; 1 i
!
POLK COUNTY NEWS, TEYON, N. O.
IMPROVED UNIFCf . WTERNATlOfCAl
SMfi
Lesson
(By REV. P. B. FITZ WATER. D. D..
Teacher of English Bible in the
Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.)
(Copright. 1918. Western Newspaper Unloro
LESSON FOR APRIL 28
By An American
Soldier Wlio Went
Arthur Guy Empey
Machine Gunner, Serving in France
Copyright 1917, by Arthur Ouj Empj
JESUS REBUKES SELFISHNESS.
Lred
EMPEY AND A COMRADE HAVE EXCITING EXPERIENCE
WHILE ON LISTENING POST DUTY.
Synopsis. Fired by the sinking of the Lusitania, with the loss of
American lives, Arthur Guy Empey, an American living in Jersey City,
goes to England and enlists as a prlvate'in the British army. After a
short experience as a recruiting officer in London, he is 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. Much attention Is required by wounded men from
the corps of doctors and nurses. On listening post detail.
CHAPTER XIV Continued.
10
tf a man Is killed he is buried, and
the responsibility of the government
ceases, excepting for the fact that his
people receive a pension. But If a man
is wounded It takes three men from
the firing line, the wounded man and
two men to carry him to the rear to
the advanced first-aid post. Here he is
attended by a doctor, perhaps assist
ed by two R. A. M, C. men. Then he is
put into a motor ambulance, manned
by a crew of two or three. At the field
hospital, where he generally goes un
der an anesthetic, either to have his
wounds cleaned or to be operated on,
he requires the services of about three
to five persons. From this point an
other ambulance ride impresses more
men in his service, and then at the am
bulance train, another corps of doc
tors, R. A. M. C. men. Red Cross nurses
and the train's crew. From the train
he enters the base hospital or casualty
clearing station, where a good-sized
corps of doctors, nurses, etc., are kept
busy. Another ambulance journey Is
next in order this time to the hospital
ship. He crosses the channel, arrives
in Blighty more ambulances and per
haps a ride for five hours on an Eng
lish Red Cross train with Its crew of
Red Cross workers, and at last he
reaches the hospital. Generally he
stays fnm two to six months, or long
er, in this hospital. From here he is
sent to a convalescent home for six
weeks.
If b; wounds he Is unfitted for fur
ther service, he Is discharged, given a
pension, or committed to a soldiers
home for the rest of his life and still
the expense plies up. When you real
ize thnt all the ambulances, trains and
ships not to mention the man power,
used tn transporting a wounded man,
could be used for supplies, ammunition
and re-enforcements for the troops at
the front, it will not appear strange
that from a strictly military stand
point, a dead man is sometimes better
than a live one (if wounded).
Nv long after the first digging party,
our general decided, after a careful
tour of Inspection of the communica
tion trenches, upon "an ideal spot," as
he termed it, for a machine-gun em
placement; took his map, made a dot
on it, and as he was wont, wrote "dig
here," and the next night we dug.
There were twenty la the party, my
self included. Armed with picks,
shovels and empty sandbags we ar
rived at the "Ideal spot" and started
digging. The moon was very bright,
but we did not care as we were well
out-of sight of the German lines.
