Newspapers / The Roanoke Beacon and … / Aug. 30, 1918, edition 1 / Page 2
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Matron's House Dresi of Gingham "OVER THE TOP" Show Thyself a Man By An American Soldier Who Went EMPEY LEARNS THAT SOMETIMES A STREAK OF YELLOW CAN TURN PURE WHITE. Synopsis. Fired by the sinking of the Lusltania, with the loss of American lives, Arthur Guy Empey, an American living in Jersey City, goes to England and enlists as a private In the British army. After a short experience as a recruiting officer In London, he la sent to train ing quarters in France, where he first hears the sound of big guns and makes the acquaintance of "cooties." After a brief period of training Empey's company is sent into the front-line trenches, where he takes his first turn on the fire step while the bullets whiz overhead. Empey learns, as comrade falls, that death lurks always in the trenches. Chaplain distinguishes himself by rescuing wounded men under hot fire. With pick and shovel Empey has experience as a trench digger In No Man's Land. Exciting experience on listening post detail. Ex citing work on observation post duty. Back in rest billets Empey writes and stages a successful play. Once more In flie front trenches, Empey goes "over the top" in a successful but costly attack on the German lines. Soon afterwards Empey and his comrades repulse a determined gas attack launched by the Germans. His next experience Is as a member of a firing squad which executes a sentence of death. CHAPTER XXIV Continued. 22 On his left, in the darkness, he could make out the shadowy forms of trees ; crawling on his hands and knees, stop ping and crouching with fear at each shell-burst, he finally reached an old orchard and cowered at the base of a shot-scarred apple tree. He remained there all night, listen ing to the sound of the guns and ever praying, praying that his useless life would be spared. As dawn began to break, he could discern little dark objects protruding from the ground all about him. Curi osity mastered his fear and he crawled to one of the objects, and there, in the uncertain light, he read on a little wooden cross: "Pte. n. S. Wheaton, No. 1670, 1st London Regt. R. F. Killed In action. April 25, 1916. R. I. P." (Rest in Peace). ",Yhen It dawned on him that he had befen hiding all right in a cemetery his reason seemed to leave him, and a mad desire to be free from It all made him rush madly away, falling over lit tle wooden crosses, smashing some and trampling others under his feet. In his flight he came to an old French dugout, half caved In and par tially filled with sMmy and filthy wa ter. Lit, a fox b-rug ciiasea by the hounds, he ducked into this hole, and threw himself on a pile of old empty sandbags, wet and mildewed. Then unconsciousness. On the next day, he came to; far distant voices sounded In his ears. Opening his eyes, In the entrance of the dugout he saw a corporal and two men . with fixed bayonets. The corporal was addressing him: "Get up, you white-livered blighter! Curse you and the day you ever joined D company, spoiling their fine rec ord 1 It'll be you up against the wall, and a good job too. Get hold of him, men, and If he makes a break, give him the bayonet, and send It home, the cow ardly sneak. Come on, you, movr., we've been looking for you long enough." Lloyd, trembling and weakened by his long fast, tottered out. assisted by a soldier on each side of him. They took him before the captain, but could get nothing out of him but: "For God's sake, sir, don't have me shot, don't have me shot !" The ciiptain, utterly disgusted with him, sent him under escort to division headquarters for trial by court-martial, charged with desertion under fire. They shoot deserters In France. During his trial, Lloyd sat as one dazed, and could put nothing forward In his defense, only an occasional "Don't have me shot !" His sentence was passed : "To be shot at 3:3S o'clock in the morning of May 18, 1910." This meant that he had only one more day to live. He did not realize the awfulness of his sentence; his brain seemed para lyzed. He knew nothing of his trip, under guard, in a motor lorry to the sandbagged guardroom in the village, where he was dumped on the floor and left, while a sentry with a fixed bayo net paced up and down in front of the entrance. Bully beef, water and biscuits were left beside him for his supper. The sentry, seeing that he ate noth ing, came Inside and shook him by the shoulder, saying In a kind voice: "Cheero, laddie, better eat some thing. You'll feel better. Don't give up hope. You'll be pardoned before morning. I know the way they run these things. They're only trying to scare you, that's all. Come now, that's good lad, eat something. It'll make the world look different to you." Tjfc good-hearted sentry knew he f ng about the pardon. He knew xhort of a miracle coula save ? ned eagerly to his sentry's Hyyed them. A look of rj pyes, and he raven reside him. time, the chap- rut Lloyd would t-wanted no par ked. he lines sud- thing thuf Arthur Guy Empey Machine Gunner, Serving in France Copyright 1617, by Arthur Qny Empty had. An intense bombardment of the enemy's lines had