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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Herald, 1917-10-26, Page 2Author or "Au for a Scrap of Paper,'" "Hearer Than Life" etc. Published by X-iodcler & Stoughton, Liiulted. London and Toronto CHAPTER V,--(Cont'd.) Tom had justheard that he was to go on duty at the front trench again, when passing along by the canal to- wards one of the officers =*dug -outs he saw a. staff officer talking with the now," thought the boy presently. He major of his own battalion. Tom lifted his hand to salute, when the did not know why it was, but somehow staff officer turned and spoke to him. God seemed more real when he "Ah, is that you, Pollard?" thought of the girl who had promised "Yes, Mr. Waterman that is, yes, to pray for him. sir," stammered Tom. CHAPTER, VI. "I hope you are doing well," said Waterman. What was Alice Lister doing on the "I am still alive, thank you, sir," night when Tom prayed? If it had and then he passed on. been a night of wonder to Tom, it had "He's got a safe job anyhow," been a night of decision to Alice thought Toni, "he'll be at the Divi- Lister, who had to face another crisis sional Headquarters I expect; well, in her life. While Tom had been of- he's a clever fellow." fering his almost inarticulate prayer That night when Tom returned to in the trenches in the Ypres salient, the first line he was put on sentry Alice Lister sat alone in her bedroom. duty:- It was one of those silent, More than a year had passed since windless, starless nights, when under the Sunday afternoon when she had ordinary circumstances a solemn hush told Tom that he must make his choice prevails. Even the trenches were between her and the life he seemed silent that night. On both sides the determined to lead. What it had cost guns -had ceased booming; it seemed her to do this I will not try to describe, as .though a truce had been agreed for Alice had truly cared for Tom. It upon, and ,yet the air was tense with was true that he did not quite belong doom. r I to her class, and it was also true that Tom could not help feeling it as he her parents had done their best to traversed, that part of the trench in dissuade her from thinking about him; which his especial duty lay. Un- { but Alice had been fond of Tom; imaginative as he was, his mind work- something, she knew not what, had ed'freely. He called to mind the en-' drawn her heart towards him. She gagement of a few days before, re- had believed in him too; believed that membered what he had seen and heard. he was possessed of noble qualities Again and again he traversed the , which only she understood. Then as cutting in the earth, his rifle on his she saw Tom drifting, she knew that shoulder, and bayonet fixed. How , her decisive step must be taken, and silent it was! Not a man's voice was she had taken it. to be heard. He know that sentries! Afterwards, when she was told how were all around him, but he could not Tom had risen in the great crowd at hear a footstep; he knew, too, that the hall in the Mechanics' Institute, many of the soldiers lay in their dug-; and had gone up to the platform and outs, sleeping as peacefully as though' volunteered for active service, her they were at home. And yet he felt,heart had thrilled strangely. She did all alone. "Where's Jim Bates now, not understand much about the war, I wonder, and Arthur Wedge, and Bill but she felt that Toni had done a Perkins, and George Wilson? they noble thing. In spite of the fact, too, were killed, but are they really dead?", thathe had left her to walk out with he said to himself. He had known Polly Powell, she had a sense of pos- these lads well; in fact, they had been session; it seemed to her that Torn be - pals of his, and he wondered what had longed to her more than to this highly become of them. Were they still colored buxom girl who had taken alive? What had they felt like when him from her, they had to cross the deep, dark val- Then something happened which set ley? What was death?,the people at the church she attended He thought of his old Sunday-school`talking freely. The young minister days, thought of his old beliefs. "Ay," was a bachelor, and it was evident he cried Toni aloud, "if I could only feel was enamoured with Alice; he paid that Christ was wF me now I shouldn't her marked attention, and eagerly care a bit; but 1 gave Him up sought to be in her company. TM meant infinite things, for .at the back of his mind he had a confused belief that God saw, that .God listened, that God understood, and the thought changed everything. "I wonder what Alice Lister is doing HOW REYNARD DINE oth Vegetables and Meat c* 1entii- ful in Summer. In the summer time, when food i$ plentiful and hiding places aremany; foxes and some other annuals,' have the happiest time of all the year, ex- cept late autumn, for fleas, flies, mos- quitoes and ticks go far toward add- ing some discomforts. But the ,over- supply of good