We had gotten about three feet
down, when the fellow next to me, aft
er a mighty stroke with his pick, let go
of -the handle, and pinched' his nose
with his thumb and forefinger, at the
same' time letting out the explosion,
"Gott strafe me pink, I'm bloody well
gassed, not 'alf I ain't." I quickly
turnf- in his direction with an inquir
ing ?-N)k, at the same Instant reaching
for lny gas bag. I soon found out what
was ailing him. One whiflf was enough
and I lost no time in also pinching my
nose. The stench was awful. The rest
of the digging party dropped their
picks and shovels and beat it for the
weather side of that solitary pick. The
officercame over and Inquired why the
work had suddenly ceased, holding our
noses, we simply pointed In the direc
tion of the smell. He went over to the
pick, immediately clapped his hand
over his nose, made an "about turn"
and came back. Just then our cap
tain came along and investigated, but
after about a minute said we had bet
ter carry on with the digging, that he
did not see why we should have
stopped as the odor was very faint,
but H necessary he would allow us our
gas helmets while digging. He would
stay and see the thing through, but he
had to report back to brigade head
quarters immediately. We wished that
we were captains and also had a date
at brigade headquarter?. With our gas
helmets on we again attacked that hole
and uncovered the decomposed body of
a GermanTthe pick was sticking in his
chest. One of the men fainted. I was
that one. Upon this our lieutenant
halted proceedings and sent word back
to headquarters and word came back
that after we filled In the hole we could
knock off for the night This was wel
come tidings to us, because
Next day the general changed the
dot on his map and another emplace
ment was completed the following
mht
The odor from the dug-up, decom
posed human body, has an effect which
Is hard to describe. It first produces
a nauseating feeling, which, especially
after eating, causes vomiting. This re
lieves you temporarily, but soon a
weakening sensation follows, which
leaves you limp as a dishrng. Your
spirits are at their lowest ebb and you
feel a sort of hopelessness and a mad
desire to escape it all, to get to the
open fields and the perfume of the flow
ers in Blighty. There is a sharp,
prickling sensation In the nostrils,
which reminds one of breathing coal
gas through a radiator in the floor, and
you want to sneeze, but cannot. This
was the effect on me, surmounted by a
vague horror of the awfulness of the
thing and an ever-recurring reflection
that, perhaps I, sooner or later, would
be in such a state and be brought to
light by the blow of a pick In the hands
of some Tommy on a digging party.
Several times I have experienced this
odor, but never could get used to it ;
the enervating sensation was always
present. It made me hate war and
wonder why such things were counte
nanced by civilization, and all the spice
and glory of the conflict would disap
pear, leaving the grim reality. But
after leaving the spot and filling your
lungs with deep breaths of pure, fresh
air, you forget and once again want to
be "up and at them."
CHAPTER XV.
Listening Post.
It was six in the morning when we
arrived at our rest billets, and we were
allowed to sleep until noon; that is,
if we wanted to go without our break
fast. For sixteen days we remained
Entrance td a Dugout.
ta rest billets, digging roads, drilling,
and other fatigues, and then back into
the front-line trench.
Nothing happened that night, but the
next afternoon I found out that a
bomber Is general utility man in a sec
tion. About five o'clock in the afternoon
our lieutenant came down the trench
and stopping in front of a bunch of us
on the fire step, with a broad grin on
his face, asked :
"Who is going to volunteer for listen
ing post tonight? I need two men."
It is needless to say no one volun
teered, because It Is anything but a
cushy job. I began to feel uncomfort
able as I knew it was getting around
for my turn. Sure enough, with another
grin, he said:
"Empey, you and Wheeler are due,
so come down into my dugout for in
structions at six o'clock."
Just as he left and was going around
a traverse, Fritz turned loose with a
machine gun and the bullets ripped the
sandbags right over his head. It gav
me great pleasure to see him duck
against the parapet. He was getting a
taste of what we would get later out
in front.
Then, of course. It began to ruin. I
knew It was the forerunner of a mis
erable night for us. Every time I had
to go oat In front, it Just naturally
jti
rained. Old Jupiter Pluvius must have
had it in for me.
At 'six we report 1 for instructions.
They were simple r-.nd easy. Ail we
had to do was to crawl out into No
Man's Land, He on our bellies with our
ears to the ground and listen for the
tap, tap of the German engineers or
sappers who might oe tunneling under
No Man's Land to establish a mine
head beneath our trench.
Of course, in our orders we were told
not to be captured by German patrols
or reconnoltering parties. Lots of
breath is wasted on the western front
giving sllf caution.
As soon as it was dark, Wheeler and
I crawled to our post which was about
halfway between the lines, It was
raining bucketfuls, the ground was a
sea of sticky mud and clung to us like
glue.
We took turns In listening with our
ears to the ground. I would listen for
twenty minutes while Wheeler would
be on the qui vlve for German patrols.
We each wore a wristwatch, and be
lieve me, neither one of us' did over
twenty minutes. The rain soaked s
to the skin and our ears were full of
mud.
Every few minutes a bullet werfd
crack overhead or a machine gun would
traverse back and forth.
Then all firing suddenly ceased. I
whispered to Wheeler. "Keep your eye
skinned, mate; most likely Fritz has
a patrol out that's why the Bochea
have stopped firing."
We were each armed with a rifle and
bayonet and three Mills bombs to be
used for defense only.
I had my ear to the ground. All of
a sudden I heard faint, dull thuds.
