The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-11-13
A. J. Matthews, Sr., Has Ire
mendous Faith In
Army Work
EFFECTIVE NOT ONLY
HERE BUT over THERE
Institution Can Do Much To
Keep Clean Morally
Young Troopers
Editor Tho Banner,

Editor Tho Banner,
Dear Sir:
During these perilous times when
all the world seems to be at war and
the men of our great nations are be-
ginning campaign to raise thirty
five millions of dollars for the army
| Y. NJ. c. A., many an honest man feels
little thrill of pride in the know
ledge that he is the father Of sol
dicr. | am glad to think that with my
consent, my only son became volun.
teer member of h Battery and | be-
lieve about the proudest moment in
his young life was when he donned
strobe through the city streets as a
true soldier of Uncle Sam.
shall never forget the day the
battery entrained for Camp Sheridan
and my final words to him will live
in my memory for all time. Just as
the train was about to leave, | grasp
bye, sen; be good boy, do your bit
for your country and never forget
your home and mother"
was a little worried at first for
fear he would get homesick and lone
. ly, but ! had forgotten that great
. friend OF all American boys, the army
. mb bi,.h uiu dc
ious to welcome him and all others.
IN his first letter home, lie seemed
to be in a cheerful mood, claiming to
like army life as far as he had gone
and expressing the wish that he
might be allowed to see 1t through to
tho end In this. as well as all sub
terms of the army Y of its homellke
environme IS, the friendlincss and
generosity Of those in attendance, of
the athletic games for the boys dur.
ing leisure hours, the lectures and Ell.
tertainments in the evenings and the
religious services for their spiritual
welfare, all of which have tenden
cy to awaken manly thoughts in their
young minds and keep them morally
pure and clean.
We should consider II blessing to
know our boys are so we'll taken care
of and it is the duty of every father
whose son is a soldier to boost to the
limit this great movement and give
freely of his time, money and service
to insure its success.
1t is the duty of all patriotic people
to work with them hand-in.hand and
give to the extent of their ability, be-
cause they are your boys as well as
ours and they will fight your battles
as we'll as mine.
II should be pleasure to those
grand old men who are privileged to
wear button In the lapel of their
coat emblematic of the days of SER
vice spent for their country in years
gone by, to know that through their
efforts their descendants will not be
compelled to undergo the hardships
and privations which they suffered,
but that the soldiers of today can and
will enjoy many comforts denied
them in those awful days between
the years of '6l and 90.
We should also remember that our
sons are stationed but temporarily In
the present cantonments and ere long
hA IN
beyond the sea and II Is our wish that
they might be surrounded by the
same comforting influences there as
here.
Twenty thousand dollars, as Knox
county's quota, is not large sum and
| am firmly convinced this amount
will bo oversubscribed so quickly as
to make the ones behind this move
mcnt open their eyes In astonish'
mcnt.
Then after all Is over and our boys
come back, for return they surely will
. think Of the pleasure tnat is awaiting
mother when she shall once more
clasp to her heart the long'absent
) son. Think of the lovelight that will
7 shine in her dear eyes as she looks
r into the bronzed fearless features and
T. from her heart there will spring one
+ glad cry of joy as she exclaims; "Oh
l it almost broke mothers heart when
they took away her boy. but, thanh
5 God, they have sent him back to me-
. mani"
S Sincerely yours,
ARTHUR j, MATTHEWS, Sr