eats more than bal- ances all gm There are terries and fruits galore; thereare succulent grasses awl ten- der, juicy leaves of poke, dandelion, lamb's quarters and Meuse -eared chickweed. There are mushrooms also and here, and there a sweet lap- ping of ' honey dew dropped 'oil lower leaves and twigs from the upper foli- age laden with fat aphides. But it is not altogether vegetation that tickles Reynard's stomach. Frogs wander far from water or are caught napping by the creek or pond side. Salamanders venture out from under stones and logs; small snakes are surprised among the long grasses and there is always a surfeit of edible bugs, as immature grasshoppers and crickets, fat June bugs that ought to take their name from July, lazy drone bees, blue -bottle flies and industrious ants. But, best of all, for the fox's appe- tite at least, are the young mice easily dug out of stumps and from under grass clumps and the young birds of the ground -nesting species. 'Thus Reynard dines. However, not always are good table manners shown, for though the fox has no invited guests, there are those, equally hungry and even more active in hunting, that often dispute with, him over what he chances .upon. Thus the mink, the raccoon and the owls, but only the .bigger fellows among the latter, sometimes will put up a fight against the fox for a much - coveted titbit or a whole . meal. Rob- erts tells of a mink and a fox fighting to the death over a slain rabbit,'' but though the mink is exceedingly, sav- age and fearless, it is not likely that it would risk battle for long with a superior antagonist. The great -horned owl has a better chance, and the raccoon is about -even up with Reynard, for while the latter is quicker and more savage, the coon is pluckier and stronger. It takes a very good dog to kill either one of them. The fox fears the wildcat, natural- ly, as most everything, on fcianegs does.Bobtail is so rm ma.l<A. n_ae1. = -a= ud bar ,, anything even twice his bizea ver one-sided affair. im, ay, she' did an' all. I wonder } • where Alice is now? Does she ever think about me, I wonder? does she pray forme as she said?" He thought of what the man had RAILWAY CONTROL. said in the Y.M. C.A. hut on the How Roads Are Operated in Great night before they set sail for France. Britain During Wartime. Ile told the soldiers that they needed a personal Saviour, and that that Saviour was ever waiting, ever watch- ing, to give them help; that He would be near all those who stretched out their lame hands of faith towards Him, and help them, strengthen them, com- fort them. It was very unreal, it seemed a long way off too. And yet was it? Was Christ there just as the man had said? "Boom!" The sound came from an enemy's gun, but he heard no shell screeching its way through space, saw no light of explosion. It was not re- peated, although he waited, listening tensely. Minute after minute pass - Great Britain declared war on Au- gust 4, and at midnight following the declaration the Government announced its assumption of the entire railway control of the kingdom. Only the lines in Ireland, a few short and unimport- ant industrial roads in England, and the tube system in London were ex- cepted from this control. The Gov- ernment requires the free transporta- tion of military and naval business with certain exceptions, and in con- sideration of these points it has to make up any deficit in earnings to ed, still there was silence; evidently such a point that the dividends during the English gunners were instructed the period of Government control shall not to reply. What was the meaning of it? Tho silence became so tense that it seem- ed to make a noise; the air was laden with gloom. "I wonder what it means," said the boy, and a great fear possessed him; he felt as though he were on the brink purpose of insuring that both Gov- "*. of afathomless chasm, a chasm which ernment and private traffic would be was as black as ink, as well cared for as possible. This Minute after minute he waited, and committee was in fact appointed four still no sound brokemthe msilence. fdays before he declaration of war, He tried to comfort himself by re -t mwithering pleasant things that hap- testifying to the fact that there were equal those for the corresponding pe- riod immediately before the war. The railway executive committee, consisting of the general managers of the chief companies, was put in charge of the railway lines for the pened at Brunford, but in vain. It seemed to him as though he was sur- rounded by something fierce and ter- rible; was it a premonition of death, he wondered? Again he called to mind what the' Y. M,C. �... man had said on the night be: fore they started for the Front. He had advised them to pray, and to put their trust in a loving God who had been revealed to them through Jesus Christ. Re still tramped the bit of trench which it was his duty to guard, look- ing eagerly into the darkness as if to discern the outlineof an approaching enemy. "If I only could pray!" thought Torn, "if I only could!" But he had not prayed for years, the very thought of prayer had gone out of his mind and heart; but ohl how he longed -for something to coin•. fort and steady him! Well, why should he not pray? It could do no harm, it might even do him good. Lifting his eyes towards the inky - black sky, he tried to formulate a prayer, but he could not, his thoughts could not shape themselves, his mind f refused to work; he opened his lips and cried, "0 God!" That was all; he could think of no- thing else to say, but he repeated the words again and again. "0 God!