The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922, December 27, 1918, Image 2

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    THE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA.
Love Versus
Wine
By
Sergeant Arthur Guy
Empey
Author of "Over the Top,"
"First Call' Eta
o-o-o
Mr. Empey's Experi
ences During His Seven
teen Months in theFirst
Line Trenches of the
British Army in France
(Oopj-rlgM, I'M. by Th MrCIufO NswtpaMr
Sndlc&la)
The English LIoii wnH roaring, anil
hf growls could he heard all along the
'western front. No ilnulit many a Oer
Iman general was stirring uneasily In
jhls large concrete Hbtll-proof dugout,
'kilos behind the German front line, an
the evcr-lncreMlng thundering roar
'readied Ills ears.
We hud n clnso-up view of his ma
tfesiy, the king of huiiHtK, and to tin he
IwnH a sorry-looking specimen. Patches
iof Iddo were worn away, while In his
Itall were two big knots. If those knots
had liave hecn labeled It would liave
hecn easy to rend "Neuve Chapelle"
innrt "OalllrolI." The memory and
IPUln of these two disasters no doubt
(Increased the intensity of his thunder.
The British bombardment of the
German lines wng on, n bombnrdment
which Insted over eight days and
mights. It was the forerunner of the
OMg Push, or "Battlo of the Sommc."
Atwcll and I were sitting lu n dug
out of the support trench. Atwell was
great, big, lovable feJIow, and wns
imy mate. We both had been detailed
Ito the divisional Intelligence depart
ment, nnd Were engaged Uj)0n "spy
work."
Atwcll, nlthough of a naturally
ichocry disposition, occasionally re
lapsed into fits of despondency.
In the light from a stump of n can
dle I wns making out my previous
jdny's report to turn Into brlgndc
headquarters. Occasionally the en
Itrnnco to the dugout would light up
(with a red Hare as n shell burst in the
Kcnr vicinity. Atwell wns sitting on
Is pack, with his back leaning ngnlnst
the wot nnd muddy wull of the dugout.
The rnys from the candle lighted up
tils face.
Finishing my report, I got out n
fng," lighted it, nnd with an uneasy
feeling listened to tho roar of the hell
outside. A long-drawn sigh caused
mo to look in Atwcll's direction.
(Never Ik my life havo I seen such a
tlejcctcd nnd woe-begono countenance.
This, In n way, nngcrcd me, because
J, tnysrjf, right then, had n feeling of
Impending disaster, asort of unknown
droad, perhaps Intermingled with a
far-away longing for the, Holds nnd
flowers nt homo. I wanted to bo
cheered, nnd Atwcll'o face looked like
a morgue.
Forcing n smile I slapped Atwcll on
the knee nnd snld:
"Come out o' your trance. We've
both got n good chance for Blighty
with this bombardment on."
Atwcll looked In my direction, nnd
In a tono of voico which from him I
had novcr heard before, answered:
"Ynnk, I'vo been out slnco '14. I've
burled mnny a mate and I'vo seen
nmny a lucky bloke on n stretcher
bound for Hllghty, nnd never gave It
i thought, but right now I feel ns if
my stay In tho trenches will bo short.
I've bad something on my mind slnco
Hoptcmbcr, 1014, nnd It's been worry
ing mo pink. I'm goln' to tell you tho
story, nnd I'll glvo you my oath thnt
f ou'ro tho first one that's ever heard
t from my lips; but I've got to liave
pour promlso that you'll not Judge mo
Soo harshly. I've Just got to get it
but o' my system."
Just then a sighing moan could bo
Fioard overhead. It was ono of our
'"nlne-polnt-two" shells nlmcd in tho
direction of Berlin. Wo both Instlne
fclvoly turned our eyes townrd tho en
trance of tho dugout nnd waited for
the burst. Nothing happened.
