Askov American. [volume], May 28, 1931, Image 8

About Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current

Image provided by: Minnesota Historical Society; Saint Paul, MN

                
Page 8
Gen. John J. Pershing as he appeared, evidently lost in meditation, in front of
one of the many graves of the Aisne-Mame cemetery at which were held
Memorial day ceremonies last year.
When Doughboys
Ended Germany’s
Dream of Power
By THOMAS J. DICKSON
(President First Division, Society of
Washington. Chaplain General of the
(Military Order of the World War.)
From the Kansas City Star.
Some twelve miles from Verdun
. there is a hogback mountain about a
'thousand yards long. Once there was
a little village named Vauquois on the
summit It probably was just a
hameau of straw-thatched chaumieres
and hardly had reached the dignity of
a village. Like the nest of an eagle,
Vauquois rested high above the sur
rounding country. It was an eagle’s
nest; for there an eagle defended her
brood. In the epic cycle of world
changement from monarchies to re
publics. Vauquois vanished as a drop
of dew in the ocean of time. The
mountain stands; forever, the Sentinel
of Verdun.
—II
Vauquois mountain is the rendezvous
of the Unknown Soldier. In this cham
bered Temple of Silence, dauntless
valor sleeps—sleeps in a winding
sheet of rose leaves, of oak leaves, of
laurel leaves. No bard can sing his
lay. No poem tells the story of his
triumph. Perhaps this is just as well.
Let his story rest in the Chancery of
Heaven, known to God alone, unto
that Day when He shall muster those
who fell in holy cause.
Subject for a Hugo.
1 Vauquois mountain baffles descrip-
tion. Our language must be recast. If
Victor Hugo could write page after
page about an old iron cannon that
rolled from side to side of a ship; if
he could change iron into flesh and
endow it with all the faculties of life;
what would he have said had he stood
on Vauquois mountain and seen hu
man flesh turn to steel and warm
blood to acid —had he stood on this
mountain for centuries while wave
after wave broke at his feet? Yes,
tidal waves of flesh and blood that
for hundreds of years have broken on
this Gibraltar! If the mountain fell;
Verdun would fall!
The Sentinel of Verdun was faithful
unto the fullness of time: then‘fell.
Before he touched the ground he was
caught in the arms of the Americans.
The world changed from monarchies
to republics.
Who did It? Search your histories!
Who were these Americans? From
every banquet of information the in
quiring soul of man returns hungry
and unsatisfied. And here is a story
that should be on the Ups of every
child that loves to gaze on stars.
They were men with an ancestry!
As of old, there were giants in those
days. Forty years ago there were two
distinct peoples on this earth. One
tribe was of that region staked by
Attila. It was preparing to conquer
and dominate the world.
Meeting Seemingly Impossible.
Thousands of miles away, across a
great ocean, mountains, rivers, plains
—barriers reared by Nature —another
strain was preparing for the responsi
bilities of citizenship. It would seem
in all human probability that the earth
was large enough for tribe and strain
to live, and move, and have their be
ing apart and forever. They would
meet when the poles of north and
south met - ,
The greed for emipre ever has been
dominant in the heart of man. Caesar,
Hannibal, Alexander, Attila, Genghlz
Khan, Omar, Tamerlane, Louis XIV
and Napoleon 1 More battles have
been fought near the River Rhine than
any place on earth and on a piece of
ground not much larger than Texas!
In the Franco-Prussian war —more
than fifty years ago—the Prussians
easily captured Paris. They rolled
their heavy guns up and down the
Champs Elysees. They marched be
neath the Arc de Triomphe, reared by
3AD BUT GLORIOUS MEMORIES
Napoleon in honor of his victories.
Everywhere the thought was dom
inant; a thought that afterward burst
forth in song. It was: “Deutschland
über Alles!” In their daydream of
‘ empire they saw the time coming when
■ pilgrims from Arctic’s remotest shore
: and caravans from Sahara’s burning
. sands would take their costliest tributes
and reverently lay them at the feet of
mighty Germania.
