Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 46, Number 99, 5 March 1921 — Page 16

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THE RICHMOND PALLADIUM, SATURDAY. MARCH 5, 1921

TRUE WAR STORIES TOLD BY - SOLDIERS IN FRANCE-SAMMIE

NUMBER II The Most-Loved English Captain. "Put your back to the wall, boys, and stick to it. The speaker was a captain of a London regiment and the remark was addressed to the soldiers who were holding a much harried trench sector on the western front. All day long the Germans had been shelling the position and now they were advancing at the tail of a barrage toward the British trenches. They could be seen coming dark figures breaking through the enemy barb wire, and drawing nearer at a pace which from the trench, looked ridiculously slow. But for all that they would be across in a little while if the heavy rifle fire did not deter them. The Tommies would go out and give battle with the bayonet presently. But in the meantime it was more economical and effective to conduct the job by pulling the trigger. "Now, take good and steady aim," said tlfe Captain, as he entered a bay and looked at the young faces that lined the parapet. "Don't get flurried; think you're on 4he rifle range at home." "I got a bull that time, sir," said one of the men, a youngster of 19, Just out. His name was Fred Forester. After a second he turned again and looked at the Captain. "Another, two bulls, sir," he said with a laugh. "It's great fun." Although the enemy advanced at the double, the time dragged for the men on the fire step. They waited with tense expectation for closer combat. Despite the firing, the attackerg still came on. Ten Germans seemed to take the place of every one who fell and the rim of the foeman's parapet was like the lip pf a waterfall; the men came across In waves and were dashed to pieces; other waves fol lowed, only to meet with a similar fate. The successive lines of men wore onrileaa. inexhaustible as a running brook. The first line drew near, and the English ran out to meet them. Bayonet and bomb came into play. The Captain fought imperturbably with a cigarette in his mouth and a revolver in each hand, and his men backed him up magnificently. The first line of attack melted away like an exhausted wave on a beach, the second faltered and sought cover in the folds of the field. The remainder of the attackers, caught by the British artillery fire, doubled back to the German trenches. "Back to your own lines!" said the Captain, and the men took shelter behind the sand bags. It was then that a mate of Forester's got hit by a splinter of a Bhell, and fell to the floor of the trench with a badly gashed arm. QUERY CORNER To the Junior Palladium: Is there a book to tell of every business house and important place In Richmond? C. H. B. Dear C. H. B.: There is a short but fairly complete business directory in the back of the telephone book. A more complete list probably, is In -the Bradstreet or Dunn business directories which may be found in any of the banks. There is a Book of Richmond, too, published several years ago, which gives the location of the city's public buildings, parks, institutions, etc. This may be found, probably, at the library, and may be helpful in Its line, though it is not brought up to date. Aunt Polly. Dear Aunt Polly: Who Invented the sled? When? What country did he come from? Chester. Dear Chester: This particular inventor forgot to leave his card behind him when he left the world, and so we do not know his name. It was probably some Eskimo in northern Iceland, who watched the seals falling and sliding smoothly over, the frozen snow banks and icy rivers so comfortably and seeming to enjoy it much more than walking. "Just the thing!" he probably or at least perhaps fald to himself, "Why keep plodding over these ice fields when I can hitch the dogs to a sliding wagon and ride?" And then, perhaps, he made himself a sled. But that's just PERHAPS nobody knows, I guess, just who made the first sled. Aunt Polly. i

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Forester bound the wound and helped the man back to the dressing station. When Forester came back an hour later the Captain sp0ke to him. "I was looking for you sometime ago," said the taptain, " but nobody could tell me where you were." "I was" began Forester, but the officer interrupted him. "1 don't want to know where you were, Forester." said he. "I saw you out there in front fighting, and you made a jolly good show. Of course, when you came back into the trench it was your duty to stand to arms until you got orders to do otherwise. The Germans niigh have attacked again, ana suppose they did and found tho trench deserted, our fight would have gone for nothing. Isn't that clear?" "Yes, sir," replied Forester. "Some might argue that the firsx thing to be done after a battle is to take care of the wounded," the Captain went on. "It's a good pound argument if both sides agree to it, but both sides don't. v Ten minutes ago two of our stretcher bearers went out to carry in a wounded German. On their way in, they were fired at by the enemy, and one of the stretcher bearers was killed. Therefore, all those poor fellows who are out in No Man's Land will have to lie out there until it is dark. After awhile I might be able to spare some men to take in our own wounded, but at present that must be done by the stretcher bearers. If I had it in my power I would see that all the wounded were taken in now, but that is impossible. "Now, Forester, you see what I mean and you know why I am speaking to you like this. You are a willing soldier and a good mate, but in war friendship must play second fiddle to duty. Duty before everything else, Forester! You roust remember , that. You are new out here and if you have made a slip once I don't want you to do it again. I don't 6ay that you have done anything wrong, but you might if you were not warned." "I am sorry, sir," Forester stammered. The boy knew that the Captain was aware of his absence. "There is nothing to be sorry about," said the Captain with a smile. "You were probably build

THE DAYS OF REAL SPORT

Carpet

ing up the broken parapet round the corner a moment ago, when I was looking for you. It's easy los-