"Another bloomln' dud," ejaculated
Atwell. "A fow more hundred pounds
kone to seod," and then again tho
kloomy look spread over his count o-
bancc. I wns getting nervous and un
asy. Trying to hide my fear, I said:
"For th' lovo o' Mike, Atwell, crack
a smile. Give us that story of yours,
or elne I'll go bughouse. You had bet
ter got it olt or your chest, because
I'm thinking that Fritz -will soon ho
replying to our strallng, and If an
lght-lnch shell ever idts this dugout
they'll need no wooden crosses for
tin, because our names will appear un
Oer tho caption 'Missing.' "
With another sigh escaping from
tils lips, which sent n cold shiver up
nnd down my spinal column, ho lighted
fag and started In. This Is what ho
Hold mo;
"It was back in September, 1014
(You know I came out with tho first
hundred thousand, the time when nil
tho lighting was done lu tliu open.
'Xhe Germans wero smashing every
thing beforo them In their drive on
I'urls. Our regiment was ono of tho
ifew opposed to Von Kluck. It wus n
aso of bold them for u fow hours and
then retreat ulways retreat Wo
Uldn't oven havo time to bury our
JJead. The grub wns rotten, nnd wo
vero Just ubout fagged out, deud tired,
'with no prospect of a relief or rest lu
if rent of us.
"It was customary for small patrols
of tor. to twenty men in charge of n
sergeant to reconnoitre on ur flimks.
One day I was sent out In charge of
one of these parties. Oh, yes, I was
a sergeant then, but I lost my stripes
disobedience of orders they called
It. I suppose I ought to feel lucky I
wasn't shot, but I'll leave It to you
whether I did right cr not.
"At that time 1 was In for a com
mission, but, of course, didn't get it.
If 1 had received It. no doubt by this
time I'd bo pushing up the daisies
somewhere lu France. In those days
olllcers didn't last long made line tar
gels for the Bodies.
"This patrol I was In charge of car
ried rations for three days. We were
to scout around Just In front of the
advancing enemy, but our orders were
not to engage them Just get Informa
tion. If the Information obtained was
valuable enough, I was to send it In
by one of the men. There were four
teen of uh. and wo wero mounted. I
wne in the Lancers then, and was con
eldered a fair rider.
"The llrst day nothing hnpponcd.
We Just scouted around. IJy night
fall we wero pretty tired, so when we
came to n village wasn't a village,
either; Just live or six houses clus
tered around a church I decided to
go into billets for tho night.
"Hiding up to tho lnrgost house,
which had n four-fool stone wall rui
ning nround its garden, I dismounted
at the gate nnd knocked with the hilt
of my sword. Pretty noon ,i light ap
peared at tho fron joor the house
was on n sort of n knoll, so this door
was In plain view. Then tho sweet
est voice I ever heard called out In
trembling tones, In perfect English,
too, but with Just tho suspicion of an
accent:
"'Who Is there, please?'
"I answered, 'Just n few English
Lancers who desire a place to rest for
the night. The barn will do. We
don't want anything to eat, as wo
have rations with us. So, If you will
accommodate us, miss, I will be much
obliged.' I wub In lovo with that girl
before I saw her the voico hud done
the trick.
"Sho answered, 'Just n moment,
please, until I tell father,' nnd then
the door shut nnd the light disap
peared. Wo didn't have to wait long
before tho door opened, nnd she culled
to mo:
'"Father bids you welcome, and so
do I, soldiers of England.'
"Then she opened the gate. There
sho stood on the gravel path with tho
lantern held shoulder high. I trem
bled all over thought I saw ii vision.
I tell you, Ynnk, she was beautiful.
Ono of tho kind you would like to
take in your arms, but won't for fear
of crushing. No uso for mo to try to
describe her, Yank, it's out of my line;
but sho captured mo, heart and sotd.
There I stood like a great, big boob,
snnKing nnd stuttering. At last I
managed to blurt out n stammering
xnanu you, miss
"Sho showed us tho way to tho sta
bles und stood In tho door holding tho
Jnntcrn so wo could bco to unsaddle. I
wns fumbling around with tho buckles,
hut for tho life of mo couldn't get that
saddle off. One of tho men, with a wink
and a broad grin, came over nnd help
ed mo. uiint grin got my goat, so on
tho sly, I kicked him on tho shin. lie
let out an explosive damn.' After
that 'damn' tho silence was painful.
Tho poor fellow felt like n fool. I wns
sorry for him, even though I could
havo killed him for his thoughtless
ness. But our cmbnrrussment was
short-lived, becnuso n silvery laugh
came from behind tho lantern, a laugh
that was not loud, but It echoed nnd re
echoed among tho rafters overhead. I
can hear it right now, Yank.