Two Places Not Captured.
In that war there were two places the
Prussians did not capture, Belfort and
Verdun. A great lion, carved in stone,
is the emblem of Belfort. In the elo
quence of silence appreciation finds
voice by painting “Verdun” in letters
of gold.
When the World war broke, the Geis
mans remembered the sentry who had
halted them on the march to greater
empire. The finest army the broad em
pire of the Central Powers could mus
ter was thrown against Verdun. Sacri
ficed! Another army. Another sacri
fice! Days of effort passed to weeks,
and weeks to months, and months to
years. An irresistible force met an im*
movable object. Human effort locked
in an embrace that knew no breaking.
In this seeming eternity the Sentinel
of Verdun walked his post. In de
spair’s darkest hour he called: “All
is well! All is well!”
Vauquois mountain stood as the most
indomitable redoubt in the most tre
mendous line of defense ever built by
man—the Hindenburg line. Other
places were strong. Over other places
the tide of battle ebbed and flowed.
Verdun is where human effort froze.
Thus far and no farther. “They shall
not pass.”
Where the Eagle Struck.
A short distance from Vauquois
mountain is the town of Montfaucon.
Rightly named. Hawk mountain.
Eagle mountain.
Line after line of defense was back
of Vauquois mountain. The Hagen
stellung. The Volker stellung. The
Krimhelde stellung. All formidable.
The Argonne forest with the screened
macine gun nests.
I Look at a map of the region of Vau
quois mountain. You wonder why the
Germans did not pincer off the salient
and easily capture Verdun. Be on the
ground when the firing ceased. It is a
wonder there is an American soldier
alive to tell the tale. The massive
works that turned the fair face of Na
ture into the side of a battleship!
Day of Destiny.
September 26, 1918, the knell of em
pire was struck! The poles of north
and south did meet An Irresistible
force ground to dust an immovable ob
ject. Forty years of preparation to
dominate the earth came to naught
Forty years of preparation for the
resuonsibillties of citizenship makes
this date forever glorious.
September 26 will be placed on the
calendar of all of earth. On this date
a division of American national guards
men went forward to take Vauquois
mountain and anything else that stood
in its way. In a few hours the moun
tain fell. Terrific shock! Their lines
wavered. The guardsmen rallied.
Again forward! Volker stellung
taken! Town after town restored to
France! On the field of valor the Mis
i sour! Tiger and the Kansas Jayhawker
are mounted to highest posts of equal
honor with the Sentinel of Verdun.
“Their Souls Go Marching On."
FRANCE PAYS HONOR
Ceremonies at the magnificent La
fayette Escadrille memorial at Garchee,
when France paid high tribute to the
67 American aviators who belonged to
the famous escadrille and whose bod
ies lie beneath the impressive structure.
General Walch, representing the
French government, is shown address
ing the large Franco-American audi
ence that gathered at the beautiful
tomb to witness the ceremonies.
French “Adopt”
Yanks’ Graves
That many Frenchmen have “adopt
ed” graves of American soldiers and
keep them trim and covered with flow
ers was the report of Hilton U. Brown,
chairman of the board of directors of
the Indianapolis News, to Bowman El
der, national chairman of the France
convention committee of the American
Legion.
Following allegations that the
• graves of American soldiers in foreign
i soil had been desecrated, Mr. Brown,
j whose son, Hilton U. Brown, Jr., is
; buried in Romagne cemetery, made a
! personal investigation.
! “I first visited the American mili
i tary cemetery at Suresnes, near
1 Paris,” Mr. Brown, veteran newspaper
i man, said in reporting his investiga
i tlon.
■ “If there had been any desecration
i of graves it would most likely be at
| Suresnes, near a great city, where if
i anywhere, disorderly conduct might
{be expected. There are 1,506 Amer
-1 lean soldiers and marines buried there.
| The cemetery is in care of James H.
I Duncan of the Eleventh Engineers.
“The cemetery is in excellent order
i and is conspicuously and beautifully
i located.
