Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews is a well-known short story writer of the
present day. She was born in Mobile, Alabama. Her present home is in
Syracuse, New York.
Mrs. Andrews is perhaps best known by her story of Lincoln, "The
Perfect Tribute," the one of her stories which will surely endure the
test of time and rank high as literature. Among her best work are also
stories of camping trips in the Canadian woods--stories which show her
keen delight in life out-of-doors, for Mrs. Andrews says of herself, "I
paddle a canoe much better than I write a story."
In "American, Sir!" the story of the World War given in this book, one
finds Mrs. Andrews's usual qualities of sentiment, dramatic effect, and
distinctive style. To readers of "The Perfect Tribute," it is enough to
say that in her stories of the recent war Mrs. Andrews writes with the
same exalted spirit of American patriotism that she showed in that
story of the Civil War. She believes that out of the sorrow and
suffering of the war have come the glory of courage and self-sacrifice
and a new and deeper love for America.
"American, Sir!"
49, 1. "Tapped" for "Bones" or "Scroll and Key." "Bones" and "Scroll
and Key" are two fraternities at Yale to which the students deem it a
great honor to belong. On the great day when new members are chosen,
every one assembles on the campus, where the new members are tapped on
the shoulder by old members and told to go to their rooms.
52, 1. Croix de Guerre. The French War Cross, a decoration given by
France to soldiers for extreme bravery and self-sacrifice.
2. Caporetto disaster. The Italian army was overwhelmingly defeated by
the Germans near the village of Caporetto on October 24, 1917. This
disaster was brought about by fraternization, or friendly relations,
between the soldiers of the Austro-German and Italian armies. Skillful
German propaganda had led the Italians to believe that fighting would
be brought to an end if the Italian soldiers would do no more shooting.
Then new German troops were brought forward to make a deadly attack
upon the Italian army. So thoroughly had the Germans played their game
that the Italians lost more than 250,000 prisoners and 2300 guns before
they realized how they had been duped.
3. Lombardy and Venetia. Provinces in northern Italy, which are noted
for their beautiful scenery and places of interest to tourists.
4. Tagliamento. A small river in northern Italy. The Italian army made
a stand here in a bloody encounter with the Germans.
5. Piave. Another river in northern Italy, south of the Tagliamento.
Here the Italians brought the Germans to a stand and held them for
several months. They did this by a system of lagoon defenses from the
lower Piave to the Gulf of Venice. This is most interesting to read
about in any of the histories of the World War.
55, 1. Bersagliari. Italian sharp-shooters.
* * * * *