number was
bow enough 10 signify that he had re-
sponded pretty promptly to the rally
ing call After that, and with the
cataclysmic suddenness which marked
all changes of military status on the
western front, he became. one frosty
morning, a Case, and got himself
roughly classified (and tenderly ham
dled) as Stretcher Case, a Grand
Blesse, and, In consequence, proper
temporary inmate of field hospital
on the Belgian plains.
There, he was unofiiclally known as
Joyeaux, or Joyous One; not because
he displayed very buoyant DISPOSE
tlon-far from itl-but because he be-
songed to the Foreign legion; and in
the course Of another day or two he
was routine-ticketed as an Evacue,
aud provided with a lukewarm hot
water bottle and a couple OF evil
smelling cigarettes to console him on
the road to the base hospital at Neu-
blly.
AT Neuilly he became, for the first
time since his enlistment, an lndivid-
ual, and at the very outset heswas dis
tinguished by certain qualities which
had passed unnoticed In the frying pan
and FIRE OF the trenches. For one
,G'ng, he was obviously immune to
Kindness and for another. he was APP
parently immune to hope. He was a
man OF inyeterate silence: not the
grim silence of fortitude In suffering
(which is altogether too common a vlr-
tue in base hospitals to earn any es-
peclal merlr), but rather the logged
reticence OF black moods and chronic
bitterness. To be sure, speech was
physically difficult to him. but other
men with similar misfortunes spoke
blessings with their eyes, and gave
back gratitude in voieeless murmurs
Not so the Joyous One. From the day
of his, arrival he demanded nothing,
desired nothing but to brood Sullenly
aioOf: and so. when he became an In
Siividnal. he also became a mystery to
the nursing staff. 1t was rumored that
he was an lmplacable woman halter,
and there seemed to be something In
Ii.
Regardless of the care OF the Amer.
lean nurses fall hoveringly attentive
to one of their own nation WHO had
fought for France). his spirit remained
abysnal and clouded In gloom. Only
twice, in the initial month of his con-
finement did he betray the weakness
gof an ordinary emotion on each occa-
sion gold-laced general had come to
salute, In the name of the republic, one
Of the individuals neighbors. and TO
deliver bit OF bronze which dapgIed
from ribbon striped red and green.
II was said land doubted by those who
( hadn't seen III that at these ceremo-
MES the Individual had grown fever
ish. and let tears come TO his eyes. but
subsequently he had relnpsed into
still greater depths OF stolclsm than
before; his own bed-jacket was limo
cent Of cross or medal. and his depres-
sion was apparent. and acute. The
nurses, arguing that perhaps his pride
was wounded as seriously as his flesh.
offered quick coincidence and got them
selves rebuffed with shrugs Of the In
dIyIdual's shoulders, and inarticulate
sounds which had all the earmarl5s of
suppressed profanity He didn't even
soften when Pierre Dutout, hard-hit
territorial in the next bed, squandered
days supply Of energy to lean across
and whisper sympathetleally to him:
"Dld man Vieux espece de ckoux-
eroute know how II is =.
a1d ] haven't got any friends either.