The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-10-01
EN- EN-.

Lay off cutting corn off the cob
So came the day in this land Of the Eree u1rM
Cigarette They were young pOignantly
young that your heart missed beat as they knelt az
the small altar in the big church in New York. ana
the words were said making them man ana WIe'
There was no music, gOnfalons of glory, but
just the simple ceremony which can mean SO htue-
or much.
In not so long it was all over, and the bridegroom
kissed the bride and the two started to walk down the
AISLE
When they turned, the radiance in their eyes was
challenge to the stars. All you could see was tha glory
except the way they walked down the AISLE For ne
had shattered arm in cast, and the wings OF a
bomber navigator and medals for gallantry on ms
fvers uniform and the way his little bride chung to that
arm without really cingng to that arm in cast for
of hurting it, was something all men would envy
He didn't wear his Purple Heart ribbon. He
didn't have to. For and all those others present at
his wedding knew his courage. We knew how ne had
scorned to be kept in essential job We knew
how when Pearl HarbOr Day came he pulled wires
Not the wires that some heroes pull but
the kind that got him into the service for Uncle SAM
and commission, and flight over Germany. We knew
how the time the bullets came sashing through that
bomber that it was not his bomber, or his crew who
was with him. We knew that he had volunteered Tor a
mission, and he had gone along
These are things that remembered and men viii!
remember and that yet will rise to trouble the sleep OF
towards who stayed at home Courage. It's great
shining word. But it shining in his eyes, and the
eyes of the little bride who would have flown with nun
in that bomber had she had the cnanCe ana III 4leL
own way she flying then. For no one knew now
that shattered arm was going to make out
They walked down the AISLE strangely silent was
the aisle and the church, for there was no music no
confetti There was need of these things hero had
come home. And the girl who had been waiting was
walking beside him. And they were man ana vile.
They went out and we all went Out-the little
bride pleased that there was no rice or confetu
small reception at Membership Club. But before
that there was barrage of newspaper photogs from
the Times and the Herald Tribune and other sheets
and pictures which later were to appear In those
payers The Times and the Herad.Tribune, and at
which the little bride ScoWled, all little brides nave
scowled at their marriage pictures in the papers,
because they didn't do her usticewhch was true, but
which pleased her nonetheleSs
There was champagne at the club and more pho
tographers who buzzed around with flashlights, ana
swapping shutters and then the young lieutenant with
the arm in sling and his little woman ran away, to
suite in the Pierre less, and train IN the morning
for the South where he had to report to hospital
because Of his shattered arm
There was a let down after they had gone, and some
one suggested going to the Stork Club which wasn't so
far off There Scotch and Sodas there and music
and laughter and fun. But had to tear myself away
had gone down on the 1871 train. had TO take the
o'clock back to Waterbury.
sneaked out so no one would go. raced
down to Grand Central found window seat on the
train.
The New Haven Railroad likes to play tricks .
The supposedly ar-cOnditiOned like the Black
Hole of Calcutta But took my coat off and settled
down to read the newspapers had bought. ::
WlSneu the car were a SMOKER leu like SHAOAc
The young Waterburian who sat down beside me
lit cigarette and then discovered in smoker
after ALL I reached for my pack of cigarettes. 1
didn't have it with me! I'd left it the table in the
StOrk Club. completely out of smokes. Because
didn't have any, the desire for cigarette increased
until it unbearable. Finally, in desperation 1
turned to the lad beside me- and di6 something I've
never done in my life before with stranger asked
him if could bum cigarette from him.
"Sure" he said genaly and produced his cigarettes.
Later he offered me another but that refused
At Waterbury, wanting to repay his courtesy
asked him if could buy him drink, something. He
said "No thanks" he hurrying home. He depre-
Gated my appreciation OF his kindness in giving me one
of his cigarettes whats cgarette?" he said.
And said, "Its great deal, when you want cigar
ette."
So we said goodbye to each other, and walked up
TO nv hotel and HAS Suffused with warm glow, which
was not the glow produced by champagne in the Uni
prstv Club nor the Scotch at the Sork the after
math of a wedding. It was partly the glow produced
bv the simple unaffected courtesy Of unknown-to-me
waterbury lad on Waterbury train. And was chuck
ling inside was chuckling at the vagaries OF life.
few hours before1 had witnessed my daughter being
married. with a the accoutrements OF nice wedding
including receptions and champagne. And on my way
back 70 Waterbury had to sponge cigarette
Edmund Leamy.