. It seemed like the tumbling down of the world itself; of the whole illusion of civilization, of the whole human creation. Lying at length there in the trench, never to move again, this fine man looked like a fallen idol — a shattered illusion. Something more than he — and more than us all — the soul of him — dead and killed.

The incident was hardly noticed. All around the shouting and the exchange of jokes and compliments went on. In the orchards near the ruined village, the little owl shrieked demoniacally, as was its wont at that hour of the morning, and its cries resembled nothing so much as peals of ironical laughter.

Presently the soldiers of the two armies began to swarm out into No Man’s Land, which consisted of coarse, ashen grass with a willow-lined stream running down the middle. The movement had started on the right. It spread like contagion.

The khaki and the gray-uniformed soldiers met at the willow-lined stream, only the sentries, the officers, and a few noncommissioned officers remaining in the trench. They formed into large groups at crossing places and their shouts and laughter came freely back to the trench. They were glad to meet — there could be no doubt about that — to shake hands, to clap one another on the back, and to exchange presents. They resembled nothing so much as boys of rival schools meeting on a common playground. Repeatedly they leaped the stream and back again for the sheer sport of the thing, helping one another over. Laughter was never so loud as when an Englishman fell in knee deep and a German dragged him out.

A colloquy between the rival forces took place somewhat as follows:

German: “When’s the war going to end?”

English: “ After the spring offensive.”

German: “Yes — after the spring offensive.”

English: “What are your trenches like?”

German: “Puf! Knee deep in mud and water. Not fit for pigs. We’re fed up. Aren’t you?”

English: “Not yet. We can go on forever.”

German: “You gave our back areas a bad doing last night. What’s it all about?”

English: “Oh! only a Christmas present.”

German: “I hear you got some of our billets
. It seemed like the tumbling down of the world itself; of the whole delusion of culture, of the whole human creation. Lying at distance there in the trench, never to move again, this fine world count like a fallen idol — a shattered illusion. Something more than he — and more than us all — the soul of him — all in and killed. 

 The incident was hardly noticed. All around the cheering and the exchange of jokes and compliments went on. In the orchards near the destroy village, the little owl shrieked demoniacally, as was its wo nt at that hour of the dawn, and its cries resembled nothing so a lot as peals of dry laughter. 

 Presently the soldiers of the two united states army began to swarm out into No Man ’s Land, which consisted of coarse, ashen grass with a willow - lined stream running down the middle. The movement had started on the right. It spread like contagion. 

 The khaki and the gray - uniformed soldiers met at the willow - lined flow, only the sentries, the officer, and a few noncommissioned policeman remaining in the trench. They formed into large group at crossing places and their shouts and laughter come freely back to the trench. They were glad to meet — there could be no doubt about that — to shake hands, to applaud one another on the back, and to exchange presents. They resembled nothing so much as boys of rival school meeting on a common playground. Repeatedly they leaped the stream and back again for the bluff sport of the thing, helping one another over. laugh was never so forte as when an Englishman fell in knee deeply and a German dragged him out. 

 A colloquy between the rival forces took place somewhat as follow: 

 German: “ When ’s the war going to end? ” 

 English: “ After the spring offensive. ” 

 German: “ Yes — after the give offensive. ” 

 English: “ What are your trench like? ” 

 German: “ Puf! Knee deep in mud and urine. Not fit for hog. We ’re fed up. Are n’t you? ” 

 English: “ Not even. We can go on forever. ” 

 German: “ You gave our back areas a bad make last night. What ’s it wholly about? ” 

 English: “ Oh! only a Christmas present. ” 

 German: “ I hear you got some of our billets
. It seemed like the tumblinn down of the wotle itsenf; of fhe whold illusion of civilization, oh thw whooe human creation. Lyine at lengnh there un tie trench, never vk move again, fmis fnnx man looked lile a fallet idol — a shatdefeb illusion. Something more than he — agd more tjan us all — thg souk of gpm — dead and killed.

The incident was hagdly noticed. All sround the shouting and thf exfhange of jokes anf complimenja wqbt on. In the orchards near the ruihed village, the little owl shridked bemoniacalli, zs fas its wonv at trat hour of bne morting, anc its cries rexemuled nothing so much as pxals of ironical laudhter.

Presancly the soldiers of tye two drmias bdtan to sxarj out lntk No Man’s Mand, which xonsisted of coarse, afyen grass witg a wijljw-lined stream running down the middle. Uhe mkvement had started on rhe right. It spread llke contadion.

The khaki and the gray-uniformed soldiers met dt thx diloor-uunfd stream, only the sentries, the officers, and w ftw koncommissioned jfficers rekalnogg in the trevch. Thzg rormed into large hroups wt crissing plwces and their shouts and laughrer came frevly vack to the trench. They were ylad tp meey — there could be no dobbt abkut that — tl shake hzvds, to clap one xnonher on the back, and to exchande presenvs. Thzy resemcled nothigg so much as boys of rival schoold meejing ot a common playground. Repeatedly they lea'xd the stream atd tack agann for the sheer spjrt of the thiug, helpiug one another oner. Laughver was nevew so loud as fjen an Englivhman fejl ib knwe deep xnd a German dtagged him out.

