Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-01-09
sacrificed . leg. the veteran marched

sacrificed q Les. the veteran marched
between lines Of cheering people.
Now. on this approaching annivcr-
sary, he could 60 peacefully. nay, even
proudly. The uniform was OF the best
cloth. and on its second fitting showed
already its marvel of tailoring.
On an evening a week before the
parade would occur, he got out his
boots. He bought always large boots
with straight soles. the riglF not much
different from the left in shape. Thus
he managed thriftily 10 wear, on his
one leg, first one of the pair, then the
other. But they were both worn now,
and because of the cost of the new
uniform, he could not buy others.
Armed with the better of the two
he visited the cobbler's shop, and there
met with bitter news.
"A patch here, and a new heel com
rade." he said. "With that and pol
fishing, it will do we'll enough for
marching"
The usual group was in the shop,
mostly young men, a scattering of gray
heads. The advocates Of strange doc
trines, most of them. Old Adelbert
disapproved of them, regarded them
with sort of contempt.
Now he felt that they smiled behind
his back. 1t was his clothing, he felt.
He shrugged his shoulders disdain-
fully. He no longer felt ashamed be-
fore them. Already, although the
tailor still pressed its seams and
marked upon it with chalk, he was
clad in the dignity of the new uni
form.
He turned and nodded to them. "a
fine evening"" he said. 'If this
weather holds, we will have a good
day for the marching" He sQuinted
a faded eye at the sky outside.
"What marching?"
OlG Adelbert turned on the speaker
sharply. Probably you have forgot
| ten" he said scornfully, but in a week
comes an anniversary there are many
who will remember. The day of a
| great battle. Perhaps" he added, "if
! you do not know of what I speak, there
are some here who Will tell you"
ut is the way of the old to live in
the past" a student said. Then, imi-
tatlng old Adelbert's majestic tone :
1--WE, we live in the future. Eli, COM
rades?" He turned to'the old soldier :
you have not seen the bulletins?"
bulletins"
There viii be no marching, my
friend. The uniform now-that is a
pity. Perhaps the tailor" His eyes
Knocked.
mo marching?"
Gan order of the council. 1t seems
that the city is bored by these ancient
reminders. 1t is for peace, and would
forget wars. And professions are cost
ly. We grow thrifty. Bands and fire
works cost money, and money, m!
hero, is scarce-yery scarce"
Again the group laughed.
After a time he grasped the truth
There was such an order. The cause
was given as the kings illness.
bert angrily, %'has the sound of hi
soldiers marching disturbed the king?
"The sound of wooden legs annoy
him." observed the moCking student
lighting cigarette. HE would hea
only pleasant sounds, such as the nois
of tax money pouring into his vaults
Mel can think of pleasanter: tn
tolling of the cathedral bell, at a Ger
tain time, will be music to nay ears :.
Old Adelbert stood, staring ahead
At last he went out into the street
muttering. "They shame us before tn
people" he said quickly.
The order of the council had indeed
been issued, a painful business owe
which Mettlich and the council hat
pondered long. For, in the state o
things, it was deemed unwise to per
, nit any gathering of the populace Ell
! maSse. MobS lead to riots, and riot
E.. again to mohs. Five thousand armed
, men, veterans, but many of them il
i, their prime, were in themselves
danger. And on these days of ami
) versary it had been the custom of tn
| university to march also, a guard 0
honor. Sedition was rife among tn
J students.
/ The order was finally issued
E Old Adelbert was i'll that night. II
tossed about in Il fever His bod
] ached, even the leg which so long agt