"After the horses had been unsad
dled nnd fed, tho men looked appeal
Ingly at mo. I knew what they want
edthey were dog tired, nnd dying to
hit tho hay. Just ns I was about to
ask permission for them to turn In, the
nugol butted in with:
"'Poor, tired soldiers, sleepy nnd
hungry. Come right into tho house.
Jean has some supper and wlno ready
for you.'
"Wo stammered our thnnks and fob
lowed her into the house like a string
of sheep. Yank, to mo that meal was a
dreanK She lllttcd nround tho table,
tilling a glass hero and there, laughing
"For the Lovo o' Mike, Atwell, Crack
a Smile."
wltii us and making us feel nt home,
Tho war was forgotten. By this time I
wus madly In lovo with her, and she
knew It, becnuso when sho leaned over
my shonldor to replenish my glass with
red wine, her hair would brush my
cheek, and once sho rested her hand on
my shoulder und gave It Just tho alight
est squeeze. I was in lieuven.
"It was gettiug late uud tho wlnp
wns beginning to tell on tho men. They
wero falling asleep lu their chairs. I
had a hard Job waking four of them
to go on guard. They got their rilles
and were standing nround mo for In
structions, when our hostess came over
to mo and, resting her hand on my
arm, with again the slightest of
squow-r! unl pleudlug eyes, Interceded
for them.
"'Sergeant,' sho said, 'let the poor
boys sleep. They nre o tired. There
Is no danger. The Germans are miles
away. I know this to be true. Do this
for me.' And ugnln that squeeze.
"I, like n fool, listened to her, and
gave an unwilling assent. Tho men
looked their gratitude. Jean, the man
servant, led them out to the barn,
where an abundance of hay had been
spread for their beds. I was following,
when n whisper In my ear made my
head swim :
"'Don't go yet, my sergeant, stay
with me.'
"I stayed, worse luck.
"We sat on a'settee, talking, nnd her
nrin stole around my waist. I wasn't
slow, either, and as you know, Yank, I
have a pretty good reach. Once, she
spoke to mo In French, but I shook my
head In bewilderment. In a few min
utes the servant returned, and Adrl
ennt she told me her name called
him to her, and said:
" Mean, go down in the wine cellar
and get sumo of that old port and give
It to the soldiers of England. Poor
"You Poor English Fool I Make Love
to Me, Will You?"
boys, It will warm them.' Sho added
something In French I could not under
stand. Then sho added :
'"Leave a bottle here for tho ser
geant nnd me.'
"I protested against tnore wine for
tho boys. Her pleading overruled nty
good Judgment, and I consented. The
servant left to do her mission, and I
proposed. Her answer was n kiss. I
was the happiest man In France.
"Presently Jean returned and silent
ly pjaclng u bottle and two glasses on
tho tubto withdrew. Wo wero alone.
Sho took the bottle nnd, pouring out a
glass of wine, touched It to her lips
uud bunded it to mo with this tonst:
"'Drink, my sergeant. Drink to our
betrothul. Drink to the honor of
France. Drink to the honor of Eng
land. Drink to the confusion of our
enemies.'
"I drnnk with my fool heart pound
ing against my ribs. Then blackness.
"When I awoke, I was lying on the
settee, my bend bursting with pain.
Tho gray dawn was lllterlng through
the curtained windows, and there, In
the middle of the room, with my Adrl
enuc In his arms, stood a captain of
Uhlans. I was a prisoner. I saw it all
lu a Hash. She had betrayed me. Now
I knew why she had wanted no gunrd
posted. That wlno we pledged our
troth in was drugged. What an nss I
had been I
"I closed my eyes and pretended to
ho asleep. They wero talking In Ger
man. Pretty soon tho captain came
over nnd roughly shook me. I only
grunted. With un exclnmatlon of dis
gust, ho called out In German. Two
troopers camo In and, lifting mo by the
shoulders nnd feet, carried mo out Into
the air. I slightly opened my eyes and
saw that I was being carried out to the
gate, where two horses wero standing
with their reins thrown over a hitching
post. By tho equipment I know one of
the horses belonged to the captain,
while tho other was tho orderly's. The
two troopers dumped mo down on tho
road, one giving me a kick with his
boot. I was lying on my left side, and
by a certain hard pressure on my ribs
I knew they had neglected to search
me. That pressure was my automatic
pistol. A feeling of exultation rushed
over me. I would euchre them yet.
