Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-08-17
LETTER TO POLLY.
DEAR POLLY:

ed you lately. Another is, I've been
on wonderful journey motoring
through the Blue Ridge mountains,
where the mists and shadows, the
glistening laurel and purple rhododen-
dron, and tiny streams rushing head
long over the rocks in joy of new
found freedom combine with all nature
to make this old world of ours beau
tiful one. And then, Polly, all too
soon we leave it and go down into the
valley through fields of golden grain
ripening in the sunshine of the nations
prosperity, into the cities and towns
with their ceaseless ebb and flow of
the tide OF humanity, and then some
how the shadows seem to fall, for we
begin to feel the throb of the nations
great pulse and the quick transition
from the beautiful to the military
order Of things and then the horror OF
1t all steals over us as we realize that
our country; our country, with its
love of peace and good will, is grimly,
quietly, without threats or buster,
preparing for war. And such a war,
Polly, you in your sheltered secluded
life, never dreamed of; but it's goino
to be the greatest war we ever fought,
for its end will mean liberty and free.
dom for the whole world.
We tried to keep out of it, but the
Kaiser's challenge was to all mankind,
and Americas answer is going to be
indellibly written by men of blood and
iron and backed by billions of Amer
lean money. That we are not rushing
madly into it without being prepared
is only Americas way of following
Davy Crockett's motto, "Be sure you
are right, then 60 ahead". That we
are right, millions have testified by
their response to the "Liberty Loan",
and when all the contributions for the
Red Cross have been counted up 1t
will be found that millions more have
been given to alleviate as far as pos
sible the dire results of the war. The
people have given generously, many
their most cherished possession-an
only son-but like the poor woman of
whom we read they felt that even more
was needed, and could best be given
through this wonderful organization,
whose ministering angels of mercy
will share with our boys the dangers,
the sorrows, the sufferings and hard
ships of a war more merciless and
cruel than any that has ever blotted
the worlds history.
1t is the old spirit of '76, and the
honest throb of human sympathy
makes us responsive to all things
great and true.
l know of dear little girl who stood
in the sun selling flowers tor the Red
Cross. "Your flowers are wilted,"
patron complained. Sand so will be
the bodies of our boys in France, I'M
less you buy them", was her quick
retort. The flowers were all bought.
Out OF the chaos of organization
America is training great army. I'm
mense camps have been established in
all parts of the country. 1t is most
to visit them and see the
work they have already
accomplished; the men, splendid
specimens of manhood, now all stand
erect and their square shoulders and
manly bearing give a distinguished
ook to each. TIE morale of the camp
life is one Of good humor and jolly
'omradship, happy even in the face of
.oing to France and "not coming back
til it's over, over there".
At Fl. Oglethorpe in the center Of
hat beautiful National Park, magic
ity has sprung into existence, almost
'erfect in every detail, with accom-
nodations for eighty thousand men.
Veil lighted by electricity, perfect
ystem Of waterworks and sewerage,
wo trolly lines running into Chatta-
ooga, good food and a nice theatre
make it an ideal camp for soldiers.
md this is well; for IL it must needs
g that the men must sacrifice all for
heir country, then the nation must
i've to them a full measure of de- ,
otion. ,
Here too are hundreds of our best I
lrgeons and physicians, awaiting the I
immons that they may 60 forth on {
,eir errand of mercy.
In the life at Fort Meyer one catches {
he finer essence Of contact with the
reat capitol Of the nation, and is &
fought in closer touch with its ideals 9
I'd responsibilities. Situated as it is, it Z
oks as il nature herself had moulded g
e spot, making it ready for her great a
irpose. Its environs are rich in the
DRY of an ancestry whose lives were c
closely woven into the history of
e nation that the spirit OF those great
torpid, unselfish men must ever be
influence on these In whose breasts
rn the same warm fires OF patriot
n, fighting for a like cause where
ctory will usher in an endless era of
ace universal. q
Fort Meyer nestles close by the side Ia
Arlington, now a great National O.
metery, and once the beautiful es- II
.e of Robert E. Lee. There is no ts