Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-12-16

o
blind. Some will die. All are
grieyously hurt.
Perhaps it is the presence of God
there where so many men are close
to death that makes the old scales
drop from our eyes. For among
these mutilated that is what hap
pens to us-the old values, the old
conventions drop away forever.
Each crushed or broken body be-
comes so infinitely precious, as we
see it dominated by spirit. This
black man, this blind boy have
lifted US up. With new sense we
know that the things which are
seen are temporal, but the things
which are not seen are eternal.
And lifting up our eyes from the
stretchers, we see the Red Cross.
We see It on the arm of the sur
geon, giving his skill. On the arm
of the nurse, giving her youth. On
the insignia of the ambulance men,
giving their careers. We knew that
it was painted on. the cases carry
ing these surgical supplies and
these healing drugs. We know
that it will wave above the hospital
to which these men are going to
have their chance of life.
From this minute the Red Cross
becomes a part of us, and we be-
come part of the Red Cross.
VXTHII.E we do our Christmas
w shopping this year, while
we live these days of new
exhiliration-these thrilling days
that are like draughts of the richest
wine of life-now, before we suffer,
Red Crosses will seem to be every
where. In the stores among the
cleaning fabrics and the gifts for
soldiers, among the pretty toys on
the Christmas trees, in railroad
stations, in factories, in theatres.
in markets, in churches, in settle
ments, in homes. in schools, in the
streets there will be hundreds and
hundreds of Red Crosses. Every
where there will be picturesque
booths, with someone in uniform.
smiling and happy, asking for new
members. And it will all seem like
some wonderful, beautiful game.
Let us take all the strength and
inspiration that it gives us. Truly
it is beautiful and it is wonderful
so much of these things that it will
make many men and women see
double: see with the eyes of the
spirit the Red Cross on the battle
front, on brassard that is stained
with precious blood.
The campaign drive for 10000
600 members will be on! But it
won't seem large. Yet one new
member has potentialities Of serv-
ice beyonc any computation.
THEATRES will be crowded,
and the gaiety, when it is not
cruel, will help to make the
world go round: SO many men in
uniform and beautifully dressed
women, the orchestra playing 1.-The
Star Spangled Banner" patriotism
beating high!
But we know it is changed
world. There is something sinister
in the war-.ax at the box-office.
Underneath the laughing there is
choking. In France, boys are 60
ing over the top; and through the
strains of "The Star Spangled
Banner" there seem to echo the
words of the French officer spoken
over the graves of the soldiers
killed in the first American en-
gagement in France, in November
of this year:
We will, therefore, ask that
the mortal remains of these
young men be left here, left
with US forever. We will in
scribe on their tombs:- Here
lie the first soldiers of the Re-
public of the United States to
fall on the soil of France in the
cause of Liberty and Justice"
The passer-by will stop and
uncover his head; travellers and
men of heart will go out OF their
way to come here, and pay their
respective tributes.
Private Enright!
Private Gresham