—O C odi.----0 God!" '1 hint was all. He had asked for no- tl i i ,, be had indeed hardly thought ofnything Nevertheless he was c,.,.ior'cd; thetwords he had, uttered some people in the British Govern- ment who even then realized that tre- mendous things were afoot. The United Kingdom being divided into a number oi, military districts,. each under its separate command, it was arranged that railway necessities within each command should be in charge of a secretary named by the railway executive committee, to act for all the railways within that com- mand. There was thus a centraliza- tion of authority which has worked excellently. In the distinctly military realm, the transportation authority Is divided into three directorates: A directorate of movements, a directorate of rail- ways, light railways and roads, and a directorate of inland waterways and docks. At the head of each of these is a director with the necessary stab. There are embarkation officers at the ports to and from which military movements take place. A director-general of transportation was created to control the entire transportation business in the French sector of the. British operations late in 1916.' Re in turn has, the necessary staff, including an assistant director for each of the main lines, At ports anclr junction points are deputy .as- sistant as-sistant directors of " railway, trans pertation. 1 :I. 1 O1dTeaLki All Right Old tea and fresh tea, poor tea and good tea, all look alike, No under a woman often gets a bulk tea she doesn't like. Red Rose Tea in the sealed package is always fresh, always �E➢�4SE1Eq c,:, a good, always worth the price on the label. Kept Good by the !ap�EA Sealed Package"..� 644 gpotailIMMINIONSIIPINO latest type of steam -cookers, serving tables, etc., and a modern refrigerat- ing plant will be installed. The building will be of the type of construction adopted by the Military Hospitals Commission for its new work, being fire -proof and durable, al- though not expensive. China was the original home of both the chrysanthemum and rose. FOR WOUNDED --SOLDIERS. Military Hospitals Commission Will Erect Convalescent Home. Announcement is made by the Mili- tary Hospitals Commission that it will erect a six hundred bed convales- cent Hospital on property adjacent to the MacDonald College site at Ste. Anne de Bellevue. McGill University will be associated with the Commis- sion in the project. An Order -in - Council ratifying the transaction has been passed. Construction will begin at once and the institution will be ready for occu- pation by the nevi year.. The plan. permits an expansion to 900 beds, if necessary. The decision to erect an institution of this large size was prompted by the many changes which have taken _place in the character of the treat- ment accorded the returned soldiers. Much of this treatment requires high- ly trained specialists of great ability and the scarcity of men of this calibre together with the great expense of duplicating costly equipment has ne- cessitated concentrating the future work of the Military Hospitals Com- mission in such large institutions. The Drummond Street Hospital will now be usdd as an active treatment hospital for the Montreal area and. convalescents will be treated at Ste. Anne. One of the great merits of the Ste. Anne site is the proximity of Mac- donald College with its splendid fa- cilities for vocational training. It is a part of the agreement that the ser- vice of the college staff will be avail- able to the .Commission hi this im- portant branch, The new institution will consist of a central administration block with four outlying, two-story wings each containing 150 beds, Smaller wings in close contact will contain equipment of the latest type for the adinihistra- tion of special treatments such as the, various types of electric treatment, continuous baths, needle baths and arm and leg baths, vapor baths, etc. Corrective apparatus for functional training and re-education of impaired and physical faculties will be installed. There will be special buildings for the accommodation of doctors, 'nurses, orderlies, etc., for vocational training, for recreation and amusements, A power plant is to be part of the scheme also. The kitchen and dining - room are to the roar connected to the main building by corridors, The kitchen will be ; equipped with the Gooseberry pie and gosseberry jam are luxuries that only those who have their own gooseberry bushes can af- ford. Victoria we consider the best; the berries are large and it very productive. Columbus is an Ameri- can production of recent introduction. The fruit is large and of good quality. Downing is an old favorite. Give gooseberries good, rich soil and plenty of water during the entire season for best results. Fir Nursery Use you mot take chances on . Soap. Four generations of Canadians have enjoyed the creamy, fragrant skin healing lather of Baby's Own Soap— the Standard in Canada for nursery use, on account of its known purity. Baby's Own is Best for Baby—Best for You. 