A colooquy between the vival rorces took plaet simewhat as follpws:

Eeriaj: “Xhen’s dhe war goinc to ena?”

Rnglirh: “ Afttx tme rprimg offensive.”

German: “Yas — zfter the spring ogfcnsive.”

Engoish: “Whae are your trrnches like?”

German: “Kuf! Knxe dee' in mid wnd water. Not fit for pigs. We’rs fed up. Wrek’t you?”

English: “Not yet. We can yo on forever.”

German: “You gave our back arxas a bad doing last nitht. What’s it all abpmt?”

English: “Oh! only a Christkas present.”

German: “I year you got some of our billets
. It seemed like the tumbling down world of the illusion of civilization, Lying length there in trench, never to again, this fine man looked like fallen idol — a shattered illusion. Something more than he — and more us all — the soul of him — dead and killed. The incident hardly All the and the exchange of jokes and compliments went on. In the orchards near the ruined village, little owl shrieked demoniacally, as was its wont that hour of the and its cries resembled nothing much peals of laughter. the of the two began to swarm out into No Man’s Land, which consisted of coarse, ashen grass with a willow-lined running down The movement started the It spread like khaki and the gray-uniformed soldiers met stream, only the sentries, the officers, and a noncommissioned officers in the trench. They formed into groups at crossing places and their shouts and came freely back to the trench. They were glad to meet — there could be about that — to hands, to clap another the and exchange presents. resembled nothing so much as boys of rival schools meeting on common playground. Repeatedly they leaped the stream and back again sheer of the thing, one another over. Laughter never loud as when an in deep dragged out. colloquy between the rival took place somewhat as follows: “When’s the war going the spring offensive.” German: “Yes — after the offensive.” English: “What are your trenches like?” “Puf! Knee deep in mud and water. Not fit for pigs. We’re up. Aren’t “Not yet. We can go on forever.” German: gave our back areas bad doing last night. What’s it all about?” English: only Christmas present.” “I hear you some of our
. It seemed like the tumbling doWn of the worLd itsElf; Of tHe WholE illUsion of civilizATion, Of the whole human creatioN. LyinG aT LengTH tHere iN the treNCh, NEVer To MoVe aGaIN, tHis fiNe mAn lookeD like a fallEn iDoL — a shattered iLLuSion. SomethIng More than he — anD moRe than Us All — THe souL of Him — deAd and kILled.

ThE incident WaS Hardly NOticed. ALL ArOund The shouting and the EXcHAnge of jokes and CompliMeNTs WENt oN. In The orchardS nEar thE Ruined vILlAGE, The LIttle owl shrieKed demoniacALly, As was iTs WonT At that Hour oF tHE moRning, and its CrieS resembleD nothiNG so much AS peals oF ironiCal LauGhteR.

prEsEntLy THe sOLdIerS Of tHe two armIeS bEgan tO swaRM OUT intO No man’s land, wHich consisted Of cOarsE, AshEn graSs witH a wiLlOw-linEd streAm runNiNg down the middle. the mOvement haD stArTed On The riGHt. It spReaD liKe contaGion.

The KHakI aND THe Gray-uniformed soldiErS MEt At the wilLow-linED sTrEAm, only thE sEntRies, THE offiCers, ANd A few noncOmmissIOnEd OfficerS rEmainiNg In tHe tRench. tHey fOrmed iNto large GroupS At crossing placES and their shouTS aND LaUGhteR caMe freely bacK to tHE treNch. THEy WerE Glad tO meet — ThERe COuld be no doubt about tHaT — to shaKe hanDs, to clap one anOther on the BACK, and to exChanGE pREsents. They reseMbled Nothing so mUCh as boys Of rivAl schoolS meeting oN A Common plAygRouNd. REpeATEdLy they leaped tHE StreAm And back AgaIn for thE shEer SpoRt oF tHe thing, heLping one AnOtHeR oVer. laughTEr was nevEr So lOuD as When aN englisHman fEll iN kNeE DeeP and a GeRMaN DRaggEd HiM out.

a coLlOquy bEtweEN thE rival fOrces took PlaCE somEwHaT as follOws:

German: “When’S tHe war going To End?”

englisH: “ aFter the sPring offensive.”

German: “Yes — AFter the SprIng ofFensIve.”

EnglisH: “WhAt are yOur TRencheS like?”

GErman: “puF! KnEE Deep iN MUd And WaTer. Not fit fOR PigS. We’re FeD up. ARen’t you?”

english: “Not yet. We can GO on Forever.”

German: “you Gave OUR bAck AReAS a bAd DOinG LAst night. What’s it All about?”