"Fate worked into my hands. A hull
In German came from tho stables, and
one of the troopers loft to answer It.
The odds wero even, ono ugalnst one.
I slowly turned over on my face, as If
In sleep, nnd my lingers grasped the
butt of the automatic, but Just then I
beard steps on tho gravel walk. Tho
captain ami Adrlenne were coming to
ward me.
"She stopped besldo mo and 6ald In
English :
"'ion poor English fool I Make
lovo to me, will you? flood-by, my
foolish sergeant. While you nro rot
ting In prison think of your Adrlenne,
ball r
"My hand gave tho butt of my auto
matic Just tho slightest squeeze.
wus thinking of bur hnnd on my
shoulder. Well, two could piny that
game.
"Tho captain said something to tho
orderly, who left In tho direction of
the house. Now was my diuuee
Springing to my feet nnd leveling the
pistol nt the captain, I grnbbed the
reins of his liorso from the post and
mounted. Tho orderly camo running
toward me, yelling out In German, and
I could see soldiers emerging from the
stable. I had to net quickly.
"When I mounted, the captain
reached for his reTlver. I covered
lilm with mine and, with n shriek of
terror, Adrlenne threw herself In
front of the Uhlan captain to protect
him. I saw her too late. My bullet
pierced her left breast, nnd n red
smudge showed on her white silk
blouse as she sank to the ground. I
shot the orderly's horse to prevent im
mediate pursuit and then away on n
mad gallop down the roatL It was a
long chase, hut I escaped them.
"The rest of my men were captured.
At our headquarters I had to lie like
a trooper. Told them we hud hecn
ambushed nnd wiped out. It was the
only way to save my skin. There
were no witnesses against me, so I
got off with reduction to tlie ranks and
a transfer to another regiment. They
swelled a rut, nil right, but had no
proof.
"So that Is my story. Ynnk. Just
forget that I ever told It to you.
Enough to mnko a fellow get the blues
occasionally, isn't it? Just puss me a
fag, and take that look oft your face."
I gave him the clgnrette and, with
out u word, went out of tho dugout
nud left htm nlonc. I was thinking of
Adrlenne.
Upon reaching the trench I paused
In wonder and fright. Tho sky wns
nllght with u red glare. The din wns
tcrrillc. A constant swishing and
rushing through tlie nlr, Intermingled
with a sighing moan, gave tes
timony that our batteries were
sweating blood. The trench seemed
to be rolling like a ship. I stood In
awe. This bombardment of ours was
something Indescribable, and a shud
der passed through me as I thought
of the havoc and destruction caused
In the German lines. At that moment
I really pitied tho Germans, but not
for long, because suddenly hell seemed
to burst loose from the German lines
ns their artillery opened up. I could
henr their "live-nines" screeching
through the nlr and bursting In the
nrtlllery Hues In our reur. Occnslon
ally a far-off rum-bum-rump-rump,
Crash I Bru-u-nn-u-ggl could bo heard
us ono of their hlgh-calibcrcd shells
camo over and burst in our reserve.
I crouched against the parados, hardly
able to breathe. While In this position,
right overhend, every Instant getting
louder, came n German shell hlz-z-zi
bnng-g-gl I wns blinded by tlie flnsh.
Down I went, into the mud. Strug
gling to my feet in the red glnrc of the
bombardment.
I saw thnt the traverse on my left
bad entirely disappeared. Covered
with mud, weak and trembling. I could
hour what sounded like far-distant
voices coming from tlie direction of
the bashed-In traverse.
"Bllmc me, get Ms bloomln' nnpper
outn th' mud; 'o's chokln' to death.
Pass mo a bandage tyke 'Is b'yonet
for a splint. Bllme me, 'Is leg is
smnsbed, not 'nrf h'lt h'alnt. Th' rest
o' you blokes 'op it for a stretcher.
