The Washington herald., 1917-03-05

the. loveiiest letters from her There
are two or three. of course. who have
been abroad and forever after have
monopolised- the conversation at every
party. telling how exquisite the shops
are in Paris. But we really haven't
thought very much about any of you.
We're far away and we have our own
things to think about. So you see
Europe. TO the most of US, is q queerly
shaped continent on page fifty of our
Biographies. We know the names of
the capitals of the large countries.
perhaps. and nearly all of US had hoped
to get over some time to see your
cathedrals. (But I don't know about
1t now) In the meantime our little
village has been the center Of the
United States, to US. and the United
States has been our world. And why
not? Two oceans have been our in
closing walls, and we have been con-
tent and happy to live within them
and among ourselves. Occasional rum
bles from your part of the earth have
come to US now and again, but we
were never greatly interested. We
have been busy piling up gold and
bumper crops. Everyone to his own
business" said we. Let the rest OF
the world mind its affairs and wen
tend to ours"
Then came. that awful August. We
were greatly shocked that Christian ma
tions could be so wicked as to go to war.
and We turned our own Christian backs
on you and sighed righteously. War
couldn't come to US, thank God! Wed
just go on mindihg our business and max
ing money. here in our snug. isolated
country. For two years we did not take
you very seriously. We absolutely re-
fused to think Of anything that wasn't
pleasant. You know We are a nation of
optimists. We only said. isn't II dread
ful about the European war;" just like
the mothers of a peaceful neighborhood
are scandalized when the boys get into
= naughty fracaa Shocking! Yes, in
deed! Oh. shouldn't We be thankful to
live in this land Of peace? And think Of
our wonderful prosperity! War is SO. so
frightful. I don't see why they keep on.
don't think 1t can last much longer"
But months and months have passed
and you are still at 1t. and not only that.
but an ominous cloud looms on our own
horizon. At FIRST we wouldn't look, then
we sat up and rubbed our eyes. and then
We got on our feet. And now, for the
first time in our history we see the truth:
the world IL a whole made up OF many
parts and we are one of those parts. not
Isolated and individual. but bound in
dissolubly to the others to make one
BICdl ndLCNeT Injuries OHcs uIdBS
down the others. Whatever good comes
to one part, blesses the whole.
Kaiser, I have had q mental revolution.
along with millions of others of my
countrymen. and perhaps We owe you
thanks for stirring our sluggish visions.
even though It may come to pass that
We shall regretfully be your foe. So !
thought that I'd write and tell you about
1t and let you know there is q new ideal
stealing over the world and that even
we. Of this far village. have giimpsed It.
We are no longer short-sighted denizens
Of the prairies, but awakened citizens
of the world. We are now cropping to
find the path OF righteousness that such
a high calling entails. AS q guaranty that
my words are not idle, I offer Up my
three sons as followers of that path,
wherever It leads.
HETTIE B. GoLDRICK.
Riverside. Ill