In a low but excited voice I whispered
to Wheeler, "I think they are mining,
listen."
He put his ear to the ground and
in an unsteady voice spoke into my
ear:
"Yank, that's a patrol and it's head
ing our way. For God's sake keep
still."
I was as still as a mouse and was
scared stiff.
Hardly breathing and with eyes try
ing to pierce the Inky blackness, we
waited. I would have given a thou
sand pounds to have been safely In
my dugout.
Then we plainly heard footsteps and
our hearts stood still.
A dark form suddenly loomed up In
front of me; It looked as big as the
Woolworth building. I could hear
the blood rushing through my veins
and it sounded as loud as Niagara
falls.
Forms seemeA to emerge from the
darkness. There were seven of them
in all. I tried to wish them away. I
never wished harder in my life. They
muttered a few words in German and
melted into the blackness. I dida't
stop wishing either.
All of a sudden we heard a stumble,
a muddy splash, and a muttered "Don
ner und Blltzen." One of the Bochea
had tumbled Into a shell hole. Neither
of us laughed. At that time It didn't
strike us as funny.
About twenty minutes after the Ger
mans had disappeared something from
the rear grabbed me by the foot. I
nearly fainted with fright. Then a
welcome whisper in a cockney accent.
"I s'y, myte, we've come to relieve
you."
Wheeler and I crawled back to rir
trench; we looked like wet hens and
felt worse. After a swig of rum we
were soon fast asleep on the fire step
in our wet clothes.
The next morning I uas as stiff as a
poker and every joint ached like a
bad tooth, but I was still alive, so It
did not matter.
CHAPTER XVL
Battery D 238.
The day after this I received the
glad tidings that I would occupy the
machine gunners dugout right near
the advanced artillery observation
post. This dugout was a roomy affair,
dry as tinder, and real cots in it.
These cots had been made by the
R., E.'s who had previously occupied
the dugout... I was the first to enter
and promptly made a signboard with
my, name and number on It and sus
pended It from the foot of the most
comfortable cot therein.
In the trenches It is always "first
come, first served," and this is lived
up to by all.
Two R. F. A. men (Royal Field ar
tillery) from the nearby observation
post were allowed the privilege of
stopping In this dugout when pff duty.
One of these men, Bombardier Wil
son by name, who belonged to Bat
tery D 238. seemed to take a liking
to me, and I returned this feeling.
In two days' time we were pretty
chummy, and he told me how his bat
tery In the early days of the war had
put over a stunt on Old Pepper, and
had gotten away wl4 it.
I will endeaver to ive the story M
far as memory will permit in his own
words :
Despite the excellent targets
men are not illowed to shell
Fritx, Empey. relates In next in
- stallment.
CTO BE CONTINUED!
LESSOR TEXT Mark 9:30-50.
GOLDEN TEXT If any man desire to
be first, the same shall be last of all, and
servant of all. Mark 9:35. ...
DEVOTIONAL, READING I Corin
thlaas 13.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FOR
TEACHERS Matthew 6:41-42 : 20:20-28;
Luke 22:24-30.
"PRIMARY AND JUNIOR LESSON
MATERIAL Mark ?:30-37.
PRIMARY MEMORY VERSE Be kind
one to another. Ephesians 4:32.
JUNIOR MEMORY VERSE I John 4:
n.
I. The Stupidity of Selfishness, (w.
0-32). Jesus with his disciples Is on
his way to Capernaum for the last
time. He Is soon to leave for Jerusa
lem, where he Is -to die on the cruel
cross for the world's sins. He still
6eeks the way of retirement in order
to be alone with his disciples, his ob
ject being to lead them into the appre
hension of the meaning of the cross.
The teaching which was interrupted at
Caeserea by Peter's rebuke is now re
sumed, and with deflniteness he de
clares the future event as already
present.
1. "The Son of Man is delivered into
the hands of men."
2. "They shall kill him."
3. "He shall rise the third day."
While pressing upon them continu
ously the fact and necessity of the
cross, he never failed to show them
the bright side his triumphant vic
tory over death In the resurrection.
The hearts of the disciples were so
steeped in selfishness that they failed
to understand his teachings. If the
disciples had more deilniteiy attended
to his teaching concerning the cross,
they would have been better prepared
for the hour of temptation which was
so soon to overtake them.
