Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-02
See What You Think Of This.


with preparedness" 1t may be that
you have read so much Of the views OF
statesmen and military experts ana
veteran editors and great magazine
writer's that you think the last woro
has been said. Perhaps it has. But
outside of that is your interest IN
how the other average citizen looks at
the subject. You know what some OF
the most widely known pulpit orators
say on this subject and you have
heard from the big men in Congress
and in the great centers where the
very atmosphere throbs with the
subtle information and grasp OF things
new and deep. But DO you know what
the average citizen in the remote dis
tricts has worked cut for himself!
Would you read a grange paper on
the subject? Would you like to know
the opinion of an aged woman on the
most modern of big questions? we
believe you would like to know what
woman who is more than so years OF
age is thinking as she reads the re-
ports Of the day and analyses the
problems of her country. That is why
we are publishing herewith paper.
read a few days ago before East
Kennebec Pomona grange, by Mrs.
Helen E. Brown Of Riverside. You
may not agree with Mrs. Brown, but a
reading Of her ideas will convince you
that not all the thinking is beng done
in congresses. legislatures, educational
institutions, offices and studies-the
people in the remote places are IA
miliar with governmental problems.
Old and young, male and female, they
are reading and thinking and UNDER
standing. Read what Mrs. Brown,
who has passed four score years, has
to say:
On looking over the programs OF
the East Kennebec Pomona Grange for
this year / was surprised to find my
name for a paper for the meeting OF
today, and feeling it to be duty for
each member, if it be practicable, to
respond when called upon, have after
some difficulty in selecting a subject
decided to present a short paper on
the subject Of Preparedness"
Preparedness" is a word which,
until recently, we have seldom or
never seen in print, but which now
stands out in bold relief on the pages
Of every newspaper in the land. 1 do
not propose to discuss the question,
whether it be a wise measure for our
government to expend millions Of dol
lars to increase and put our army and
navy in readiness to resist any attacks
from any other nations, that might
possibly for some cause invade our
shores. l leave this question for wiser
heads to solve.
But certain it is If the United States
should be driven into a war with
another nation the cost of war
would be far greater than the cost of
preparedness, aside from the des-
truction Of so many precious lives,
and when the war is at an end, in
stead Of the survival of the f1ttest."
they who are called to their country's
defense are only the fittest, and many
of those who survive are returned to
their homes as hopeless cripples, or
with health so impaired that they be-
come charges upon the nations gen.
crosby.
But there is something which is in
the nature of military preparedness
which l would be glad to see more
generally put into effect. The ques-
ton whether we shall have military
training in our high schools and COL
leges seems to be agitated throughout
the country. We send our young men
to school and to college that they may
acquire the knowledge necessary to
prepare them for success in life:
knowledge that will enable them to
stand in the front rank among their
fellow men, that will enable them to
cultivate and exercise the God given
brain and make Of themselves speci-
mems of the highest type Of manhood
But in all our high schools and col
leges of the present day the para
mount question seems to be, NOT
rs he efficient in the studies he is
pursuing?" as he qualifying himself
to stand in high places in the COM
munity?" ''Is he striving to be pre-
pared to fill positions of usefulness
and trust in the world where men o.
the first quality of mind are needed?'
BUT, rs he an expert in the art OF
basketball playing. or baseball" rs
he proficient in that. ennobling game
of football?" Can he outstrip his
classmates in running, or jumping. oil
in doing stunts that only practical ex.
perts Of the highest type of physica
strength and endurance are able tC
PERFORM" If he can successfully pas:
these tests, though he have risked hi:
life in the performance. dt is Of n.
consequence if a few bones are
broken, or a heart weakened beyond
repair) he is the college champion, lie
his scholarship be what 1t may.
That exercise and recreation are es'
sential there Is no question; but would
not a military training prove a muci
more sensible exercise and means o
recreation than the dangerous game
of football or high jumping. or thu
long cross-country runs. that have
no special merit except to try to thu
very utmost a young mans physica
strength and endurance: process
which cannot fail to be harmful. L
military training were added to tn
pro ctico NJ all these ball games ant