The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-09-27
Profanity Among Soldiers.


A grave charge that can be laid at
the door of military life is the use of
profanity among soldiers, writes Will
liam I. Ellis to the Wellspring. The
wide prevalence of the profane use OF
the name of the Deity in the army is
we'll known. Not all soldiers swear,
Of course, but one would think SO were
he to visit an encampment, for as he
moves about the company streets Of
the average regiment, he finds that
this sin, dulling as it does the spirits
fine edge of reverence, is shockingly
common. This is one of the sore
trials of the Christian in camp. HIS
ears are assailed on every side by
constant stream of vile language. 1
recall one day that was in the tent
of a Minnesota boy, who lay on the
ground, ill. He was cheerful and had
no complaint to make as to the other
hardships of soldier life. This is
hard thing to bear, though" he said,
uplifting his hand and pausing rather
dramatically, in all attitude of atten-
ton. listened with him. The flaps
of his tent were up on all sides, and
from every direction could be heard
the voices of men in conversation
using words of coarseness and profan-
lty, such as could not but be trial
to any Christian spirit. There was no
special occasion for this; it was the
ordinary language of camp. Much of
the swearing among soldiers is
thoughtless, of course. Nevertheless,
1t is deeply rooted and widely preva-
lent habit which cannot easily be
dropped When the suit of blue is laid
aside.
Nothing can be said here of the Ii
centiousness Of life in a military
camp. 1t is unspeakable and appall-
ing. Whosoever is at all acquainted
with soldier life needs not to be told
that this is another blighting evil di-
rectly resulting from service in the
army.
There isaa saying current in the
regular army that after one enlistment
a soldier is likely to enlist again.
After two enlistments he is pretty
sure to take third. After the third
enlistment he is in the army for life.
The reason is that army life units
man for anything else. 1t is most
difficult for man who has spent any
considerable time in the army to re-
turn to civil life and take up an or
binary employment. He has lost the
power of application and of initiative
as we'll as the spirit for steady en-
ployment eight hours a day. Of ne
cessity there is much idleness in the
| army, and when this is continued for
years it generally disqualifies one for
| more active life
| None of these points need to be en-
larged upon to make apparent the
| great truth that one chief objection to
war is it's blighting effect upon the
life of the soldier himself. For the
sake of the young men, for the sake
| of the purity of our nation, for the
| sake of the homes to which young
soldiers purity is the dearest treasure
! of earth, we should persistently and
| aggressively wage war against the
modern military spirit
Complimenting Gen. Lee.
/ w oClOdlCu SSucldlS have Ue6n SO
revered as was Robert E. Lee. Every
southern man and woman admired
him. The author of "a Girls Life in
Virginia" tells little story that shows
how much he was loved by children.
| A year after the surrender General
| Lee journeyed across the mountains
on his old war-horse, Traveller" to
pay visit to the authors mother. On
the night of his arrival he said:
Today an incident occurred which
gratifed me more than anything that
has happened for long time AS l
was riding over the desolate mountain
region, was surprised to find. on
sudden turn in the road, two little
girls playing on large rock. They
were poorly clad, and after looking at
| me moment began to run away.
Children said I, don't run away!
II you knew who I am you wouldn't
run away from me-
eve do know you,' they answered,
"'You never saw me BEFORE said,
/ al