commenced. The roar of the guns was deafening. Lloyd's fears came back with a rush, and he cowered on the earthen floor with his hands over his face. The sentry, seeing his position, came in and tried to cheer him by talking to him : "Xever mind them guns, boy, they won't hurt you. They are ours. We are giving the Boches a dose of their own medicine. Our boys are going over the top at dawn of the morning to take their trenches. We'll give 'em a taste of cold steel with their sausages and beer. You just sit tight now until they relieve you. I'll have to go now, lad, as It's nearly time for my relief, and I don't want them to see me a-talkin' with you. So long, laddie, cheero." With this, the sentry resumed the pacing of his post. In about ten min utes' time he was relieved, and a D company man took his place. Looking Into the guardhouse, the sentry noticed the cowering attitude of Lloyd, and, with a sneer, said to him : "Instead of whimpering In that cor ner, you ought to be saying your pray ers. It's bally conscripts like you what's spoilin' our record. We've been out here nigh onto eighteen months, and you're the first man to desert his post. The whole battalion is laughin' ana pokin' fun at D company, bad luck to you ! but you won't get another chance to disgrace us. They'll put your lights, out in the mornia'." After listening to this tirade, Lloyd, in a faltering voice, asked: "They are not going to shoot me, are they? Why, He Betrayed His Country. the other sentry said they'd pardon me. For God's sake don't tell me I'm to be shot I" and his voice died away In a sob. "Of course, they're going to shoot you. The other sentry was jest a-kid-din' you. Jest like old Smith. Alwrys a-tryln to cheer some one. You ain't got no more chance o' beln' pardoned than I have of gettin' to be colonel of my 'batt.' " When the fact that all hope was gone finally entered Lloyd's brain, a calm seemed to settle over him, and rising to his knees, with his arms stretched out to heaven, he prayed, and all of his soul entered into the prayer. "O, good and merciful God, give me strength to die like a man! Deliver me from this coward's death. Give me a chance to die like my mates in the fighting line, to die fighting for my country. I ask this of thee." A peace, hitherto unknown, came to him, and he crouched and cowered no more, but calmly waited the dawn, ready to go to his death. The sheila v "" if ) --i were bursting all around the guard room, but he hardly noticed them. While waiting there, the voice of th sentry, singing in a low tone, came to him. He was singing the chorus of the popular trenth ditty: I want to ga kome, I want to go horns. I don't warn, to go to tha trenches no more. Where the "whlszbangs" and "sausagee" roar galore. Take me over the sea, where the Allemand can't get at me. Oh, my. I don't want to die! I want to go home. Lloyd listened to the words with a strange interest, and wondered what kind of a home he would go to across the Great Divide. It would be the only home he had ever known. Suddenly there came a great rushing through the air, a blinding, a deafen ing report, and the sandbag walls of the guardroom toppled over, and then blackness. When Lloyd recovered conscious ness, he was lying on his right side, facing what used to be the entrance of the guardroom. Now, it was only a jumble of rent and torn sandbags. His head seemed bursting. He slowljT rose on his elbow, and there In the east the dawn was breaking. But what wns that mangled shape lying over there among the sandbags? Slowly dragging himself to It, he saw the body of the sentry. One look was enough to know that he was dead. The soldier's head was missing. The sentry had had his wish gratified. He had "gone home." He was safe at last from the "whizz bangs" and the Allemand. Like a flash It came to Lloyd that he was free. Free to go "over the top" with his company. Free to die like a true Briton fighting for his king and country. A great gladness and warmth came over him. Carefully stepping over the body of the sentry, he started on n mad race down the ruined street of the village, amid the bursting shells, minding them not, dodging through or around hurrying platoons on their way to also go "over the top." Coming to a communication trench he could not get through. It was blocked with laugh ing, cheering and cursing soldiers. Climbing out of the trench, he ran wildly along the top, never heeding the rain of machine-gun bullets and shells, not even hearing the shouts of the of ficers, telling him to get back into the trench. He was going to Join his com pany who were in the front line. He was going to fight with them. He, the despised coward, had come into his own. While he was racing along, Jumping over trenches crowded with soldiers, a ringing cheer broke out all along the front line, and his heart sank. He knew he was too late, nis company had gone over. But still he ran madly. He would catch them. He would die with them. Meanwhile his company had gone "over." They, with the other com panies had taken the first and second German trenches, and had pushed steadily on to the third line. D com pany, led by their captain, the one who had sent Lloyd to division