E-text prepared by Al Haines Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 18078-h.htm or 18078-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/0/7/18078/18078-h/18078-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/0/7/18078/18078-h.zip) SOLDIER SILHOUETTES ON OUR FRONT by WILLIAM L. STIDGER Y. M. C. A. Worker with the A. E. F. Illustrated by Jessie Gillespie [Frontispiece: "Traveller, hast thou ever seen so great a grief as mine?"] New York Charles Scribner's Sons 1918 Copyright, 1918, by Charles Scribner's Sons Published October, 1918 TO DOCTOR ROBERT FREEMAN PIONEER RELIGIOUS WORK DIRECTOR OF THE Y. M. C. A. AND THE HUNDREDS OF PREACHER-SECRETARIES WHO ARE SERVING SO BRAVELY AND EFFICIENTLY ON THE CRUSADE OF SERVICE IN FRANCE AND TO THE CHURCHES THAT SENT THEM FOREWORD Some human experiences that one has in France stand out like the silhouettes of mountain peaks against a crimson sunset. I have tried in this book to set down some of those experiences. I have had but one object in so doing, and that object has been to give the father and mother, the brother and sister, the wife and child and friend of the boys "Over There" an accurate heart-picture. I have not attempted the too great task of showing the soul of the soldier, although I have tried to picture him at some of his great moments when he forgets himself and rises to glorious heights, just as he might do at home if the opportunity called. I have tried to show his experiences on the transports, when he lands in France, his welcome there, the reactions of the trench life; something of his self-sacrifice, his willingness to serve even unto the end; his courage, his sunshine. I have also given some other pictures of France that aim to show his heart-relations to his allies and to the folks at home. If I have done this, sufficient shall be my reward. CONTENTS I. SILHOUETTES OF SONG II. SHIP SILHOUETTES III. SILHOUETTES OF SACRIFICE IV. SILHOUETTES SPIRITUAL V. SILHOUETTES OF SACRILEGE VI. SILHOUETTES OF SILENCE VII. SILHOUETTES OF SERVICE VIII. SILHOUETTES OF SORROW IX. SILHOUETTES OF SUFFERING X. SOLDIER SILHOUETTES XI. SKY SILHOUETTES XII. THE LIGHTS OF WAR XIII. SILHOUETTES OF SUNSHINE ILLUSTRATIONS "_Traveller, hast thou ever seen so great a grief as mine?_" . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ "_What are those dots on the sun?" Doctor Freeman shouted to me_ _The upturned roots of an old tree were just in front_ "_The last seen of Dale he was gathering together a crowd of little children_" "_The boys call her 'The Woman with Sandwiches and Sympathy'_" _What was the difference? He had gotten a letter_ _One night I had the privilege of seeing a plane caught by the search-light_ _The air-raid had not dampened her sense of humor_ I SILHOUETTES OF SONG