The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-04-20


Germans In Berlin gave their word to
murder no more. and people said, This
means peace for America, and all II
well for u.s." but everybody knew H.
his heart that nothing was well for
us, that there was no peace.
They said, IAN Is WE'LL" while that
thunder In the ground never ceased
Il grew deeper and heavier I'LL all
America shouk with II and It became
slowly audible as the voice Of the old
American soil, n soil wherein lay those
who had defended II aforetlme, u soil
that bred those who would defend II
again. for II was theirs; and the mean
ing Of it-I.ife, Liberty, and the Pur
suit of IIappiness-was theirs, AMI
theirs to defend. And they knew the,
would defend IT, and that more thai
the glory of Nation was ut stake
The Freedom of Man was ut stake So.
gradually the sacred thunder reached
the ears Of the young men and gave
them those deep moments that came to
them whether they sat in the class
room or the counting-rOOm, or walked
with the pillow, or stood to the machine,
or behind the ribbon counter Thus
the thunder shook them aud tried them
aud slowly came into their lives and
changed everything for them.
Hate Of the Germans was not bred !,
but contempt for what Germany had
shown In lieu Of n national heart a
nj mil nd
as the resolve that the German way
and the German Will should not pre-
vail In America. nor In any country of
the world that would be free. And
when the German kaiser laid his com.
mand upon America. that no American
should take his ship upon the free
seas, death being the penalty for any
who disobpyed, then the German kaiser
got his answer, not only to this new
law he had made for us, but to many
other thoughts of his. Yet the an
swer was for some time delayed.
There was bitter Sunday, and Its
bitterness went everywhere tn every
place In the whole world that held
high and generous hearts. Its bitter.
ness came TO the special meeting IN
the frat hail." where there were
hearts, indeed, Of that right sort, and
one Of them became vocal In its bitter.
ness. This was the heart Of Fred
Mitchell, who was now an authority.
being president OF the Junior class,
chairman of the Prom committee, and
nth 1.la M IN, MI IN Iix.
for al his age
"FoT me, brothers" he said, II think
I'd great deal rather have been shot
through the head than heard the news
from Washington today! ] tell you.
I've spent the meanest afternoon
ever did In my life. and l guess it's
been pretty much the same with all OF
US. The worst of 1t is, II looks AS
though there isn't thing In the world
we can do. The country's been be
trayed by few blatherskites and
boneheads that had the power to do II,
and all we can do-we've just got 10
stand II. But there's some Americans
that aren't just standing II. and i
want to tell you u lot of EN- are men
from the universities, just like US.
They're over there right now; they
haven't said much-they Just packed
up and went. They're flying for France
and for England and for Canada
they're fighting under every flag on
the right side Of the western front
and they're driving ambulances at
verdun and ammunition trucks at the
Somme Well. there's going to be lot
more American boys on all these Jobs
mighty soon, on account Of what those
men did In congress today. IL they
won't give us q chance to do some
thing under our own flag. then well
have tn 20 and do II under some other
flag and l want to tell you I'm one
that's going To go. I'll stick II out In
college up to Easter. and then II
there's still no chance to 20 under the
Stars and Stripes I'll maybe have to
20 under the flag my great-great-
grandfather fought against In 1916,
but, anyhow. I'll go!"
II was In speaking to Ramsey of this
declaration that Dora said Fred was
dangerous firebrand" They were
taking another February walk, but the
February was February. 1917; and the
day was dry aud sunny. Its Just
about a year ago" she said.
"What is?" Ramsey asked
That first time we went walking
Don't you remember?"
"Oh. that day. Yes. ! remember II
was showing"
And So sld and blowy!" she added
1T seems long time ago. like walk
ing with you, Ramsey. You're so quiet
and solId-I've always felt could talk
to you just anyhow ! pleased, and you
wouldn't mind. I'll miss these walks
with you when we're out Of college"
He chuckled That's funny"
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