Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1917-07-19
FoR THE SOLDIER IN CAMP.
Some Simple Things Which Will
Make His Life Less lrkaoma

U
Make His Life Less lrksome.
John I. Axton, chaplain Twen-
tleth U. S. infantry, in the Kansas
City Star: The first few weeks in
camp are the hardest for the
young soldier. 1t is a violent
wrench from home life and nor-
NAL social ties to camp conditions
with tent life, radical change of
food, limited bathing facilities,
stiff drill and rigid discipline.
To tide the lad over this period
home folks may help very mate
; rally. His mail is the big thing
for the boy in camp. Everyday
Sad him some greeting or some
love token, be it ever so small.
The problem of laundry is some
times difficult, so send him a
handkerchief today and a pair of
good socks tomorrow, and repeat
it now and then. He has sweet
tooth-satisfy it with candy and
chocolate in small lots only, each
piece wrapped in oiled paper that
1t may not reach him a sticky
mess. He will chew gum on q
march, which helps him to refrain
from drinking too much water
and from dipping into his lunch
or ration; this also has a ten
dency to keep him from taking up
the habit of chewing tobacco. He
will, after a little experience, take
pure chocolate with him on
hike, as it seems to keep man
up better than other food.
His tent is not lighted, so if you
can provide small pocket fish
light you may solve the problem
OF him finding things at night.
Because bathing facilities are
sometimes very limited, good
big bath sponge is appreciated
and you may follow it with a tow
ell now and then.
1t is hard to get to the postof-
flee and pennies for postage may
be few, so send him a book of
stamps. He likes to read. so
mark the interesting items in the
nome paper and with it send him
an occasional magazine or illus
trated weekly. Bound books are
not usually desired in camp.
He needs all of the ordinary
toilet articles, but do not send
talcum powder, toothpaste, tooth
brush, shaving cream, razor
blades and soap all OH the same
day-an item each mail is better.
Put a small package of court
plaster in your next letter. He
has been in the sun, and little
mentholatum or camphor ice will
soothe his parched lips.
He will enjoy a testament or
prayer book and especially one of
the khaki bound ones that NAV be
secured from the American Bible
society. If he did not take his
watch and you can afford cheap
wrist watch, send it. A pair of
heavy tan laces to replace the
worn ones that permit his shoes
to be sloppy. A tiny good hand
shaving mirror. A pipe-not ex-
pensive-and tobacco. Send to-
bacco in tins. Half dozen blan-
ket safety pins and as many or
dlnary large safety pins are
among the handiest things in his
kit. Two or three washrags-a
sort that can be easily cleaned in
small amount of water and dried
quickly.
Parcel post solves the problem
OF sending small packages safely.
Address plainly and fully with the
number of his regiment and the
letter of his company, troop or
battery and delivery is almost
absolutely assured, though he
moves from place to place very
, often. Insure the more valuable
afJlcleS, IL costs but a trlfle.
Now, do not put it all in one
bundle as being the easiest way,
but string it out over days and
weeks so that he will learn to lis
ten most eagerly for mail call. I"
1t is pathetic to note the number
OF men in the service to whom the
arrival of mail means nothing.
Carelessness or wrong doing sep
arates them from home and loved
ones so they get no mail. Do not
let the soldier man from your
home circle be of this group.
WEEKLY WEATHER FoREcAsr
For Plains States and Inner