The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-09-18
Evening Chat

Mothers. sisters and sweethearts
are wondering how the boy looks, acts
and what he is doing just now. The
West Virginia boys are coL~ortablo
and safe-they have Pullman cars TO
ride In and each car has it's own cook
so we can we'll imagine the merry life
aboard. Much interesting scenery
will be passed and after all traip
journey is full OF attractions. There
will be much laughter, testing ard
funny stories during the day-a great
deal OF reading and some specializing
upon the home folks doing. Towarl
night as the train speeds on the way
and the lights come on, there will he
some inconsistencies but soon each boy
will be dreaming OF loved adventure
and new sights to see.
After all We must not feel too bad.
ly about tive are apt TO magnify
trouble for the soldier boy. Now that
everything is going to be smooth sail.
ing for him, anymore than any phase
OF life Is free from stress and stortu,
but our beloved soldier boy may per.
haps come out OF it, better and big.
ger both mentally and physically than
he ever was before. Parents spoil
their children. Uncle Sam does not.
Uncle Sam will require a systematic
regular scheme Of living with ont
| door exercise, plain but nourishmg
food and no late hours. Schedule is
something most Of US dislike and ike
many things we dislike, has some fine
points. It's hard to make the COY
follow a regular rule of right LIVING
at home where mother and father
have grown used to his faults tina.
they almost love them it needs dis.
clpline to mold the character and this
discipline is just what the boy is get
ting.
Have you a sad picture in your
mind that the ship that may carry
your boy to France? Does this set
your heart to beating painfully? 1t
should not. France is wonderful
place. Just because your boy may &c
there is no reason for your believing
he will never come back. BOYS there
now are seeing and learning manv
new, interesting things The French
| people have taken them to their hearts
and are giving them the best of ey.
erything they have. Many OF thea
are living in French homes, occupying
the best rooms and sharing the best
food obtainable. French mothers are
looking out for them as they would
their own. They are teaching him to
speak French and are also learning
to speak English. They have great
respect and admiration for the Amer.
lean boy.
Do you wonder what hardshlps will
be endured on board ship going across
that vast ocean which fills you so wiz.
dread? Do you see submarines ever
lying in wait and are allied with ter.
ror at the very thought. Don't wor:y
aoout 1t anymore. Uncle Sam is lust
as smart, If not a little smarter THAI
anybody else and is guarding the
safety of his boys jealousy. Many 4
ship has already gone through the
submarine zone quite safely. Life OIL
board the ships is not tense ana
strained as many imagine. There l.
amusement in the form of amateur
vaudeville, Games and other interests
mere Is ship work to do-bunks t.
be made up, cleaning of all kinds
which is rigidly inspected teaching
the boy good. housekeeping. Every.
thing must be sanitary; all corners
must stand inspection. No habits ara
allowed on board ship-there is tine
to be up and time to sleep-no one
calls the boy dozen times as is of.
ten done at home-once is quite sur.
ticient.
There are no lights on these ship.
after seven o'clock. Can you imagine
1t all-the wide foam flecked path IN
the light Of the moon as the big shin
cuts through and on-the boys living
in their canvas bottomed hunks or
sleeping on deck, as they are allowed
to do if they desire a cooler spp,
rolled in blankets-long rows of thom
some asleep-some sitting up to
absorb the wonderful scene-others
talking low-while over and aboya
them is darkness wrapping them aopu.
and to the side and below them the
rhythmic dash of the heavy waves
through which the mighty ship i.