Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 February 1915 — JOHN JACOB ASTOR [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

JOHN JACOB ASTOR

“Say!" this same German shouted, back between puffs. “These cigars are great. Real imported hemp!" A rock the size of a man’s fist was -the reply to this sally. "Hey, you Frenchers,” the German kept on, “you’re a pretty decent lot Will you shoot me if I come over again?” “We will that -after what you said about the cigars.” Once more the lumbering giant catapulted out of his trench and ran low over to the French, dropping on his stomach as before. In his hand was an object, a dark green one, with tlq foil around the neck and the words “Gout Americain” on a slip of paper across the sloping shoulder. It was a bottle of champagne swiped while the Germans were in Reims. “Here’s your health, fellows,” the German said. "Drink hearty!” And back he ran. > “Hey!” the Frenchmen shouted, laughing. “You’ve got the nerve of a burglar. You are giving us back our own champagne!” “Oh, that’s all right," the German replied, “your cigars were made in Germany. I recognize the stench!” Later in the day the German was killed and the news was shouted across the road. He simply would keep sticking his head above the trench during business hours. But in the night a wreath of flowers, gathered by the Frenchmen from heaven 'knows were, and at no one knows what risks, fell into the trench where he was wont to have his place. All is not cutting and slashing and > shooting and gore; the spice of good humor and the milk of human kindness often, in this fighting, lessen the sting of hatred between the races and of which one hears so much.

The only son of Mrs. John Jacob Astor in winter costume in Central Park, New York.