Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1922-08-31

corporation for an association which shall keep
them together and "enshrine their common sac
rihce."
1t Is Representative Thomas D. Schall of Min
nesota who has introduced the Incorporation bill.
Calling the attention Of the house to the visitors
in the gallery he made eloquent speech that
stirred even the blase house and brought forth
many bursts Of applause Probably one reason
the speech was eloquent was because the speaker
knew what he talking about. For he had been
under fire with the boys on the firing line. He was
on the American transport Mount Vernon when
she tOrpedoed Off Brest September g. with a
loss Of 81 killed. He was in France during July
and August Of 1918 and followed the Americans
in the Chateau-Thierry drive. AS he said in his
speech:
II was with Major Fuchs in Conan, where white
hot fragments Of shell lay smoking in the street.
the town being shelled every Is minutes expe-
rlenced creeping upon hands and knees for about
half Il mile to avoid exposure to the enemy 1
savoreG the heavy white dust, the flies the heat,
and the scantiness Of water the smell of decaying
fesh where the human dominated the animal. I
heard the mighty uproar Of night attacks, where
like heat lightning the barrage played along the
sky; the boom Of artillery and the burst Of shell
the heavy rumble Of trucks bringing troops, NUM-
tons and supplies to the front; and ambulances
setting out with the wounded
From actual contact with soldiers in action in
neIu ana camp know something of what our
boys suffered and what they ACCOMPLISHED over
there, I dined with them at mess and communed
with them in bvouac in the night, at a time when
mems tongues are loosed and they talk Today
they narrowly missed death. Perhaps it would be
their turn tomorrow, and so the verge of eter-
nifty they spoke their hearts and told the plain
truth without fear or favor. No winners among
them. No boosters. Just matter-of-fact pure
stuff the dross burned away in actual fellowship
with death, leaving their souls vibrant instruments
Of truth If had but one word with which to
describe the American soldier, T would describe
him with the word courage. No nation in all the
annals Of war has produced average individuals
with such predominant courage, such unheard-of
heroism, such willing offering Of life"
But Mr.. Schalls speech was eloquent for another
reason also: lie himself is a blind man-'Iost
sight through electric shock" says the Congress.
sionol Directory. Said he in his ntroduction
mo doubt every one of these boys has cried out
In his hour Of trial. % Lord, if possible, take this
cup from me- and would have chosen to have
remained upon the battlefield with no Weakening
TO bear, day after day. the heavy cross of silent
waiting. The constantly recurring thought in the
early days Of blindness Is, is not death to be pre-
ferredY for they then with the mind of the
seeing | can remember upon losing my sight
Hcqunlntances meeting me after lapse of time
would say, 'Schall, heard you were dead. ! re-
piled, Not dead, just blind" But could readily
interpret what they thought. When they heard
that had lost my sight they said to themselves,
4 would rather he dead And so, having said it.
they concluded that / was dead. But | am not
dead LAppIuuse,l And am quite sure that the
blind soldiers who ure here in the gallery today
will prove that they are not dead. IApplausel
men are making good under tler trials