"After hearing my purpose, Lieuten
ant Duncan said, ‘I am especially in
terested in this cemetery because some
of my own company are buried here.
Any impropriety or desecration would
be instantly known by me and report
ed to headquarters.
• ‘“There has been no incident of
that nature. On the contrary, the
• most scrupulous courtesy is always
I shown by all visitors and passers-by.
i “‘French troops going to or from
, the fort are almost constantly pass
ing. They always come to attention
1 on approaching the cemetery and re
! main so until the last soldier has
passed the last grave. This means
;400 meters, for that is the length of
I the road on which the cemetery fades.
’ “ ‘Nearby in a public athletic ground
JI have seen ten thousand people
i watching games there. Not one has
; ever cUmbed up on the cemetery wall
'or placed foot on it in witnessing the
games.
“ ‘We have French people who have
“adopted” American soldiers’ graves
and come frequently to decorate
graves and pay tribute. Thousands of
visitors come here and none has ever
left the paths or tramped on the
graves.’
“There are more French than Amer
icans that visit Romagne cemetery, the
largest American cemetery in France.
They show unusual respect for the
place.”
G. A. R. Enshrined in
Gratitude and Memory
The members of the Grand Army of
the Republic come of stock that Is
slow to give up even a battle that
must inevitably be lost. But the final
mustering out of the last survivors
of the historic order cannot be far
away. If disbandment does not come
voluntarily, the Grim Reaper will ex
act IL He is inexorable.
Nevertheless the G. A. R. will, in a
very definite sense, not die. It is im
mortal as far as the gratitude and
memory of a nation can confer im
mortality. When the last of the vet
erans who fought to preserve the unity
of the nation has gone to his long
home, and the records of the Grand
Army are laid away in the archives
of the nation, it will pass into history
a symbol of patriotism and romance.
—Cleveland Plain Dealer.
ASKOV AMERICAN, ASKOV, MINNESOTA
AMERICA’S HEROES
Gen. John J. Pershing, commander of
American expeditionary forces, is
shown here as he spoke last year at the
tomb of the American “Unknown” af
Arlington National cemetery.
Pay Tribute at
Patriot Graves
America’s pre-eminence among the
nations could not have been attained
without fighting. War is detestable,
but America’s wars have been neces
sary not only for normal national
progress, but also for sheer self-pres
ervation. War marked the birth of
the Republic. War to save the Repub
lic from disintegration could not be
averted. War to assert the Republic’s
dignity and to uphold the ideal of
democracy against the assaults of ar
rogant autocracy gave the United
States new claims to greatness.
War is detestable, for it is essen
tially savage. Men in wars are devot
ed to the work of killing. They ex
pose themselves to the chance of be
ing killed by men whom they have
never seen and against whom they
have no personal enmity. And, worst
of all, in war might makes right, and
victory may be a triumph of injustice.
Because war is an abomination the na
tion’s gratitude to the men who have
fought America’s great wars is all the
more profound. And the nation’s debt
to men who have given their lives is
too great ever to be paid.
It is at best but a poor tribute that
we can pay on Memorial day. The
flowers with which we cover the
graves cannot restore the joy of life
to young men whose sacrifice has
made our own lives livable. Our trib
ute is a rite. It is our expression of
appreciation, and at the same time it
assuages a certain hurt in our own
consciences. It goes a little way to
ward making us feel a little less cal
lous and selfish in not remembering
every day instead of one day a year.
Surely it is not too much for every
one to contribute a little to the ob
servance of the one day devoted to
the memory of those who have given
everything for us. Memorial day
should not be regarded merely as a
holiday, a day for merrymaking and
recreation. Its significance is too
much forgotten; it is the way of hu
man nature to forget that which is not
joyous and to seize for pleasure any
moment which offers. Today let us
remember. Let us not smugly step
aside and leave observance to the few
who feel its true meaning, but let us
all give serious thought to the great
ness of our debt Memorial day thus
solemnized must make the United
States a finer nation and the people
of the United States worthier of the
inestimable privileges which have been
won and safeguarded for them by the
men who lie in patriot graves.—Ex
change.