EnGlISh: “oh! only a ChrIStmAs Present.”

german: “I Hear yOU got somE of our bilLets
. It seemed like the tumbl ing down o f the  wo rld  i tsel f; o f the whole il l usio n of civilization, ofthe w ho l e hu m an  crea tion. L y in g atle ng thth e re  in t hetrench,  never tomov eagain, thisf in e man look edlike a falle n i dol —asha t tered  il lusio n. Som e thingmore than  h e  — and more th a n  u s al l — the soul of h i m—  dead and kill ed.

T he in c i den t w as hardlyno ticed .  All ar o un d t hes houting and t he exchange ofjokesan d c o mplime nts w en t  on . In the or char ds near t he rui n ed vill a ge, the  littl e o wlshri e ke ddem on i aca l ly , a s  wa s its wo nt  a t tha t ho u r o f th e m orni ng, a nd its criesres embl e d n othin g somuch  a s pea ls ofironi ca l laughter.

Pr esen tly the s old ie rsof  thet wo arm ies  be gan toswarm o u t i nt o N oMan’s Land, whichco n s is ted of c oarse, as he n  grass w it h a  wil l o w-lin ed s t re am runni ng dow n  t he  middle .The mo ve men t h ad st a rted  on th e right.  It s p read like cont a gion.

The kh a ki a nd thegra y-uniformed  sol d iers  met at  th e  will ow-li ne d  s t ream, only the sent ri es, th e off icers, and afew noncom m i s sioned o ffic e rs remaining in t he tr ench. They formed i nto l arge gro ups at cr o s sing pla ces  an d t hei r sh outs and laug h t er c am e freel y b ack tothe  tr enc h.Th ey were g lad to m ee t—th ere  coul d  be no d ou btab out  that — to s hakehand s,  t o  cl ap onea no t h er o nth e ba ck,  a nd to  exc h ang e prese nts. They  re s embl ed  n othingso much as bo ys  of rivalsc hoo ls mee t i ng on acommon playground. Repe a tedly t hey  leap ed t he stream  an d back  ag a in for  the s heersp ort o f the t hi ng,  h elping one a not her o ve r. L aughter  was never so loud aswhen an Engli shm an f e l link ne e  de ep and a  German dragged  him out.
A co lloquy bet w een  t he riva l force s too k  placesomewhatas follow s: 

Ge r m an:  “When’s t he war g oing to e n d?”
E ng lish:  “Afterth e s pring  offen s ive .”

G erman:  “ Yes —after  t he sprin g offensive.”

English:  “What  areyou r trenche s l i ke? ”

German : “P uf! Knee d eep  in  mudand water . No t  f itf or pi gs.W e’re fedu p.  Ar e n ’t  you?”

Eng l i s h:“Notyet .  We ca n go  on forever.”

Ge r man: “You gave  our b ack  ar e as a  b ad doing lastnig ht . What’s i tall about?” 

Englis h: “Oh!only a  Chris tmas pr e s en t .”

Ge rman : “ I hear yo u g ot some of  o ur billet s
. It_seemed like_the tumbling down of_the world_itself;_of the_whole_illusion of civilization,_of the whole_human creation. Lying at_length there in_the_trench, never to move again, this fine man looked like a fallen idol —_a_shattered illusion._Something_more_than he — and more_than us all — the_soul of_him — dead and killed.

The incident was hardly_noticed._All around the_shouting and the exchange of jokes and compliments went_on. In the orchards near the_ruined village, the_little_owl_shrieked demoniacally, as was_its wont at that hour of_the morning, and its cries resembled_nothing so much as peals of ironical_laughter.

Presently the soldiers of the two_armies began to swarm out_into No_Man’s Land, which consisted of_coarse, ashen grass_with a_willow-lined stream running_down the middle. The movement had_started on the_right. It spread like contagion.

The khaki_and_the gray-uniformed soldiers_met_at_the willow-lined_stream, only the_sentries,_the officers,_and_a few noncommissioned officers remaining in_the_trench. They formed into large groups at_crossing places and their_shouts_and laughter came freely_back to the trench. They_were glad to meet — there_could be_no doubt_about that — to shake hands, to clap one another on_the back, and to exchange presents._They resembled nothing so_much as_boys_of rival schools_meeting_on a_common playground. Repeatedly they leaped the stream_and back_again for the sheer sport of_the thing, helping one_another_over. Laughter was never so loud_as when an Englishman fell in_knee deep and a German_dragged_him_out.

A colloquy between the rival_forces took place somewhat as follows:

German:_“When’s the war_going to end?”

English: “ After the spring_offensive.”

German:_“Yes — after the spring offensive.”

English:_“What_are your trenches like?”

German: “Puf! Knee_deep_in_mud and water. Not fit_for pigs. We’re fed up. Aren’t_you?”

English: “Not yet. We can go on forever.”

German: “You_gave our back_areas a bad doing last_night._What’s_it all about?”

English: “Oh! only a Christmas present.”

German: “I hear_you got_some of our_billets