! ing sight of men in a scrap when every one is more or less excited "By tho way, how is that friend of yours?" he added alter a short silence. "He got hit in tlio arm with a splinter of shell, didn't he?" "He is all right now," said Forester. "Ho was taken into the dresing station almost as soon as he was hit. He'll be on the way to England now, sir." "Well, I am glad that ho has got out of here safely," said tho Captain. That officer has his own way of handling his men. He has no desire to impress discipline on them through the instrumentality of the guardroom. The men-love him and wll do anything rather than cause him annoyance. As it is, he is the commander of a company without crime and the best disciplined company in tho regimetn. SAMMIE. Next Week: "A Few Adventures of the Royal Flying Corps." Ed. Note: We are very much pleased to publish these stories of the war told by "someone who was there." HOW WE HELPED TO FIX UP THE LIBRARY Before I passed into the 6B grade, Mary Adams and some other girls and myself went to the library. We cleaned it out and made little slips like this: Sixth Grade, Firth Grade, Third Grade, Fourth Grade, First Grade and Second Grade. We then labeled the cases by the grades. When we were through with that part we printed the names of the children that belong in the library on our books that wo write the children's names in and the books they get. Then we were finished. Gracia Dickson, 6B grade, Joseph Moore school. ANSWERS TO RIDDLES FOR THIS WEEK 1. Swallow, Thrush Pigeon, Quail, Sparrow, Canary. 2. Seat. 3. Because she i3 not what she seams. 4. When threshes it. 5. When (a-waggin'). he pulls its ears and it stops a wagon Pno-innlncr with tho firet rrro A r Spanish is taught in Porto Riean j school rooms as well as English. 1

JUNIOR RED CROSS NEWS FROM WARNER There was a Junior Red Cross program given for the 6A and 6B grade of Warner school. It was a very short one but I think Warner children are doing their duty. Miss Helen Moody sang a song, "America, the Beautiful"; and Miss Mary Elizabeth Rees told a story about "Elena's Easter Cake." After the program, we talked about Junior Red Cross. Miss lone Shrieves is president; Miss Hazel Saver is secretary. I think we have a very nice Junior Red Cross. By Mary Elizabeth Rees, 6B, Warner.

These Letters Have Gone (Continued From Page One) Vaile School, Richmond, Ind., Feb. 1C, 1921. Dear Virginia K: I havo a canary bird. Ills name is Bevo. I got ti two or three months ago. He is just a young bird. We havo a cat too. Her naino is Twinkle. I expect you have fun with your gold fish. I had some a year ago and they all died. I felt very bad about it. I hope you will enjoy this letter. I would like to hear from you again. Your friend, ELEANOR COLLINS. The above letters are copies of those which have been sent either to Clarksburg, Virginia or to Schenectady, New York from children in the fifth and 6ixth grades of the public schools of Richmond. They were written under the supervision of M'ss Phelps and were considered by her to be especially well written. Other letters which were considered by Miss Phelps especially well written, both in content and in the writing itself and which we wish to make special mention of though we were unable to print, them in the Junior, because of lack of space, were those written by: Margaret Thompson, Whitewater School; Marguerite Saurer, Warner; Marguerite Linderman, Baxter; Ruth Guyer, Baxter; Hilda Ashley, Joseph Moore; Evelyn Carr, Vaile: Mildred Lady: Maude Ingram, Finley; Charles Rhinehart, Hibbcrd; James Lantz, Whitewater; Theresa Falcone, Whitewater; Ruby Walker, Whitewater; Elizabeth Jenkins, Vaile; Bennie Perry, Whitewater; and Lestra Ilibberd, Vaile.

MY VISIT TO MY COUSIN JN ANSONIA One Saturday evening my mother and I were going to visit our relations at Ansonia. We started at C o'clock and arrived at Ausonia at 8 o'clock. My cousin was there to meet us, so after I got off the train he went on passing papers and we went to their home. His name was Herman. He came home shortly after we left him. I had 25 cents to spend and we went up to town. It was the "Fourth of July." We bought some matches and firecrackers to have some fun with, and after awhile we went to his home, and in the morning we had some more fun. It was Sunday, and when Monday came we came home. We arrived home about 10 o'clock, and my brother Verlyn wanted to know what I had done while I was there and I told him all about what a good time I had By Leslie Merl Reynolds, Grade, 7, No. 7 Oak Hill School.

FOR SALE Fine lot of mixed stamps. Stamp hinges also for sale, 50 for 5c. Some specially fine stamps in the lot. Call 126 South Fifth street. ART CORNER JUNIOR ART ASSOCIATION TO MEET NEXT TUESDAY Tuesday, March 8, at 3:45, tho Junior Art association will hold its first important meeting in the Art Gallery. This association, whose membership is made up of sixth grade, junior high school pupils, has been officially recognized by the Senior Art association. Any junior who likes or is interested in art painting, drawing sketching art work of any kind, may become a member of the association. The dues are twenty-five cents a year. Lantern slides and motion picture films and talks on pictures and artists will form the program of the meetings. During the last week of March a competitive exhibit will be held which will represent the very best art work done in the public schools. An especially appointed jury will decide on the pictures to be exhibited as is the procedure in the senior exhibits. In this exhibit, the fifth grade will be included. By Briggs

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