The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-03-26

an irrevoeabe habit to don his soldiers uniform
each year on that date in order to commemorate
with shadow of his former self lost cause
Today was that anniversary and he prearranged
to sleep somewhat later than usual. Immediately
upon arising he made an effort to collect his sleep
thoughts after doing so, he walked to a corner of
the where a battered trunk stood. There
something about it that brought back old memories
He opened the lid, and withdrew from the bottom
his uniform which he keeps carefully preserved from
year to year. Without further ado he stepped back
to his bed and began dressing 1t still dark in
his scarcely furnished and he interrupted his
routine by drawing up the shade allowing thin
streak Of light to penetrate. Thoughts flickered
through his head they were brief "reminiscences
of other days; troublesome thoughts at that which
however, did not disturb his mental balance. A
vague semblance of a smile, it may have been
comforting the corners of his mouth.
A half hour later he finished dressing He then
looked at himself, best he could without the aid
Of mirror. First his eyes glanced at his Shoes
then shifted to his body The look in his eyes be-
trsyed that he dispIeased His uniform, creased
from lying untouched did not fit as well as it once
did. The jacket hung loosely on his shrunken
frame, though it suddenly grew several sizes
too large. And his stained trousers bore evidence
of long usage On his left breast pocket hung two
medals, of which he for bravery, and the
other he picked up i'll pawnbrokers for fifty cents.
Then exchanging soed handkerchief for clean
he drew down the shade and walked out of
the ROOM
He paused on the steps of his house. before he
decided to walk down Houston Street At the
he bought copy Of his favorite tabloid and
stepped into coffee pot. He ate scant break
fast, reading the paper, while his fingers kept dip
ping cruller into cup of coffee. Regainng the
street. he buttoned his jacket and shivered 1t
a cool autumn day and he felt chilled without the
protection of topcoat.
Out on the street cries Of hallelujah once again
welcomed Armistice Day Laughs and smiles, inter-
fr,dad
everywhere 1t is on this day that people pin pa
triotic embems in their coat lapels and large and
small flags silent communications. Also on
this day fresh wreaths of flowers placed on
weed covered graves. All these things have a
meaning more than that, purpose.
There is something about this day which brings
to life long buried corpses that smell of dead
lust. These corpses nfuse the air with artificial
spirit of patriotism, which people seem to enjoy
inhaling. = It intoxicates them like a sweet drug,
which feels good before it bites into their system
and kills.
Sam turned up Second Avenue He was thinking,
not Of the puerltes of life but of events that make
history OF wars and of great deeds ran his
thoughts. Today is his holiday. The only day in
the year he does not open his newsstand. To do so
would have been tantamount TO a gross sacriege.
This day he reserved for a solemn rite Later in
the day he planned to attend the reunion dinner
given each year for disabled war veterans.
That hours later, meantime to while away
avenues. He bought small flag which he stuck
into one Of his buttonholes Past gaudiy decorated
windows behind which lay an assortment of mer-
chandise And past grinning civilizees whose faces
seemed saturated with tranquility he walked. Up
the avenue, and down, not only this street but
everywhere pedestrians turned out,
There something of paganism about their
motions which Sam disliked. The smiling faces that
swarrned about, to him desecrated the solemnity of
Armistice Day This day was too sacred to Sam
He liinCI
on a similar date years ago something within
him ceased to exist. 1t was his manhood. That
which he now keeps in constant remembrance. He
shrunk way from curious glances obviously per-
vous and i'll at ease. His eyes gazed at flag dis
played behind a window pane The stars and stripes
unfolded half forgotten message which he did
not stop to read. 'itt.
1t was a different Sam who marched gaily off
TO war ten years ago. And he was conscious Of
the change. The right side Of his face fright
fully disfigured. He spent year in the hospital
waiting for the skim grated in place Of the flesh
torn off by an exploding she'll to heal. 1t did,
h,4A onso ,ofto 10