Chapter IX

THE YOUNG MEN GO OFF TO WAR

One day Paul called me from the Minneapolis Journal to which he had transferred and asked me to lunch. He often so invited me, particularly after Miriam’s wedding. He broke the news that he was going into the army. I had suspected that he would do this. It was no easy thing to be brave, but I was proud of him and believed it was right. “Straight is the line of duty.”

He took training at Fort Snelling, was commissioned a Captain of Infantry and just before Christmas reported to Camp Funston, Kansas, commanded by General Leonard Wood. The whole country was astir and men were being sent over rapidly. I think all young men with red blood were anxious to go over and help. I know Paul was. At last he was definitely to be sent over after being in Camp Funston from December till September. Dr. McIntyre also was to go about that time. He had been commissioned First Lieutenant, Medical Corps.

The submarines were doing their worst and when I said good-by to Paul, I tried to have hope, but abject fear held me. He looked so manly and every inch a hero in his khaki and the captain’s bars. Would the submarines claim them? Only God knew.

THE WOMENFOLK WAIT OUT THE WAR IN IOWA

Miriam and I went to the little town of Mount Vernon, Iowa, for a time, and lived with John’s mother and sister-in-law. Then we went to Davenport, Iowa, staying in Auntie Neland’s apartment for a time. Later an apartment was secured where we stayed till the boys returned from the war.

When Paul left Funston, I of course started for home. I had spent the time in a little Kansas town, Manhattan, so as to be near him and had been hostess in Camp Pawnee for the benefit of girls who were privileged to call on their soldier brothers, lovers and husbands. I used often to see General Wood pass, his two-star flag floating from his car.

Colonel C. B. Humphrey was at the head of Paul’s regiment and chose Paul as his adjutant. Paul had been promoted to the rank of major and had command of a thousand men. He knew the experience of being bombed by German airplanes, but at last was brought home safely and was honorably discharged in July, 1919, at Fort Dodge, Iowa. He immediately wrote a history of his regiment. A human being could be no more happy or grateful than I at his return. Miriam rejoiced as a sister can. John came home later.

A neighbor boy, Henry Moe, was an officer in the navy and suffered a terrible accident, just at the close of the war. A sailor let fall a gang plank which caused Henry to drop 55 feet down a hatchway. He was terribly injured, having to endure eleven operations. He had been given a Rhodes scholarship, and went to England. After completing his work at Oxford, he was appointed executive secretary of the Guggenheim Foundation in New York City, which position he has had since. He is also on the committee that selects Rhodes scholarship students. We think of his recovery as a miracle and speak of it so when he visits his mother and sister here. The sons and daughter were all college graduates. One, Ruby, is now a teacher at Central High School. Martha was taken by death. Thomas is a physician.

AT THE SMALL ARMS FIRING SCHOOL AT CAMP PERRY

One incident while Paul was in the army is interesting. He was sent to the small arms firing school at Camp Perry, Ohio, for a month. He took me with him and I enjoyed it very much and lived at the home of the superintendent of schools in Port Clinton, not far from Camp Perry. We noted the difference in the two states, Kansas and Ohio — dry and wet. We never saw drunken people in Kansas. In Ohio my first experience was seeing my trunk carried around town with two or three men reeling drunk sitting on it — my landlord had to go out and hail them. We made the side trips at weekends — Toledo, Cleveland, and to see the marvelous marble shaft in memory of Commodore Perry in Lake Erie.

Paul now spent several years in newspaper work on the Journal in Minneapolis. Later he was called to the Minneapolis Community Fund and Council of Social Agencies and found social work tremendously engrossing. He was made publicity director. Besides this, he wrote music reviews for the Minneapolis Star for three years under the pen name of Southworth Alden. This of course took his evenings while the social service occupied his days.

John McIntyre and his young wife moved from the little place where he first went to Round Lake in southern Minnesota. He found it very difficult to be satisfied and eventually came to Owatonna, Minnesota. I had heard of a vacancy through my childhood friend, Fred Swartwood, who also was a physician and John began there at once with Dr. Morehouse.

MOTHER AND SON MOVE TO CITY OF ST. LOUIS

Paul was wanted for social work in St. Louis at a larger salary than in Minneapolis. I was to follow him to St. Louis and did so. He went in March and I in April, 1926. His work with the Community Fund Community Council of St. Louis was strenuous and interesting. He made many friends and wrote several books — “Songs for Seven Moods,” “After Supper Poems,” “Rough Edges and All,” “How Pan Shaped the Leaves,” and “Arch of Spring,” and since he has been in North Dakota, he has written “Spin Dance” and “Cirrus from the West,” his latest. All of them have been well received.