'Ello, 'e's got another one; quick, a
tourniquet, tho poor bloke's n'blecdln'
to death. Quick, h'up ngnlnst the par
apet, 'ere comes another."
WhlK-z-zl Bung-g-gl
Another flare, and once ngnln I was
thrown Into the mud. I opened my
eyes. Bending over me, shaking mo
by the shoulder wns Atwcll. Ills voico
sounded faint nnd far away. Then I
came to with a rush.
"Bllme me, Ynnk, that wns a close
ono. Did It get you?"
Ho helped mo to my feet nnd I felt
myself all over. Seeing I was nil
right, ho yelled in my enr:
"We've got to leg It out of 'ere.
Fritz is sure sendin' over 'wblz-bnngs'
nnd 'mlnnles.' Number 0 platoon in
the next lire bay sure clicked It. About
eighteen of them have gone West.
Come on, we'll see If we can do any
thing for Uno poor blokes."
Wo plowed through the mud nnd
came Into the next fire bay. In tho
ll;iht of the bursting shells an awful
sight met our eyes. The traverses wero
bashed In, tho lire step wns gone, and
In tho parados was a holo that looked
llko a subway entrinco. There was
mud and blood.
Every now nnd then, ducking ns a
"whiz-bung" or "mlnnle" came over,
wo managed to got four of tho wound
ed on the stretchers, and Atwell and
I carried one to tho rear to the first
nld dressing stntion. We passed the
dugout which I had left but a few
minutes before, or at least, what used
to be the dugout, but now all that
could be secu was a caved-ln mass of
dirt; huge square-cut timbers sticking
out of the ground and silhouetted
against the light from bursting shells,
looking llko huge giants. A shudder
passed through me as I realized that
if wo had stayed in the dugout we
would have now been lying fifteen to
twenty feet down, covered by that
caved-lu earth and wreckage.
Atwell Jerked his head In the direc
tion of the smnshed-in dugout, nnd, as
was hla wont, remarked:
"How about that fancy report you
wero writing out a few minutes ago?
Didn't I tell you that it never paid to
niako out reports in tho front line?
It's best to wait until you get to head
quarters, becuuso what's tho uso of
wasting nil thnt bally time when
you're llnblo to bo burled In a
dugout?"
Turning my head to listen to Atwell, I
ran plump into n turn In tho trench.
A shout camo from tho form on the
stretcher:
"Why in tho bloody 'ell don't you
blokes look where you'ro goln'? You'd
think this was a bloomln' Plcndllly
buss, und I was out with my best girl
on n Joy-ride,"
I mnnxiifii my npologlcs nnd the
form relupsed into silence. Then the
muddy Tommy on tho stretcher began
to mumble. Atwcll nsked htm if bo
fnnted anything. With a howl of rage
he answered:
"Of all the bloody nerve do I want
anything only a bloody pair o'
crutches, a dish of 'lish and chips'
und a gluwss of stout."
When we came to the first aid dress
ing station we turned our charge over
to some II. A. M. C. men, nnd duckins
and running through tlie communica
tion trench, we at bmt reached one of
the roomy and safe "elephant diR
outs." At last we were safe. Stum
bling over the feet of men we came to
nn unoccupied corner and sat down in
the straw. Several candles were burn
ing. Grouped around these candles
were.n lot of Tommies, their faces pah;
and a frightened look In their eyes
Strange to say, the conversation hud
nothing to do with themselves. They
were sympathizing with the poor fel
lows In the front lino who were click
ing it.
I must hnve dropped off to sleep.
When I awoke it was morning, nnd af
ter drinking our tea and eating our
bread and bacon, Atwell and I report
ed to brigade headquarters, and wero
nguln detailed Into tho front-line
trench.
DAZED BY HUN ATROCITIES
Emotional Faculties of Afflicted Bel
gians Probably Paralyied by the
Horrors They Had Witnessed.
Mr. Brand Whitlock, former Ameri
can minister to Bclglim, lias been
talking about the horror of Louvnln in
the London Daily Telegraph:
"I was struck by the lack of pas
sion displayed by all those who had
so terribly suffered. I seldom heard
any of them express hntred of tho
Germans or any desiro for revenge.