SAILORS’ MEMORIAL
This permanent sailors’ memorial for
Chicago, symbolizing the enlisted naval
and marine personnel of America, is
forty feet high, and will be surmounted
by an emblematic statuary group. The
base contains a room approximately
twenty-five feet square, which is used
as a reliquary. Souvenirs and trophies
are kept there.
Bequeathed Liberty
Memorial day is well observed with
reminders that this country was born
in war, reached the maturity of its
power in a civil war, and has main
tained its ideals, prosperity and terri
torial integrity in war. The liberty
every citizen enjoys was paid for by
soldiers and sailors who preferred
death to life in any but a free coun
try. It was they who bought the
country and its institutions. They left
it to be enjoyed by posterity, and the
measure of posterity’s gratitude is its
reverence for the memory of its vic
torious forebears.
| TRIALS AND THRILLS
(By L. Breckheimer,
Sturgeon Lake, Minn.)
(Continued from last week)
CHAPTER XII
Another Trial for All.
A month’s later, after Jack’s death,
Margaret came home from work very
tired. She had been working on a
story “Roses and Thorns All in
Patches.” The boss liked it real well
and said it would bring him good
money. Margaret came in from work
about five, expecting a hearty greet
ing to her tired limbs. But she re
ceived none. So she went to the bath
room to wash up, thinking Mrs. Rapp
had gone some place. There to her
great dismay, was Mrs. Rapp lying on
the floor staring up at the ceiling.
“Ah! Mrs. Rapp, is anything the
matter?” cried Margaret.
“No, dear, only I am not feeling
well, and I just can’t get up at all.
You help me to the bed, please dear,”
said Mrs. Rapp.
Margaret helped her to tire couch
and then she asked, “Shall 1 run and
get Doctor Hemmer?”
“Yes, dear, but I think this is my
last,” answered Mrs. Rapp.
Hardly listening to Mrs. Rapp’s re
sponse, Margaret sped out into the
night air. She ran nearly every step
and when she reached the doctor’s
home, she walked right in without
waiting to knock. “Come quick, Doc
tor, Mrs. Rapp is sick. She told me to
come after you. She’s home now all
alone,” cried Margaret. And the doc
tor without a word sped ahead of .her.
She could hardly keep up with him.
They reached the house in a few
minutes and the doctor was seated
beside the bed looking very white
when Margaret got there.
“What is it, Doctor?” asked Mar
garet very frightened.
“Why, Margaret, dear, the woman
is dead! She has died of something
very unusual. She has just died. You
can plainly see that, poor woman,”
ejaculated the doctor in answer to
Margaret’s question.
Margaret broke down and cried till
the doctor thought her heart was go
ing to burst.
A few moments after Margaret had
started crying, Shirley and Tom came
into the room. “O.h, Mugsy! What’s
the matter?” asked Shirley, and she
was down on the floor beside her
friend in no time.
“Hey! What’s the matter with Mrs.
Rapp?” cried Tom, much taken aback
at the sight of things. The doctor
told them everything and Shirley
chorused in with Margaret, by crying.
As men never cry, Tom just tried to
comfort both the girls.
“Oh, Tom! and Shirley! nothing can
comfort me now. She was just like a
mother to me. I’ve lost the two dear
est people in my life now. Rose and
Mrs. Rapp. And they were my two
canes or crutches that helped me
through life!” Margaret paused and
then added, “I have no one left in my
life to help me.”
“Haven’t you still Shirley and I,
dearest Mugsy?” asked Tom, hurt to
think she didn’t think he wasn’t her
help too.
“Yes, Tom, darling, you two are a
great help to me, especially now,”
said Margaret.
After Margaret had been consoled
and was feeling better they began to
look over Mrs. Rapp’s belongings.
She had a great deal of money and
they wanted to find something that
would tell them who was to have the
money. They were successful, for
Tom found a journal entitled, “Mrs.
Rapp’s Journal.”