When we went to St. Louis, I of course, gave up my Bible class at Knox. I had taught the class for about eight years. My dear “flower girl,” Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Horsley, Mrs. Barber, Mrs. Gangster, Mrs. Moffat and a dozen others had been devoted workers. I missed them greatly.

In early 1929, Miriam divorced her husband. I knew nothing of this till her decision was made. She now made careful preparation at Camp Edith Macey, New York and at other camps for special Girl Scout work and immediately had several offers, as the national officers knew her and believed her personality would make her successful. She accepted a position in Cincinnati, Ohio. After holding this two years with an offer of continuance, she decided, nevertheless, to go to Columbus, Ohio, as local director of Girl Scouts. She recently moved to Rochester, New York, in the same capacity.

The depression came on. I had a complete nervous breakdown and after being in a hospital for some time and in a private rest home, Paul brought me to St. Paul to the old homestead, July 2^nd, 1933, where I have since remained. He had been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1921, and has been a full Colonel for five years, and is active in the Officer’s Reserve Corps.

Paul was appointed Field Representative of the FERA of North Dakota in October, 1933, and last summer was made State Director of Intake and Certifications of the WPA by his old newspaper co-worker, Administrator Thomas H. Moodie. It is work quite in line with his other social work. It is a thing to be thankful for that each of my children has a good position and is doing excellently his or her proper share of the world’s work. I have warm feelings for North Dakota for many reasons. Since 1910 I have owned a quarter section of land near Hettinger, which my son has named Scoria Lily Ranch.

Mrs. Frank Raff with her children and mother occupies the remainder of my homestead in St. Paul. We have pleasant chats together, though she is busy in W.C.T.U. work. The Huebener boys are all doing well. Howard is working, Eugene keeps himself in Macalester College by printing, for which he seems to have quite a bent. Ralph is his able assistant. Ralph and Philip are still in Central High School.

Eva’s husband, Will Howard, passed away in June, 1926. He was noted in St. Paul as a great lover of flowers, particularly of wild flowers. He was head of the pharmaceutical department of Noyes Bros. and Cutler and had many friends. Sister Alice went to the great beyond in 1927, a few months after Paul and I had gone to St. Louis. I came home at the time. She was a noble woman. Her husband, Thomas Hughes, a lawyer, historian and quite a humorist, followed her this past year. We miss them all. The Hughes sons, Burton and Raymond, are lawyers, Raymond carrying on his father’s work in Mankato. He with his wife, Alice Lowe, occupy the homestead which Alice and Thomas had enjoyed for many years. Two children, Tam and Marianne, enjoy the old home, which has been transformed and is attractive. Burton is a successful lawyer. He and his wife, formerly Marie Sterling, and Ned, their son, have a comparatively new home in Austin, Minnesota. Both Burton and Raymond were in the World War.

TO ONE FIXED TRUST MY SPIRIT CALLS

I am proud of Paul and Miriam and grateful for them, though missing them indescribably, but thankful when they visit me. My sister and niece have tried to lessen my loneliness, coming to see me nearly every Sunday. Mrs. Horsley came often until her death, and her Josephine and Helen, Mrs. Moe, Mrs. Whitman, Mrs. Straight, Mrs. Hill, Mrs. Sandberg and many other neighbors have been welcome callers. A new friend I have appreciated very much is Mrs. Howry. She has been a friend indeed. I have often wished I had known her in earlier years. Her daughter, Janet, has also done many a kind turn. My dear Mrs. Brown is a true friend. I am enjoying her last bouquet. Mr. and Mrs. Day and family in the little house are warm friends.

Among the young men of Hamline who were friends of my son Paul at Hamline, who have made good in their professions are Judge John L. Rounds, and Russel Sweitzer, William Clapp, Charles Elmer, Paul Smith, Louis and William Marvin and the Kuhl boys are others who have done well. Mrs. Rounds, one of the fine leaders of the Women’s Federation, who passed away, and Mrs. Akers, are among Hamline friends who have done much in many fields.

I can’t understand my staying. The chorus in the long ago, sang, “Long Live Laila.” I did not think it would be so long, but one day I shall hear a “Clear Call,” as Tennyson says. I’ve been getting ready all along the way. “To one fixed trust my spirit clings. I know that God is good.”

“I hope to see my Pilot face to face when I have crossed the bar.”

OLIVE IRENE HILLS BLISS

1684 Van Buren Street

St. Paul, Minnesota

1935