"None of them, ns far ns I could
learn or observe, even acted In the
tragic manner. There were no he
roics nnd no histrionics; they did
not even demean themse! ?es ns do peo
ple In the clnemn or tho itomnntlc nov
els. . . .
"In moments of great dnnger, or
great strnln nnd tragedy, people nro
simple and natural ; they do not act
in tlie tlientrlcnl sense of tho word."
To sny that a play could bo acted
without gesture or other expression
of whnt we feel is absurd. Nor
would, I think, history support Mr.
Brand Whltlock's Inference, whatever
may hnve been the story of unhappy
Belgium.
When Mme. du Barry died upon
tlie scaffold in Paris, her shrieks de
lighted the knitting women. The Due
de Guise ran wildly from his assas
sins to throw himself nt the feet of
Henry of France. Pitt wept for his
country's misfortunes tho family of
tho Ill-fated Louis XVI did not cease
their lamentations nil night when they
heard thnt ho was to bo guillotined at
dawn.
Tho choler of Judge Jeffreys found
expression in the ravings and rnntlngs
of a madmnn. Boabdll wept when ho
was driven from Granada. Henry VIII
could swear llko n fishwife Catherlno
Howard shrieked nt Hampton court,
nnd tho superstitious hear her shrieks
to this day.
In my view, tlie unhappy Belgians
were dazed by tlie very horror of tho
circumstance. Tho atrocities commit
ted by the Hun were too awful. Shall
we wonder if the emotional faculties
were paralyzed? London Dispatch.
Prussian Guard Long Famous.
The history of the Prussian Guard,
crenm of Germany's fighting men,
which wns smashed by the headlong
attack of American troops nt the Sec
ond Battle of the Marne, dates back
to the latter part of the Seventeenth
Century, when men believed in tlie
divine rights of kings, and tho troops
of the guard could be depended on to
protect the sacred body of their sov
ereign when all other supporters fell
away.
The Prusslnn Guard wns once a
compnny of archers, known ns tho
Trnbunt Guards. It wns transformed
into .a real lighting force by Frederick
William I. Drill with him wns n ruling
passion and he lnvlslied much atten
tion on ids guard; scouring Europe for
giants, as no man under six feet in
height could enter ills pet regiment.
This requirement wns abolished by
Frederick the Great, who cared only
for fighting ability. The stirring ex
ample of Napoleon's Imperial Guard
caused the Prussian organization to bo
Increased lu size, and It now comprises
a complete army corps. Into Its ranks
go tin' cream of each year's class of
Prussian recruits.
Mount Rubber.
"Uemember Mount Ituhbcr when you
come to Newton," urges tlie Kansan.
Mount Ituhbcr is a heap of rubber rub
Irish on East Broadway, near Main
street, which, when it assumes tho de
sired proportions, will bo sold to old
rubber collectors and the proceeds
turned over to tho Bed Cross. Tlie
nation needs the rubber, the Red
Cross needs tlie money nnd tho public
needs Its riddance. "Anything like nn
old auto tire, bicycle tire, rubber boots,
old garden hose, rubber out of your
neck in fnct, anything In tho form
of rubber enn bo chucked Into tho
pile nnd It will bo n jolt for tho kai
ser," says tho Kansan.
Peculiar Cause for Divorce.
In a divorce case at London, Eng
land, tho petitioner, n lnnco corporal
in the Gortlnn Highlanders, said his
wife, nn Englishwoman, refused to bo
seen with lilm on the street becnuso
she did not iiko him in a kilt When
he was on leave later sho greeted him
with "Oh, those d klltsi" CTh
husbuud was granted a decree,
YOUR
FUTURE SECURE
Easy Farming Methods in West
ern Canada and Certain
Financial Benefits.