headquar ters for trial, charged with desertion, hnd pushed steadily forward until they found themselves far In advance of '.he rest of the attacking force. "Bomb 'ug out" trench after trench, and using their bayonets, they came to a German communication trench, which ended In a blindsap, and then the captain, and what was left of his men, knew they were in a trap. They would not re tire. D company never retired, and they were D company. Right In front of them they couid see hundreds of Germans preparing to rush thera with bomb and bayonet. They would hava some chance If ammunition and bombs could reach them from the rear. Their supply was exhausted, and the men realized It would be a case of dying "as bravely as possible, or making a run for It. But D company would not run. It was against their traditions and principles. The Germans would have to advance across an open space of three to four hunded yards before they could get within bombing distance of the trench, and then it would be all their own way. Turning to his company, the captain said : "Men, it's a case of going West for us. We are out of ammunition and bombs, and the Boches have us in a trap. They will bomb us out. Our bayonets are useless here. We will have to go over and meet them, and It's a case of thirty to one, so send every thrust home, and die like the men of D company should. When I give the word, follow me, and up and at them. Give them h 1 Lord, If we only had a machine gun, we could wipe them out! Here they come, get ready, men. British prepare for the "Big Push," the forerunner of the battle of the Somme. Read about it In the next installment. (TO BE (JONTINUKD.) Striving After Strength. We think that we shall win trutli by striving after strength, Instead oi knowing that we shall gain strength just in the degree that w becono true. Phillips Erf pit Now is the day of all sorts of service suits overettes, war overalls, coat and breeches, mountain suits and others that mark the departures of women in to new fields of work and into new kinds of convenient clothes for outdoor and even for Indoor wear. Meantime the reliable and time-honored gingham .house dress is n service suit that shows no sign of losing its popularity. Gingham and gingham patterns in other materials lead in point of popu larity percale and some heavier cot tons; chambrays and cotton crepes even printed lawns and voiles have a place in this considerable company of house dresses and designs are va ried to suit the ages of wearers 'and the sort of service the dress is to give. In the picture a gingham dress design ed for a matronly wearer Is qual to all the emergencies of an average day at home. It Is a one-piece dress easily put on, has jacket fronts on the bodice with vest and collar in white figure. There are pockets at the side that prove to be both practical and decora tive. They are faced with nioue and What Expert Designers Are Making The advantage of leaving the design ing of children's clothes to specialists In that line of work is apparent. They are less apt to make mistakes than other people are, and only the ef forts in which they are successful get beyond the designing room and into the workrooms of manufacturers of children's frocks and other garments. Early in July the advance guards of the new styles for fall make their ap pearance in the large shops and depart ment stores, and mothers with fore sight investigate them, either to buy for the coming season or to become familiar with whatever new style fea tures are introduced. Those who have their children's clothes made at lmme can gather from these early displays ideas worth copy ing. The question of economy Is one that the individual must settle for her self. The simplest cotton dresses can probably be bought ready made as cheaply as they can be made at home, but the belter grrdes In cotton or wool turned back in two tabs fastened down with buttons. Old-fashioned rickrack braid has come back into favor as a trimming for house dresses and is also used on afternoon frocks of organdie. Combi nations of plain and plaid ginghams are and always will be good in dresses of the kind shown above. For kitchen work designers make shorter sleeves and plain waists joined to skirts with wide belts. The frock illustrated will do for marketing. Because gingham is used for aprons and house dresses is no reason to infer that it is not made up into frocks for other wear. Hand some gingham frocks, made up with organdie collars and cuffs or with fine Swiss embroideries are taking the place of silks in many a war-time wardrobe. They do not suffer by comparison, for they are smart, with a flavor of their own. Double Knot With Loops. Fasten your belt in the back a double knot with loops. with or silk are considerably higher in price than for several seasons past and the chances are that there is a considerable saving In making them it home. The pretty model plct ired above, for a girl of eight to twe.ve or thirteen years, is suited to any of the materials used for the dressier frocks for little girls. It has single box plaits across the front and back of the skirt with pockets at each side on the unplalted portions. - The bodice sifhulates a lit tle jacket with tabs at the front that extend over the flat plain belt. This belt is in a contrasting color and might be made of silk for a wool dress. A little embroidery In the simplest d signs e-'ibollishos the collar, cuffs, pockets and tabs, done In floss the col or of the belt. Flat silk buttons fasten ing with cord loops, form another dec orative feature. r 1 4 By REV. W. W. KETCHUM Director of Practical Work Court. Moody Bible Institute, Chicago I TEXT I go the way of all the earth: b thou strong therefore, and show thyself a man.