Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-07-04
LETTER FROM MRS. .~A
NORTON.

Editor Manchester Democrat:
We marvel increasingly, as the days
go by, at the change of attitude which
Britain is displaying toward America.
OF course we are happy at the change,
and none the less because it has been
so sudden and thorough do we feel
gratitude to a noble-hearted people,
who have sought to understand us,
when for them it was almost impossi-
BILE to do so. And now that we have
ashamed to give us very cordial and
even affectionate right hand Of fellow
ship. Neither are they unwilling to
accept suggestions from us and to
copy what they consider are good
war tactics; and they are not meagre
in their praise of what we are doing.
I think the English have been bit
surprised at the rapid way in which
America has been mobilizing all her
resources. 1t has been a revelation
even to US to recognize Americas S
quickness of action and her readiness
to employ every means to a desired
end.
1t is no uncommon sight for us to
see our beloved Stars and Stripes fly
ing day after day from different pub
lie and business buildings here in
London. Also our hearts are rejoiced
these days at the appearance of Ameri-
can uniforms in the Strand and else
where in the city ....
believe the American nurses were
the first whom We saw on an after
noon not long ago, when the King
held an open-air investiture in Hyde
Park, quite an innovation for England,
but thoroughly delightful one The
crowd gave their monarch a rousing
reception, but we were rather late
in arriving on the scene and had, as
it were, to take back seat, which
meant standing on tip-toe and trying
to look past several thousand heads.
we were able to see quite
plainly what was going on on the
Royal grandstand and we could see
from where we stood some of the $50
heroes who were to be decorated for
bravery, marching to the little plat
form, then stiffly salute, shake hands
with the King, have their medal pin
ned on their breast, then, saluting
again, retire from the scene, amid
vociferous cheers from the crowd We
were especially touched when some
medals were received by proxy
old and bent, plainly Of the
working classes, going up to receive
the medals of their fallen boys; and
some little wives in deep mourning,
receiving from the hand of the good
King the decoration which their brave
husbands had fallen upon the field of
battle to win. Some nurses also were
and as I heard many say,
probably the "tommies' and the 9TH
ers who received these hard-won med
ais suffered more during the ordeal
of presentation than they did upon
the field of battle, when they endured
all they did endure to win this dis
tinction, for the tommy" is proven
bially shy when it comes to public
honors, and always grumbles that he
has only done his duty, and cannot
see why he should get a medal for
that. But what I started to say was
that several hundred nurses were CIV
en- seats of honor at this open-air
and we met some Of them
and our heart was so
warmed toward them that we could
not refrain from speaking to them
and asking them where they came
from in the good old U. S. A..
Now We are seeing also our soldiers
on the streets, and we have no rea-,
son to be ashamed of the specimens
which we see here General PERISH
ing was given great reception, and
we feel happy that he has been chos-
en- to lead our army at the front; he
is representative American Of the
best type.
My husband had reason to feel
grateful for the protection of the
American destroyers also. on his peri
lous trip over month ago. While
he did not see any submarines, yet
hey were rumored, to be in the vi
cinity He says that when he first
saw the American destroyers plying
around the ship and guarding it from
the unseen menace, he felt as never
before sense. of protection and also
Of gratitude for the dear Homeland
which at last has come to the rescue
and is safeguarding the lives of her
people at sea. .~
Most of all,..we are thankful that
has made her great decision
'or righteousness and justice. and has
made it fully counting the cost, and
to give to the limit Of her
resources; and, We belive the Allies
all realize that the coming in of
America has made victory certain.
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