Grimsley High School - Whirligig Yearbook (Greensboro, NC)

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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

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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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10 THE SAGE horror of war dawned upon them. Mile after mile they saw only ruins, and yet more ruins. Buins that at one minute made them sick at heart and the next ealled forth deep oaths of vengeance. Carl caught himself trying to re¬ people this devastated region in his imagination, but the contrast was too painful and only strengthened his deter¬ mination to help conquer the German and rebuild the hap¬ py little homes of France. After they had received the last necessary training they were packed into tiny, queer little cars and sent to that awful, indefinite place called the “front.” They were placed back of the lines and here they waited a few days until they were more accustomed to the shrieking and screaming of the shells. On entering the trenches they met the men they were relieving coming out. Haggard, muddy and tired they were, but still cheerful. Almost all of them were smok¬ ing cigarettes and sometimes one of them would shout a word of fun to the fresh forces. Th e first night in the trenches was a nightmare of weird lights and noises. All night long one thought kept hammering away at Carl’s brain. “What if Herman were in the trench beyond? What if he were? What if he were?” It formed a sing-song and repeated itself over and over. To Carl it seemed that he would go crazy unless re¬ lief came. For two days they held the trench and then they were relieved and sent to a rest billet behind the lines. The second day there were here numerous rumors went around. “A German spy had been caught behind the lines. He had been dressed in an American officer’s uniform and could speak English, but would tell nothing. They were bringing him there for the night and he would be shot at sunrise.” Of course all the boys wanted to see the spy and when they brought him in they watched. The prisoner was sullen and aggressive and something about his attitude seemed familiar to Carl, but it was not until they passed directly by him that he knew. “Herman!”—almost he sail? it, and then wheeled on his heel to hide the look of recogni-