Grimsley High School - Whirligig Yearbook (Greensboro, NC)

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8 THE SAGE lad of fourteen, not at all like the one who had trotted Baby Carl on his back. In vain they sent him to school and tried to impart to him some of their love of America’s freedom, for loyalty to “Der Fatherland” seemed to have been burn¬ ed into his soul and always he talked of the greatness of Germany. Three years passed and although he spoke English Her¬ man still worshipped at the shrine of German accomplish¬ ment. “Germany,” he would say, “is the greatest of all na¬ tions. Her people are God’s chosen people and some day the world will be forced to realize this.” Then would fol¬ low a long tirade on her progress in science and all other branches. The rest of the family were grieved at the stand he had taken and Carl was especially worried. Carl was convinced concerning American superiority and many and long were his arguments with Herman on this subject. Each member of the family except his mother, acknowledged to himself that he was disappointed in Herman. They had thought that he, too, would honor and love America. Herman’s desire to return to his native country was fed continually by the letters he received from his friends there and finally on his seventeenth birthday he asked his father’s permission to return to Germany and enter a Mili¬ tary School. As Mr. Kaufmann knew that the boy’s heart and interests were in Germany, he consented and once more the family was divided. This time, Carl did not cling to his older brother; they had grown apart. The family went with him to the ship and after he had sailed they turned and went home to dream not of the Herman to whom they had just said good bye, but of the bright-faced boy they had left behind in 1902. Time went on and every two weeks letters c ame tell¬ ing of Herman’s success. For two years he led his classes and in the third year, 1914, Germany declared war, and started her bloody invasion of Belgium. Herman was swept away by the great dream of power for Germany and see¬ ing, in true German fashion, only the one side of it and

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THE SAGE 7 BROTHERS. Irma Sadler, ’20 It was in the early spring of 1902 that Herman Kauf¬ man came to America from Germany bringing with him his wife, two flaxen-haired little daughters, and a baby boy named Karl. In a blaze of enthusiasm Kaufman had sold his little patch of land and his household goods and pre¬ pared to come to America. However, when the money was counted there was only enough for five fares and no amount of skimping and saving would produce the rest. Very sor¬ rowfully the two parents decided that one of the little flock must be left behind. Herman was the oldest and as an uncle agreed to keep him in return for his help on the farm, it was decided that he should stay. The great day arrived and after separating Karl from his “big brother” by force the little group went on board ship and sailed out of sight, leaving Herman standing on the dock, while the tears we lled up in his big blue eyes. Herr Kaufman and his wife and children reached America safely and settled on a tiny farm. Here they were successful on a small scale and became true Americans. Herr Kaufmann became Mr. Kaufmann and the K in Karl’s name changed to 0. Every day they loved their home more and longed for the time to come when they could send for Herman and include him in their poy. His mother especial¬ ly missed him and her love for him grew stronger day by day. He was her eldest son and held a place in her heart that no other could fill. At last after six years, when the home had been paid for and money enough saved for a passage to America they sent for Herman. A month later he arrived, a big, stalwart

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THE SAGE 9 forgetting that such things as honor, fidelity and truthful¬ ness exist, enlisted and was made an officer in the army of the Huns. The news of his enlistment reached his family along with the news of the destruction of Belgium and Carl, ashamed that a brother of his should participate in such a carnage, snatched Herman’s picture from the mantel and told his mother, If she wished to keep it, to hide it from view. For two years they heard al most nothing from Her¬ man and his mother drooped more and more daily. Her hair was rapidly turning white and her eyes told of nights of torture and suffering. In vain they surrounded her with love and care, for she wanted her boy, the idol of her heart, and nothing else would suffice. Then in 1917, America awoke to her duty and joined the forces trying to turn the Hun from his course. Although only a boy, Carl enlisted and became a sergeant. After eight months training lie was sent across, with thousands of other enthusiastic boys. His mother went to the camp to tell him goodbye and her last words were, “Carl, if you meet Herman remember that he is your brother, and that I love him.” Yes, she loved him, loved him more than she did any of her other children be¬ cause he needed her love more. Carl promised. He could not do otherwise, for her body was shaken with sobs and her eyes dark with pain. All the way over each boy pictured himself going “over the top” and each planned how he would serve the Germans. They were attacked by a submarine but the gunners sank it and the big grey transport sailed safely on to its port. At last they reached England and stayed there in a rest camp for two weeks, but little rest was to be had for the quarters were cramped, and it rained almost continually. Finally, however, the weather cleared and one bright, sun¬ shiny morning, they sailed across the English Channel to France. After disembraking they were taken in trucks to an Overseas Training Camp and during that ride the full