This Tom began to read.
(Next chapter reveals what this
Journal says).
CHAPTER XIII
Mrs. Rapp’s Journal.
The following is what was in the
“Journal”:
“I live in Lakeville. My name is
Mrs. Rapp. I am the sister to Mar
garet Martin’s mother, therefore, her
aunt. When her mother died she told
me to take care of her two children.
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One of them is dead now. I have
been providing for them ever since
their mother died. When my own
husband died, he left me money.
“When I die, I intend this for my
remaining and only niece. It amounts
to $20,000 in cash. Then the house
in Lakeville I leave to Tom Milton,
providing he weds my niece, Mar
garet. Then I have a farm, 260 acres
near San Diego, Calif. Tom may
choose, he can. either take the house
or the farm, and the one that is left
I leave to Shirley Milton, and if she
weds she will not have to worry.
These homes are all paid for.
“I have never made or had a will
made, but I think this will serve the
purpose.
Margaret’s mother was a jolly hap
py-go-lucky and cheerful woman. 1
used to be like her, but now I’ve
changed. Her father was altogether
different. He was sober, thoughtful,
and took life so hard. He died be
fore my sister did.
“Margaret is like her mother and
Rose like her father.
“Margaret, or no one will know that
I am Mugsy’s aunt until they read
this. I have tried to conceal it. Be
cause if she knew it she’d think 1
should take her in my own house and
keep giving her money. As it was, it
was better because she learned how
to take life, and responsibility, and
experience has been her best teacher.
“Rose knew 1 was her aunt. I told
her because 1 knew it wouldn’t affect
her as it would have Margaret.
“When I die, I want everything to
be as I’ve said and no changes.
“Goodbye.”
“Goodness, but what a surprise!
Just think what she’s left us. Good
old lady!” ejaculated Tom, happy as
could be, as he loved surprises of that
sort.
“Ah, to think that she w.as my aunt!
And she left me $20,000. Whew! and
Margaret danced around on her toes.
“And just think, 1 hardly knew her,
and she has left me one of the houses”
and Shirley clapped her hands in
ecstacy.
“Yes, yes—lt’s all fine. But let’s
come to a conclusion; we’ll settle this
matter about the houses. Shirley, you
and I must choose,” said Tom.
So they all set down to business.
(Next chapter reveals or rather
tells what they decide upon for their
future lives.)
CHAPTER XIV
A Counsel.
“Now, listen girls, Shirley are you
going to take the farm or the house?”
asked Tom.
“What is worth the most?” asked
Shirley gravely.
“She once said to me that the house
was worth SB,OOO and the farm with
the cattle, cost her $10,000,” explained
Tom.
“But I can’t choose, Tom, until you
tell me which you prefer,” said Shir
ley.
“I’d like to be a farmer, but you
must choose,” said Tom, excitedly. “I
myself would rather live in the city
because it would be too lonesome out
on that farm all by myself. I don't
think I shall ever marry, and as she
spoke a queer look came over her
countenance.
Stop the Ravages of the Weather —
Repair your buildings while the break is yet small.
You will find our prices right on all building material.
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THURSDAY, MAY 28, 1931
“All right, then, Mugsy dear, are
you satisfied to live on the farm?”
asked Tom.
“I’d love to. Ah! Tom, isn’t this
exciting?” and Margaret smiled hap
pily.
“Well, then, we have twenty thou
sand dollars clear and the farm.
Shirley, you have the house but you
have remaining before you the task
cf finding a mate. We’ll get married
in a month or two. It’s November
now. What do you say if we marry
the first of the year, that means 1931.
Hurrah! How many agree to the
splendid idea?” said Tom.
“We all do, we all do,” chorused
the girls. But Shirley looked gravely
and sadly at her brother as if to say,
“What will become of me when these
two get bonded together?”
Tom saw this, so he put his arms
around her and said, “Darlingest sis
ter in the world, you’ll stay with us
if you don’t marry.”
“O. K.” finished Margaret.
(Continued)
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Owwr a>ut Naaaear