The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-06-21
By CHESTER NJ. WRIGHT.

day the proudest town in America. It
is entitled to this great pride. For,
SO far as can be learned, no other
place in the United States has given
such high proportion of its sons to
serve in the war for world liberty
under the Stars and Stripes.
came to soc what manner OF town
1t is that can make a sacrifice so
great. found it typical American
community OF less than 1000 popu-
lation, here in the Illinois coal belt,
Just where the sweeping fiat country
gives way to abrupt little htllocks all
wooded and green.
There are in all the town not half
dozen two-stOry homes. Mostly the
homes are neat little one-story cot
tages, with Furnishing, well kept war
gardens in the rear.
It had ben said that every man of
military age had gone to join the
colors. l find the condition is almost
that. Registration officials believe
there are not more than % men now
in Hurst who would be accepted as
soldiers-and every one agrees that
before selection is made all these will
have enlisted voluntarily.
So completely has the town been
shaken by the departure of its youth
for war that nearly all social actiyi-
ties have been disrupted. The mems
club has been forced to closets
membership gone to war. The ath-
letic club has broken up. The young
mems club of Hurst's only church has
quit. And there will be no baseball
in Hurst this year.
The band, too, has suffered Sc
we're blow. In the parlor of the T. P.
Russell home hangs ribbon-garland-
ed clarinet. 1t will never be taken
down till Junior" comes back to
take his place in the Hurst band. And
II he doesn't come back.
Joseph Ganter, drummer, took the
drum he loved and gave it into the
hands of his old friend, W. R. Clark,
agent for the nearby Iron Mountain
railroad, for safe keeping until he
comes back. And Clark regards the
keeping of this drum as one of the
missions of his life.
Maidens Of Hurst have no escorts
to see them safely home in the moon
light OF these soft semi-southern
evenings, when the village socials are
over or the Sunday evening sermon
is finished
The girls not only link arms and
go home together, but they buckle
down and do the work the boys used
to do.
Every lad that went away was a
bread winner.
Some were miners at the Hurst
mine; some were railroad workers;
some were employed in the stores of
the village. Not one that had not
some useful job that helped keep the
town going.
went among the homes Of the
boys who have gone. Always 1 found
in the mothers a pride in their sons.
There is not a regret in Hurst.
There is the mother worry for sons
away from the home hearth-but not
one regret.
The mother Of Ernest Robinson
brought me her sons last letter. "I'm
always worried till get letter"
she said.
Young Robinson has been sent to
Panama. He wrote on board ship.
"They are just as good to me as
can be-" he wrote. II think will be
home in nine months. If you knew
what came over the wireless a few
nights ago! lam not allowed to tell
you, but 1t was good news"
Many such letters were given me to
read.
"Read what my boy says" moth
ers said, over and over. And, proud
~, "he likes 1t better every day"
~ suppose you watched your boys
march away" l said, for want Of q
more inspired remark.
II couldn't" said this mother sim