II. The Wrangling of Selfishness,
(vv. 33-37).
1. The searching question (v. 33).
The omniscient Christ knew the se
crets of their hearts. The fact that
the disciples were wrangling about of
ficial position while the Lord was fac
ing humiliation and death for them
and the whole world, shows how com
pletely the Lord was alone in his sor
row. . 2. The silent disciples (v. 34).
They were ashamed in his presence,
because the selfishness of their hearts
was revealed. To realize the presence
of the Lord would shame us of much of
our selfishness.
3. The stinging rebuke (vv. 35-37).
"If any man desire to be first, the
same shall be last of all, and servant
of all." The greatest among men are
those who are willing to take the low
est place and serve others. This truth
he enforced In a concrete way by plac
ing a child In their midst. This child
was an illustration of dependence and
Ignorance. By example and word he
shows that true greatness is expressed
by willingness to aid the weak, to "in
struct the ignorant and to serve those
in need. All such, render service not
merely to those in need, but unto
Christ and God. True greatness, there
fore, consists not in selfseeking, but
rendering cheerful service to the
needy in the name of Christ.
III. The Intolerance of Selfishness
(vv. 38-41).
1. John's guilty conscience (v. 33).
In the light of the teaching of Jesus,
John was a little disturbed over having
"forbid" a worker for Christ who did
not follow after him. Doubtless this
intolerance was in part due to jealousy
for Christ, but also a selfish ambition.
Many times Christians mistake bigotry
for zeal for Christ.
2. Whom to tolerate (vy. 39-41).
(1) Those who are casting out devils
(v. 39). We should really satisfy our
selves that supernatural works are be
ing done. Are demons being cast out!
However, this is not final, as there is a
supernatural work not of God.
(2) Those who are not doing this
work in Christ's name (v. 41). Any
worker going forth in the name of
Christ, and for the glory of Christ,
should be given Godspeed. If he is
doing a good work, even though not in
your way, or if not a member of your
church or school, "Forbid him not."
IV. The Awful Issue of Selfishness.
(w. 42-50).
Selfishness results in ruin to others
(v. 42), and also to the individual (w.
43. 45 and 47). In either case the Is
sue Is eternal torment in hell. Selfish
ness is opposed to God. and that which
is opposed to God must be eternally
separated from him. Self-renunciation
should be so complete that we
should be willing to abandon the most
necessary and lawful things In life
hands, feet and eyes when they be
come occasions for stumbling either to
ourselves or to others.
Need of Influence.
"Every one of us needs influence
and sone impulse outside of ourselves
to coin-fel us to strive for iur ideals.
The best impulse that can, uplift the
Mfe is the friendship of Jesus. He
says: Ye are as friends, if ye do what
soever 1 command you. "
God's Presence.
Did it ever occur to you that the
sign of God's presence are granted
ro the farmer more thar any other
man? Iook around your home and
fields and se.
War Savings and Thrift Stamps.
During the month of February the
receipts coining into the treasury de
partment through the sale of War Sav
ings and Thrift stamps totaled $41,
000,000. It is reported that they aver
age now about $2,000,000 a day. Re
turns from the same source in England
were $37,000,000. The War Savings
and Thrift stamps give everyone a
chance to be "in" on the great busi
ness of winning the war. They are
a fine investment and within the reach
of everyone. Congress set $2,000,000,
000 as the amount to be raised by this
means for the year. If this amount Is
reached It will cover the entire cost of
the government's shipbuilding program
for the year. It has now from this
source enough revenue daily to build
10,000 tons of shipping and altogether
has received to date funds for building
420.000 tons, or 84 ships of 5,000 tons
each.
Our strength in this war has not
made itself felt yet as It will be felt
Great reserves of It will be forthcom
ing. We have hardly felt the pinch
of the war yet. In the War Savings
and Thrift stamps we have an .opportu
nity to all take a hand In building
ships, and they must be built Be
sides this the Thrift stamps are edu
cating people, especially young peo
ple and children, to save and to
use money for investment instead
FOR SLENDER
s
y . -7 J jhe
if. HPwS - -
1 1 ,'i, y-i I. r (
For the occasions that require her
to dress-up a bit there are pretty
frocks of crepe georgette and voile
that will make the little girl look her
best this summer. From her eighth
to her fourteenth pr fifteenth year she
is apt to be a very slim, long limbed
little person with a good many angles
that are prominent and need tobe
well considered when It comes to
choosing her clothes. Since there are
designers who specialize In clothes
for children the needs of the thin lit
tle girl and the needs of the fat little
girl have been given expert attention
and the problems of distraught
mothers solved for them.
