Putnam patriot., 1917-12-14
WILL SPEND
 XMAS IN FRANCE
Stanley Spratt, Former Putnam Toy
 Writes on Eve of Departure
Boys Promise: "We Won't Come Back
 Tin It's Over Over There

Of the Woonsocket High school, for. merly principai of the Putnam High school, was written, on the eve of his departure for foreign service, to Woonsocket minister and published in s Woonsocket paper. Is we'll worth re- producing for its fine sentiment. The letter is as follows:
 "You have doubtless read letters from those who are tn training, also from some boys across the brook. This, however, Is a different note. IL is from soldier on the eve oi his da- parture for foreign service.
 True, there Is uncertainity and vagueness enough tn the ordinary duties of the soldier, but this business of entraining aud embarking Is ac- companied by an infinite indefinite ness.
 Let me suggest the picture presented at the barracks this morning AS entered the gates to the post, 1 i'm. mediately sensed something In she air which was unusual 1t was just as if everyone was trying to run an obstacle race without any idea of the direction of the goal. In fact thc smoke curling up from the tops of the rockies tents sssmed to form the out lines of n huge interrogation point
 On the drill grounds, they were hay. ing an impfomntu field meet for those who had finished packing and had said good bye lo their girls and shaken hands with her folks for "a last time. (One fellow told me he had performed this operation four times in as many preceding nights)
 In the barracks. the boys were mak- ins up their rolls, CT packs, contain- ing only the absolute eeesslties--mess kit, blanket, shelter. half, etc, Down stairs the supply sergeant was iiiling hls inst boxes, h the company office found q center of aetisity and con fuslon that could not be duplicated outside ofa Wan street broker office. Seven clerks, five Iieutenants and the captain were trying to straightep out accounts, lists and weary backs after hours of work.
 When hrs we going9 and Where arc we going2 and How are we going? This K the 'big three In the life of a soldier. All we know Is WHY are we going And It Is very evident that thai cause k earnestly impressed upon these boys who have volunteered for service.
 In my discussion, always like to start with n common unit or concrete basis--in this case the .individuais.'
 When [ was a very small child, |, like most other babies, was most in- tefested in my own, my personal vel fare. As grew older, 1 grew to see the relation of self 10 family and to realize the existence of homo and my part in that existence. Then eame the acquaintance of group of families in community--th relation of family and self to that community
 That was about as far AS 1 felt in- volved until 1 signed up in the army and resolved 10 undertake much broader task the fulflllment of my duty to my country. Individual, family, community, country--ail these are calling upon the self of ones na- lure. Which is the louder call, or which is to be needed? 1 say the cali of the country, because in that call ts involved that of community, family and individual.
 This then is the patriotism of the soldier--not the music of the bugis call, not the Autographed posters de. picting 8 picturesque life, not the lure of personal gain and prominence, not these often quoted reasons for soldiers enlisting. The boy who today wears the khaki does 30 because hts best jud. gment and the tmoral side of his ns- ture demands it. because the council of the family cannot oppose is un- sefishly, because the community righteousIy expects It of him, end greatest Of sll because his country dusi- fully ex poets It of him.
 Just word here in regard to the d. legged pacifists. I pity rather than blame them--pity them because they will realize too late they are now Ia boring under 6 delusion.
 Once America can be fully awaken ed to what she is lighting for and why she should fight--then ana only then will her real spirit be revealed. Yon are subscribing generously to the Lib erty bonds, the Y. M. C. A. and the Red Cross. Yon are rising to the strains ot our national anthem and flags are dying from your buildings, but-there Is something lacking. There are strikes among iabofing men, and internal 0p- position and intrigue. These outrage ous conditions could not exist long ' we were fighting on our own soil, In defense of our own homes Labor. eapitsi, unions and religions should rise as one lo drive off the common euemy. How mach longer, then. are
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