Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-04
MINISTER'S REPRESSION SAVES
CUSSING OVER BORDER MAIL
Chaplans Kindly Interest in Seeing Letters Delivered
Leads to Complications With Gnarled
Deliveries
By CARL L. zErsBERG


Ell PASO, Tex, Aug l.-The mall
problem continues TO vex the already toe
harassed chaplains. How they can pre-
serve the dignity OF the khaki cloth which
they wear, how they can refrain from burst
ing into loud words such as mule drivers
use, how they can maintain the attitude OF
sanctlty and set an example TO their military
flocks and at the same time wrestle with
the knotty and gnarled mails-that Is the
great wonder of Camp Stewart. II is more
wonderful that the undulating folds Of
Mount Franklin, or the sunsets or the
wonder sky of this land-in-between.
II fond mothers and wives and friends in
Philadelphia would remember that bananas
rot In the few days that II requires mall
to travel from the Delaware River to the
Rio Grande and that the fruit melts and
spois the package and all in II and causes
Il to break, no more bananas would be
shipped to the boys on the border. These
shoeboxes filled with bananas (also cigar
ettes socks and pe) invariably break open
and invariably In that case are refused by
the reglmental postmaster.
Insecurely packed parcels and insult
flciently addressed letters constitute the
bane of the chaplain's life Here's a poor
chaplain who has the remains of a red
pasteboard box, luckily held together by a
piece OF cord. In the mummy-like bundle,
on which remains no trace Of an address.
are a pair of black army shoes. socks post
age stamps ana WTltlnR paper IneTe lB no
-ha clue Inside, tucked In a sock, is
n letter to Ray" signed Charles A.
Lange." What caused the postmaster to
believe the mystery package was intended
for some one in tho Second Regiment like
wise is a mystery. But that's where the
bundle awaits being claimed.
II would be waste of paper to enumerate
the cases where insecure packing has re-
suited in nondellvery of parcels and where
insufficient addresses have caused nonre-
ceipt of letters The number of letters not
addressed properly is legion.
The mail congestion here, caused by the
sudden increase of population with the In
flux of soldlery already has created monu.
mental task for those who handle mails,
without the added difficulties caused by
inadequate measures to insure speedy deliv-
cry. Sir and madam, II you wish your
sons spiritual welfare to receive the utmost
attention, address his mail legibly, fully and
accurately and wrap his parcels securely
and tightly. And please don't send him any
bananas. Send him dime instead. He can
buy bananas here.
phil Ossifer," of the Butler (Pa)
Citizen has penned the following appreciR-
ton inspired by the sending of tobacco to
Pennsylvania troops by the suffragists OF
the State:
while our boys down on the border
There's .none to think that duty is a Joke:
over burning sands patrolltnB.
They're In need of much conBollng-
So the sufrragists are sending them smoke
While they're putting these perfectoB
Burglar bands OF insurrectos
Had best be careful where they dare to roam
For each heart in khaki packet
Has great love with sand to back III
For the kind and thoughtful ones he's left back
home
When he adds to sense OF duty
Mem'ries of that thouEhtful beauty.
Who, in tenderness. has sent her boy a smoke.
II brings such inspiration
That he fights like all tarnation
And he makes fighting bobcat seem joke.
When the Greasers have sought cover
And the cruel war Is over.
Recollections of the ''smoke'' will linEer still
And when comes the day for voting q
You will find he'll stlll be totlnB
Recollectons of that smoke-you bet he will