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PARKER'S DYE WORKS, LIMITED 791 YONGE ST. - TORONTO 40 I -BLACK -WHITE TAN— iO F. F. Dalley Co. of Canada, Ltd, Hamilton, Cas, dib 3• THE WEATHER - AND TEE WAR HOW STATE OF ATMOSPHERE AFFECTS THE ARMY. Sun, Rain, or Snow—Some Section of the Fighting Forces is Al- ways Pleased, Every soldier, be he general or pri- vate, takes a keen interest in the weather at the front, and it is not al- ways the bad weather, as we know it, that he criticizes. It depends on what unit of the Army he represents whe- ther he will revile or praise. A thoroughly wet day to the air- man is often a blessing; it gives him a rest from the strain of . flying, though on oceasions even the rain does not stop him. It stops the Ger- man fliers, too, and thusrives a rest tosides.e""`"'thArchie" artillerymen on both Infantry's "Bete Noir." A wet morning, on awakening at dawn, is blessed by these gentlemiefi, for it means extra time in bed°—a great boon when you know that "Archie" has to be up always before the sun and never retires from his vigil of the sky till nightfall. In the early summer months this means a nineteen - hour day. For the infantry it is a different matter. Trenches are never too com- fortable in the finest of weather, and a downpour of rain is one of the worst things that can happen to the men who occupy the trenches. ' No matter what the weather is, there is no cessation here, and slip- pery clay, wet feet, and no way of es- cape are just causes for the infantry- man's righteous anger. The field artillery dislike rain, for, although it may give them a rest from their labors for a little while, at any moment they may be called to settle a little .account with Fritz across the way. And in ;most cases during . bad weather it is a case of "blind" firing, for it is impossible to observe witho aeroplanes or balloons. Even the Pip" observing officer, in the line trenches cannot see. When a Storm is Welco The Army Service Corps ing and riding, learn also rain, for a three -ton lorr. easy thing to drive on a French road, as witnes -ate vehicle that has ski ditch. It means hours of work in the •rain trying t again. To men who are about from leave in Blighty t stormy weather is just the t like, if the wind has made the sea ficiently unrideable. With the leave boats not running on a day like this, the men on leave get an extra day in Blighty, while the men waiting to come over from Franee to England do not lose any of their leave, for their ten days' holiday does not start until they are actually on the transport. From the general's point of view, I suppose, none but fine and sunny days are desirable, for the success of any big move or push will, of course, depend greatly on this. Still, the stop -the -war weather has its minor advantages, as will be seen, not the least good point about it be- ing the fact that the baby -killers of Germany cannot carry out their bomb- ing operation on England at such times. His Address. An eminent Boston clergyman who had been urgently Invited to deliver an out-of-town lecture for a brother minister consented with some reluct- ance, His schedule for that particular day was crowded, but he found that he could squeeze in the appointment by an exceedingly narrow margin. He arrived at the parish house promptly on the minute, told the rector of the limited trine at his disposal, and asked that the lecture should begin at once. The rector assented readily, but in his gratification over the full house and the auspicious occasion he forgot, and when he rose to introduce the distinguished speaker launched forth into a lengthy speech of pre- sentation, Fifteen minutes" passed, a half hour, three quarters of an hour, and still he rambled on, while the visitor fidgeted at his elbow, At last he ended with a flourish. "And now," he said, "Dr. Blank will give us his address." Dr. Blank got up, red-faced, with his 1 watch in his hand. "My address," he said, "is Boston, 1Vlassachusetts, The last train for that point is about to leave." With a. courteous bow lie fled, and left his disconsolate host to face the music. An instrument to measure the sus-; ceptibility of persons to suggestions from others is the invention of a French scientist. 1