PEACE IN FRIENDSHIP VILLAGE [Illustration: Logo] THE MACMILLAN COMPANY NEW YORK · BOSTON · CHICAGO · DALLAS ATLANTA · SAN FRANCISCO MACMILLAN & CO., LIMITED LONDON · BOMBAY · CALCUTTA MELBOURNE THE MACMILLAN CO. OF CANADA, LTD. TORONTO PEACE IN FRIENDSHIP VILLAGE BY ZONA GALE AUTHOR OF "FRIENDSHIP VILLAGE," "FRIENDSHIP VILLAGE LOVE STORIES," ETC. NEW YORK THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 1919 _All rights reserved_ COPYRIGHT, 1919 BY THE MACMILLAN COMPANY Set up and electrotyped. Published October, 1919. "Whatever comes of it after this [in Russia] every one in the world should be plainly told of what took place in those first weeks. For it was a dazzling revelation of the deep, deep powers for brotherhood and friendliness that lie buried in mankind. I was no dreamer; I was a chemist, a scientist, used to dealing with facts. All my life I had smiled at social dreams as nothing but Utopias. But in those days I was wholly changed, for I could feel beneath my feet this brotherhood like solid ground. There is no end to what men can do--for there is no limit to their good will, if only they can be shown the way." TARASOV, in Ernest Poole's "The Village." "I am the way ..." JESUS CHRIST. NOTE These stories are told in the words of Calliope Marsh. Wherever I have myself intruded a word, it is with apology to her. I chronicle her stories as faithfully as I am able, faults and all, and, through her, the affairs of the village, reflecting in its small pool the people and the stars. And always I hear most clearly as her conclusion: "Life is something other than that which we believe it to be." ZONA GALE. Portage, Wisconsin, 1919. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I THE FEAST OF NATIONS 1 II PEACE IN FRIENDSHIP VILLAGE 20 III THE STORY OF JEFFRO 45 IV WHEN NICK NORDMAN CAME BACK HOME 75 V BEING GOOD TO LETTY 98 VI SOMETHING PLUS 104 VII THE ART AND LOAN DRESS EXHIBIT 130 VIII ROSE PINK 154 IX PEACE 185 X DREAM 205 XI THE BROTHER-MAN 232 XII THE CABLE 256 XIII WHEN THE HERO CAME HOME 273 XIV "FOLKS" 293 PEACE IN FRIENDSHIP VILLAGE THE FEAST OF NATIONS[1] Three-four of us older ones were down winding up Red Cross, and eight-ten of our daughters were helping; not my daughter--I ain't connect'--but Friendship Village daughters in general. Or I don't know but it was us older ones that were helping them. Anyway, Red Cross was being wound up from being active, and the rooms were going to be rented to a sewing-machine man. And that night we were to have our final entertainment in the Friendship Village Opera House, and we were all going to be in it.