Short Story by Otto P. Higgins - n.d.
Transcript
[page 1]Higgins. Back in the summer of 1914, just as Germany started its invasion of Belgium, the French began mobilizing troops. In the little village of Essey near the town of St. Mihiel and only a few hours from Nancy by motor car, lived a happy little French family, a father, mother, and their dark haired, brown eyed, 5-year-old daughter. The father was a lieutenant in a French regiment of artillery, but he [m.s. crossed out
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[page 3] But always the result was the same. No answer. [m.s. crossed out
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[page 4] Nothing seemed to be able to stop the boche advance. On, on they came, sweeping everything, [m.s crossed out
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[page 5] [m.s. crossed out
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[m.s torn at the top] [m.s crossed out
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[page 4.] One fight followed another. The boche were thrown back in their monster Champagne drive by General Gouroud
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Word was flashed over the world of the great American success. Everywhere people went wild, in France, England, American, Italy. [m.s crossed out and wherever anyone was interested in beating the Hun.
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[handwritten] A little dress closed in his hand In the next room, a combination dining room and kitchen, they saw a figure in French gray, the gold braid on his arm indicating he was a lieutenant, sitting on a chair, his head buried on his arms which rested on the table. On the table was a little worn out shoe, such as a child would have, and a rag doll with the stuffing gone from one leg. Tightly clasped in his had was a blue and white cheap gingham dress, a dress just large enough for a little child. Not a sound came from the figure, no a sob or a quiver. Not until one of the soldiers dropped a heavy hand on his shoulder and gave him a jerk, did the man look around.
Details
| Title | Short Story by Otto P. Higgins - n.d. |
| Creator | Higgins, Otto P. |
| Source | Higgins, Otto P. Short Story. n.d. Higgins, Otto P. Collection. 2010.145. The National World War I Museum, Kansas City, Missouri. |
| Description | Otto P. Higgins did not serve in the United States military, but he spent the entire span of the war in training camps and overseas with the army as a staff correspondent for the Kansas City Star. He wrote about soldiers from the Mid-West, especially Missouri and Kansas. Higgin's began his service with the old Third Regiment, and was with regiments at Camp Nichols, Fort Riley, Camp Funston, Camp Doniphan, Fort Leavenworth, Fort Sheridan, and finally in France. This is a short story written by Otto P. Higgins of the Kansas City Star. He told the story of a French Lieutenant in a French regiment who left his small village of Essey near St. Mihiel. It is unknown whether this is a fictional or non-fictional story. In it, the French officer leaves his wife and child to go fight what he believed would be a very short war. After years of not hearing from him, his wife assumed he was dead. The officer survived the war and came back to look for his family, only to find them missing. There are pages missing from the story, and some pages are torn. |
| Site Accession Number | 2010.145 |
| Contributing Institution | National World War I Museum and Memorial |
| Copy Request | Transmission or reproduction of items on these pages beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the National World War I Museum and Memorial: (816) 888-8100. |
| Rights | The text and images contained in this collection are intended for research and educational use only. Duplication of any of these images for commercial use without express written consent is expressly prohibited. |
| Language | English |