Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-12-12
THE RED CROSS.

venUon hall recently. Mr.. Dawson
stated that that organization was di-
rectly saving the lives OF American
soldiers at this time.
Directly saving the lives OF Ameri-
can soldiers at this time" That
statement seems as tho IT were n triflc
strong. but it is not Those Americ2p
IN France, and when they enter the
trenches they will take the place of
the French soldiers. Had II not been
for the American Red Cross. the
French soldiers would not (could noD
be In the trenches today. The Ameri-
can Red Cross society Is responsible
for them being there as that societys
relief work among the wives, mothers
an1 children of the French soldier has
given him new Impetus to fight, has
buoyed up his spirits aud rendered
composite the morale Of the French
amy.
All men love their native land, but
the Frenchman's love has n unique
quality. The patriotism Of the Eng
lishman is undemonstrative; he sur
rounds his home and his garden with
high brick wall, conceals his finer
feelings from his closest friends, and
when he enters his club on Pail Mall
and disappears behind the threshold,
the door Is closed upon "A tomb The
Americans patriotism Is large
academic, national safety thru isola-
tlon breeds contempt for danger. The
time was when his love of country
was vociferous on the Fourth of July,
but the enthusiasm has died down.
until he is now ready TO eXtinguish the
firecrackcr. Prior to the present war
an occasional speaker would deal in
| historical statements or Jecite the
Declaration of Independence, or talk
obout the four wars we had fought
But the K6enchman's love of hs
country has Il tender wooing, sentl"
France, as Dante spoke OF Beatrice,
or Napoleon spoke altogether too late
OF Josephine, or as Lincoln spoke of
Ann Rutledge, and the name of
France fingers upon his lips as music
trembles In the mir, after ihe song is
sung. The reason doubtless, Is found
in the fact that the French people
have carved the hillsides and
smoothed the mountains and adorned
the ridges with vineyards until the
whole land Is a thing Of radiant
beauty. 1t is life that has made
France beautiful just as the lark, ar
ter completing its nest. makes 1t soft
and warm by pulling the down out OF
her own bosom. The French love
France as the artist loves his canvas
as Bellini loved the missal he had IL
Illuminated, and upon which he had
lavished his very soul. France, the
mother Of arts and scieuces; France
fun of sweetness and llght-thdi
France concerning which Heinrich
Heine exclaimed: ooh. France thou
daughter OF beauty thy name is cul-
ture."
The farms and tho cities and the
men have been under fire for, oh, so
long. The Frenchmen are tired and
torn cen unto death. Nineteen per
cent Of the married women OF France
are widowed, and there Is not home
on that once happy land that is free
from crepe on the door
six months ago n French soldier
was given a two-weeks' leave from the
mud in the trenches. lie went to his
former home. There ne found instead
II his home and his vineyards with its
plum and pear trees that he had
learned 70 love like children, n shell
| hole. lie asked for his wife. and found
she had been outraged by a boche
barbarian. lie looked about for his
children. and found their hands
clipped of at the wrists
lie had nothing to live for; he ho !
nothing TO die For. Homo gone. wife
misuscd. children mutlute1-hop,
abandoned. ambition crushed. pa
ticuce ceased to he virtue. \ typi
cal case OF the French soldier Wha
n picturcl Should he go on and OF
and on, fighting for what he deemed
lost cause, n hopeless sacrifice
everything dear TO him in life wors
> than wiped out No. lie would quit
, And his brother soldier would quit
ali would give mp hope.
But he went back to the trenches,
\ little while ago, he was given an
; other two-weoNs' leave, and again h
, went TO where his old home had ono
$ shone in its crovice In tho valley.
S What did he find? There he foun
I a new home, and In It happily domi
cllod his wife, and his children play
ing In the yard
' What n transformation shade
I his eyes 10 illumine the blur.
! what magic wand had passed owe
i the scene since his last visit? Was h
4 going mad.
No. The American Red Cross Sc
ciety had been there
$ They had built him a new hom'
r they had found his wife and restore
n as best tley could his mutilated child
p ron. In the pantry was food from tn