Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1923-09-21
One of Life's
Ironies
By JOHN PALMER

(0. 1928, Western Newspaper Union.)

(G, 1878, western Newspaper Union.)
II HOMAS DEAN had been an aver
D. age young American before he
>oluntarily enlisted in the Canadian
eXpeditionary force for service in the
war. He had probably had some trou-
! BILE with his young wife and enlisted
in moment Of pique.
He had never discovered himself.
Men are capable of infinite heroism,
Of Infinite baseness. The same indi-
vidual will display BOTH Dean had
been an average soldier, until the at
tack on Belleau Wood.
Then, running forward in a shower
of lead and bursting shells, with his
stomach upheaving and an awful sink
ing in the base of his spine Dean
found that he could go no further.
He dropped. The result Of the at
tack was never known to him. He
only knew that at nightfall a vast
empty silence had succeeded the hell
of earlier hours.
All about him were dead men.
Crawling forward, Dean encountered
one of these corpses. The touch of
his hand upon the cold face terrified
him into hysteria.
However, Dean accomplished what
he had set out to do. He exchanged
identification disks with the dead SOL
dier. Then he made his way back to-
ward the rear.
1t was a time of rout and confusion.
Regiments were undistinguishable.
Every man was put to whatever job
he was at hand for. AS a driver of
wagon, Dean found himself a little
later back at the base.
He discovered that he was Thomas
Jones, incapacitated for further serv-
ice by reason Of disability that had
developed. He learned the symptoms
and passed the superficial medical
test. A month later he was back in
Canada. Another month, and he was
observation-disclosures Jones, with a
war pension.
week later he was fleeing for his
life. The news of the imposture had
become known. AS Henry Smith,
Dean crossed the American border
Thus an average young American
who had quarreled with his wife
found himself a nameless man and a
fugitive-all because he had not
known himself. He might equally have
become hero.
He imagined that the story was
known in his home town. For years
he wandered from place to place, un-
til at length he thought it safe to re-
turn with the object Of persuading
Mary to accompany him West under
the name of Smith.
Ill fate was with him. He arrived
on armistice day. He had not thought
of that. 1t was simply an example OF
the fatality that dogs ones footsteps.
On the town green a memorial had
been erected to the men who fell in
the war. In his shabby clothes, dis
guised with a mustache, Dean min
gled with the crowd unrecognized.
He wandered aimlessly to and fro,
looking at the statue with the wreaths,
at the weeping women. He knew him
self more clearly than at any time be-
fore for the scoundrel that he was.
Presently his heart gave a great
bound. He saw Mary-Mary, leaning
on the arm Of a young fellow whom
he knew as a former friend Of his
one Williams.
They were walking very lovingly
together. Dean watched them, chok-
ing, incapable Of moving as they ap-
preached him, even had they recog-
nized him.
But they did not recognize him.
They did not cast a glance at the
shabby tramp standing beside the
monument, but halted little distance
away.
II ought not to have brought you
here today said Williams.
I'm glad you did, my DEAR" Mary
answered.
Another glance at their demeanor
showed Dean that they were married.
There was no possibility of mistaking
that. Married, not long married, hap
PLY married-Mary happy, as she had
never been with him.
II wish had been better wife to
him"
"He wasn't worthy Of you, Mary"
"He was good man, brave man."
The mayor appeared. He was stand
ing on the steps Of the monument. He
raised his hand to speak, and a hush
fell upon the crowd.
The mayor was speaking. Friends,
we are gathered here today to COM
memorate the men who gave their
lives for freedom"
What was he saying?
"And above all, that hero who gave
his life gladly to wipe out that ma