With your crop hnrvwted nnd mar
keted, with the disposal of your cattle
and hogs completed, you nre ready t
prepare your flnanclnl statement for
the year. You will soon know whnt you
have gained, nnd if the gain made in
your farming operntons has been up
to your expectations nnd will meet
your requirements. Probnhly you may
hnve been tho loser., Your hind mny
have been productive, but It may have
been too high priced. The cost of pro
duction has been too great. If yon
have had tho remuneration you sought
and ure satisfied this article mny not
Interest you. If your returns liave not
been satisfactory, or If your ambition
leads you to the laudable desire of bet
tering your condition, if you have de
pendents for whose future you hnvo
anxiety, you will naturally look nround
for some place, some opportunity that
offers greater advantages and brings
satisfactory returns. To the north nnd
west of you lie hundreds of thousands
of unbroken acres In Western Cnnnda
awaiting tho husbandmun, nnd ready
to give of Its richness to place you
where you desire to ho plnced. For
thousands of farmers from nearly ev
ery state In tho Union the prairies of
Western Cnnnda have afforded wealth
beyond what they had been led to ex
pect. The excellence of the soil of
Western Cnnnda, which comprises th
Provinces of Mnnltobn, Saskatchewan
and Alberta, can only partially bo told
by the knowledge of some facts.
Every year for some years past tho
world's highest prizes for whent, oats
and bnrley have been carried off by
grain grown on Western Canadian
Prairies. Beef fattened on the grasses
of these snme prairies recently brought
tlie highest prices ever paid on tho
Chicago market Throughout the en
tire world the quality of Canadian
grain, nnd Canadian beef and muttonr
is recognized. To recite what indi
vidual farmers have done, tlie riches
they have acquired would fill volumes.
The case of Jnmes Wishnrt of Portage
in Prairie is not un exceptionnl one.
His wheat crop this past season yield
ed him forty-five bushels per acre, nnd
the hind upon which it wns grown was
broken forty-four years ago, und it has
been continuously under crop except
for nn occnslonnl summer fallow. At
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, snmples of
tho wheat of 1918 weighed 08 pounds
to the bushel, others GO and some 05
pounds. Wheat crops at Coaldalo,
Alberta, went as high ns T8 bushels
ncre, while whent crops near Barons,
Alberta, had yields of from 25 to 30
bushels.
Records such ns these speak in glow
ing terms of tlie excellence of the soil
of Western Cnnnda.
The war is over, and we are all
settling down to a pence basis. Thero
is a great world beyond tho sens to
feed nnd clothe, nnd thus Is afforded
the opportunity to lend n hand In tho
great work. Aside from tho philan
thropy In which you can play u part
there is the satisfaction of knowing
you nre amply providing for yourself
and for the future of those who may
he dependent upon you. Greater prog
ress can be mnrie in this nnd your own
development by availing yourself of
the advantages that Western Canada
offers In its low-priced lands and high
yielding values. There are good
schools, desirable social conditions, low
taxation (none on Improvements)
with an enjoyable climate, and tho
satisfaction of possessing a well tilled
soil capable of producing abundant
crops for which good prices prevail, at
easily accessible marketing places.
Advertisement.
Dlc-x Was Charitable.
At the funeral services for nn el
derly negro of Richmond, Vn., the fol
lowing colloquy was overheard:
"There ain't no uso In talkln'." said
Mose Barker; "Dick Williams, he was
tho most charitable mnn dls town ever
seen."
"I reckon riufs so," said the darkey
to whom Mr. Barker imparted this
Information. And he paused as 1
waiting for evidence on this point.
"Ycssuh," continued Mr. Barker
"Dick Williams, he always owned a
plug hat. and durin my time I ain't
never heard that Dick ever refused to
lend dat hat to anybody."
Dog Had Comethlng to Say.
Tho Hon. John W. Davis, appointed
our nmbassndor in London In succes
sion to Mr. Page, is an eminent law
yer. Mr. Davis tells tho story of n very
small boy who wns trying to lead a
big St. Bernard up a busy thorough
fare. "Where are you going to take
that dog. my little chap?" Inquired a
passerby. "I I'm going to see where
where he wants to go first," wns the
breathless reply.
Relics of Axtecan Era.
Near Phoenix, within the Salt river
valley, nre to ho found seven com
munal settlements of the same pre
Aztecan era, with central buildings
that were far larger than that at Casn
Grande, a writer In the Christian
Science Monitor stntes. To the north
ward and northeast every river valley
retains evidence of the passage of at
least, a portion of theso peoples, for
some reason leaving their cities nnd
their Irrigated fields on tho plains and
ceeklng tho mountains and tho upper
platcuus.