Here is a dress of fine voile shown
on a slim little girl of eleven that
will bear study. It Is In two pieces
a skirt and a long blouse, thereby dis
posing once for all of that bugbear in
children's clothes the waistline by
leaving It out of the reckoning. The
ssklrt Is suspended from a short under
bodlce, gathered on to it and fasten
ed In the back. It is moderately full
and has a two-Inch tuck above the
Jackets and Skirts.
That Jackets will be short rather
than long seems to be a foregone con
clusion, judging by the South-wear
fashions, and etons and boleros are de
cidedly in evidence. Not only suits
but dresses, too, are seen In these eton
and bolero styles, and very smart and
youthful are these effects worn over
blouses of crepe organdie.
Jacket and coat sleeves are narrow
and close-fitting and In wrist length;
skirts, too, are modeled with conser
vation of material very much in mind,
for they are cut decidedly narrow and
fairly short, though not as short as
some fashionable skirts of last season.
The average width of modish skirts is
about one and one-half yards around
and the length from four to six inches
off the ground.
of spending it f,,r r,;
really need. Lack or .',, '
rection. seemed to be alm 'nM
sal failing before the , 'M
bating. Thrift tarm,s i. H
tablish the habit
I'i S:iii,.,. .
people and children. s la
Work Which Onl
Women
natever our .!,
must' "go on witii
a very literal s.
wristlets, and b;.;,,i
nip I.-.. .
snv will hp nfiiu,' , r, f .
k I ' '"Sreat
" re. m
i. j wit o.upmu.i, an(j j
ha (nncorvaH r, .v.
if aor"h rrmnr rr : , . . . . rrWk
"'uou pif ( little tim.
1 1 -r i . ul
uucr me -ahii vation of
her own home, the great J
a nwmm ...ill 1
uwicicuicui v hi uo uie work
needs, depending on us. Our
easy compared to that of the
and sailors. It is amazing that l
are women, witn time and mM,
their disposal, who, because ther
I 1L '
uu ieiauc3 111 nit army or
navy, j
Lucius luicxsi, mucn less ant I
V
tlve part In the work to be done. tJ
are not worth fighting for, andfcJ
be held up ro tne scorn they deJ
V
r
f;
t
Now is the time when cold selfish
will betray itself.
ft en
snr
out,
LITTLE GIRLS
to l?-
stf -dy
sr.if
1 f ,
'r
three-inch hem. These dve It a li"
1
weight and flare at the button)
it is precisely even in length u
reaches to the knees.
Ft
It Is the blouse that rev-uN
cleverness of its designer. It
hangs from a very sh ut ykf.
ered quite full over ;he . 'At
The body of the blouse i H
three row3 of smocking where it &
the shirred yoke. It is usual thiJ
son to lisp nne or more colored
In rtMntr tho cmrwlrinff on white r'
and these little bits of c lor ar? f
childish and pretty on dre-s rr i
little girls. There are two i-'
the bottom of the blouse with
peat the color used in th ,J
o " . . ,.
Thev are set on purely a tiniM
the blouse fastens with snap fa.-tl
The collar which is of wash ?a 'I
HKe tnem in color ann - -plain
three-quarter Inin
1) L
Georgette Blouses Trinmed'"i
"Tf .rt,t havan't cwn the nV' ' .
of crepe georgette, trnnm
lace, rnti nr missing sxinthin
ID
rt&l
a blouse buyer who has jus. ' -
from the Eastern market
1
very enticing, and are shown i"
Jar. a well ns slip-over sty e
is . ; i co'fie. a
nuu
- . ..v. ..o! and
tne raee ror met. ui
.,!ne r; .
laiioo, continues, uu
wirh sailor I
lars trimmed In filet. ,uuurS t
new georsrettes have i t.t l(lUy
111 IC LUUUSkXrilllC ur
uers very satisfactorily. nt,i
J 1 .
The freshest; prettiest in
blouses are of net. In white an
shades. Batiste and voile ar
popular for the high-necked
which there ire a great many
ou
.tl
ir
1
ti
0
4