-J Kings 2:2. An old man lay dying. Behind .hUft. was a checkered and romantic career. In his youth he' was a shepherd He became king of Judah, and upon Saul's death w:as elected king of Israel as well. His sons Absalom and A d o n i j a h separately and at different times,, tried to wrest his throne from him. At last, however, fte had the satis faction of seeing the son whom he had chosen to succeed him. crowutd king. As he lay dying he called the young king into his pres ence, and this is what Solomon heard David, his father, say: "I am goingr the way of all the earth. Show thy self a man." Not by Clothes. Solomon must have pondered the meaning of these words, and as we look back over his Hfe it might be won dered if he did not interpret, "Show thyself a man," to mean that he should wear costly and ornamental array. His magnificent clothes made such an im pression that our Lord, holding forth, a lily, said : "Solomon in all his glory- was not arrayed like one of these." Strange, is it not, that even in these days, when the realities of life are be ing borne in upon us as never before, there are folks who act as if they thought clothes instead of character make the man. You can test this in most any social gathering. Two men enter; one, with heart as black as hell, but dressed like a fashion plate and with the airs of a gentleman ; the other, with sterling character, but green " and awkward, wears ordinary plain clothes. The first is a center of attraction while the sec ond is unnoticed unless some one, out of pity, keeps him company. I do not say this would be so if the real value of ey;h man was known, but in the ab sence of such knowledge, is it not true that often we act as if clothes and not character, make the man? Not by Wealth. It may be Solomon thought his fa ther meant that he should acquire wealth, for he amassed a great fortune and became the richest man of all time. He erected a palatial residence that took thirteen years to build, and had such sumptuous surroundings and so much wealth; that the queen of Sheba, hearing of his glory, came to visit him and when she saw it all, ex claimed: "The half was never told." How many there are today to whom wealth Is an indication of manhood. Let It be said that one is rich, and im mediately these people do him honor, as If what he possesses, instead of what he 4s, makes him a man. It is a bad cus tom we have of asking how much a Trn fa tpnrth rotlior than rcViat lo Vila character. A man may have a good character with dollars, and Just as easily, he may have a bad character without them. It Is not money, or the want of it, that determines a man's character. It Is what he actually is. Wealth may Induce to badness, and ' so may poverty ; neither, however, need be blamed for ruined character, be cause God will give strength and grace to bear either, if we ask him. Not by Culture. Possibly Solomon thought that cul tue makes a man, for we read that he became the wisest of all men. Yet after acquiring understanding in many things, it was he wo said at last: "Trust in the Lord and lean not to thine own understanding." We should remember that God puts no premium, upon ignorance. lie ex pects us to develop and increase in knowledge The splendid schools and colleges of our day offer youth gret opportunities for development; but should all the culture and learning of the wrorld be acquired, and one know not God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent, he is still ignorant of the greatest and most vital truth truth that is essential to h 1.4 character, and without , which he lacks the power to buildth.at Christian character which alone can stand the testings of God, and having stood them, endure throughout eternity. The apostle tells us that "other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ" And he says : "If any man build upon this foundation" not learning, not culture, but Christ "he shall receive a re ward," provided of course, his building be of such material as will stand the test of fire. And so he adds: "Take heed how ye build thereupon." Yes, let us take heed how we build thereupon; what kind of Christian characters we erect; but first of all, we need to be definitely sure that we are building upon the only foundation, which is Jesus Christ our Lord. Then as we build our Christian character upon him, may each one of us show himself a man. Christ's Desire. In our business Christ wants not so much ours but us.
The Roanoke Beacon and Washington County News (Plymouth, N.C.)
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Aug. 30, 1918, edition 1
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