History of the American Negro in the Great World War His Splendid Record in the Battle Zones of Europe; Including a Resume of His Past Services to his Country in the Wars of the Revolution of 1812
9781465544995
pages
Library of Alexandria
Overview
He was a red headed messenger boy and he handed me a letter in a NILE GREEN ENVELOPE, and this is what I read: Dear Mr. Sweeney: When on the 25th of March the last instalment of the MSS of the History of the American Negro in the Great World War was returned to us from your hands, bearing the stamp of your approval as to its historic accuracy; the wisdom and fairness of the reflections and recommendations of the corps of compilers placed at your service, giving you full authority to review the result of their labors, your obligation to the publishers ceased. The transaction between us, a purely business one, had in every particular upon your part been complied with. From thenceforward, as far as you were obligated to the publishers, this History; what it is; what it stands for; how it will be rated by the reading masses—should be, and concretely, by your own people you so worthily represent and are today their most fearless and eloquent champion, is, as far as any obligation you may have been under to us, not required of you to say. Nevertheless, regardless of past business relations now at an end, have you not an opinion directly of the finished work? A word to say; the growth of which you have marked from its first instalment to its last?—The Publishers-HAVE I— A word to say? And of this fine book? THE BEST HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN NEGRO IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR, THAT AS YET HAS BEEN WRITTEN OR WILL BE FOR YEARS TO COME? DOES— The rose in bud respond to the wooing breath of the mornings of June? IS— The whistle of robin red breast clearer and more exultant, as its watchful gaze, bearing in its inscrutable depths the mystery of all the centuries; the Omniscience of DIVINITY, discovers a cherry tree bending to— The green grass from the weight of its blood red fruit? DOES— The nightingale respond to its mate; caroling its amatory challenge from afar; across brake and dale and glen; beyond a Dim old forest the earth bathed in the silver light of the harvest moon
