The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-04-20
Selections from
Presidents Mail
W. L. Curtis, in Chicago Record.

~ INCE the Maine disaster letters by
W. the hundreds have poured in at
~ the white house and the war and
WI navy departments from patriots
who are anxious to volunteer or
who have suggestions to offer for the de-
fense of the government or the discom-
future of the Spaniards. Most OF them are
intended for the president, but. of course
few of them ever reach him, although the
writer's expect him to read and reply per-
sonally to their questions. These loyal
offers contain many odd, romantic laugh
able and pathetic stories. one little boy
who pleads for place in the light artil-
lery' seem TO have suddenly remembered
parental authority and requests the pres
ident to 'please not mention it to any
body"
a man down in Louisiana offered to
raise an army corps of $4,000 men IN the
gulf states. "every one of whom has had
| the yellow fever" A host of retired army
officers and eX-privates have volunteered
their services, and aged veterans by the
score, both Yankees and Confederates,
as well as foreigners of rank and minis
ters of the gospel have applied for per-
mission to serve Uncle Sam during the
| present crisis. But all the patriotism is
not in grown-up people. None of the
writer's shows more eager desire to meet
| the enemy than the schoolboy. Brave
women have also been heard from and
| they have a well-deflned idea of spheres
| in which they can be useful, They gener-
| ally offer themselves for hospital nurses
and give concise and businesslike state
ments.
An enthusiastic French nobleman offers
| to take the whole contract for vanquish-
| ing the Spaniards. He writes ~ ask,
| monsieur la president TO give 20 me ap-
| pointment of chief of army for Cuba and
| take engagement there. | have II years
| old and | promise to my blood to put an
end TO this war very shortly" A charac-
| teristic note, tersely written on a piece
| of wrapping paper, volunteers the SER
vices of an efficient telegraph operator a
| colored man has written that he will un-
| dertalSe the formation of an army of g.
| 100000 fighting negroes A bloomer girl
| who scorns the weakness of her sex de-
| Clares she will not enter a hospital until
wounded in active engagement with the
| enemy. 81 want to shoulder q muskct
and wear boomers" she adds.
| o
! OF all the ferocious epistles the follow
! ing is the prize. which is addressed to the
| "Hon president and king of the United
| States of America and protector of our
! living people" The youthful writer con-
| tinues: Dear Sir: l am very sorry to
state that my blood bOils in me since the
| time that / heard our battleship Maine
| and our 26S young citizens and brave
men perished while on duty by the cold
blooded murderer the Spaniards. From
| that time on can't sleep and l can't cat
or rest. They were wildly mistaken by
blowing the Maine. They thought they
were playing with the poor Cubans when
they murdered the ladies and small chill
dren and cut them to pieces and drew
| them to the sky. l am a boy 13
years old. ! bought myself a small
gun 10 practice with. I feel my
self able 10 take revenge from tho
Spaniards, who are a set of towards and
cold-blooded murderers. If when time
comes for war beg of YOU to let me step
in. / will take revenge for my country.
I saved 81 If necessary TO buy a uniform"
| Another youthful enthusiast is a trife
more practical, although his grammar is
not as commendable as his sentiments.
"Mr, President" he writes, IL would
like to so TO war if they are any, l can
drum pretty good. l have consent of my
father to go, as he Is a-Eong to go If they
is war. ] write with red ink means blood
of SPAIN" A youngster of fighting an
Cestry writes: Am a boy OF ii years, but
my services might be of use in case Ct
war with Spain / prefer liGSlt artillery,
Several of my uncles are veterans of the
civil war. one is foolish from a ball in
the head. Another is captain" 81 hope
this letter will not displease YOU" Is the
opening sentence of the priZe-woman
letter. 1t comes from a bride, and con-
tinues: III war is among the inevitable
/ write this appeal TO you, dear prcsi-
dent and implore you to grant me an
humble request We have been welded
four months two weeks and three days
and ours is beautiful life of the deep
est love. My husband is my light my
life my all. Without him 1t would be
hard to live. If call should come fol
men he would be taken, as he is an able
bodied man and q years OF age. There
fore, dear president. 1 implore you, / bes
you. please, please, please, write me such
a letter that if call should come my be-
loved husband my darling, can never bt
taken"