The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-12-14
YOUNG women
ARE THE CENSORS WHO FIRST
READ THE SOLDIERS
LETTERS HOME.

BACK or the American front, Dec.
14.-So much prohibited informa-
ton has seeped through the military
censorship to American newspapers
In the form of soldiers letters home
that a closer surveillance is now be-
ing exercised by censorship officers.
When a high officer of the U. s..
A. intelligence department told me
this, he also said the government re-
ally wished to encourage the publ
cation of soldiers letters at home, al
they give accounts of activities in
France from the group up" and are
the best mea of keeping people in
the rural districts in close touch
with III army.
1t is only in the publication of
names of regiments and dates and
places of arrival in Europe that the
war department must interfere, as
this information would be valuable to
the studious enemy.
Men Not So Shy.
In talking with a few captains of
regiments, / learn that our men are
getting over their first shyness ii
letter writing. They have had the
opportunity of sending their love let
tiers to their captain for censorship or
of enclosing them in a blue envelope
for examination at the military post
office. Now without any b%ashfulness
they submit their softest sentences
for "Mayme" and Myrtle" back
home, to their officers. Not only
that, I was told, but they have had
the audacity to write the same sugary
ayAuva1u xvnrl For uynrd m nc many
as four girls and dropping them at
the same time into the company mail
box.
I'm these LETTERS" a captain tells
me, they nearly all try to work up
their sweethearts into a frenzy of
hero-worship. They tell what
derful things they have done, and are
going to do, and what a fine appear
ance they are making in France"
Folks Publish Letters.
A little primness gets into most of
the soldiers letters to relatives be-
cause of the possibility of publication
in the home town papers; a girl
treasures her letter for herself
alone. Our boys write not only to
"the folks" but the whole communi-
ty, and in these letters they cannot
tell how they long for home and
mother. A soldier must not be a
softy. Though in these cases they
do still the murmurings of their
hearts, they let their stomachs sing
on. "Oh, for one big glass OF milk
from good old Jersey Jane?" rs Bid
dy still laying her six a week? Gee!
what a grand thing 1t was to have
two and three eggs every morning
for breakfast. I never appreciated
1t before" Its about time you're
smoking ham again. 1 can remem-
Der how the smokehouse smells, but
it's hard to remember how that good
ham tastes. Has IL only been four
months since / was away? Seems
like years when l think of good
leafs" "A mail boat just came in, I
guess, and all the boys got letters
this morning but me. Some got doz-
ems, but / didn't get a one. Why
don't you write, anyway"
Can't Kid the Censor.
The civilian letter writer's over in
England have not overcome their
nicer feelings about the censorship,
and most of them still go on with
mincing words even in letters to
wives. Drawer souls, writing to close
friends, attempt all sorts of pleasant
ries at the expense of the censorship.
Il could write a most interesting
letter, but the censor would not al
low any but himself to enjoy it,
therefore forced to send you a stupid
letter, / shall make 1t short. Re-
CARDS. Faithfully, -" This
was written by a Harvard professor,
over here to study the war as a guest
OF the British government.
Side remarks are mostly invita-
tions to the censor ito get all this
and the asking of such questions as
This Is hot stuff, isn't it?" and dc
you agree with me, old boy?"
Cannot Choose Censor.
One man, who was told by his
American correspondent that his let,
ter had arrived appearing like g
beautiful Kansas landscape after &
strong young cyclone, shows the car
bon copy of his reply. Is follows:
I Il made the mistake of picking Out
a bad censor for the last letter.
have looked up a good censor, g
mighty fine fellow, and I am sure h,
is going to give us a better deal.
understand he was chosen by the
government as one of the brightes'
: men in the nation-to which I soul
fully agree"
OF course, no n has a chance t.
pick a censor" From the letterbol
to America the postal way is secret
1t is just beginning to be known
that most of the civil censors ar
\ young women. Many men upor
learning this regret having made ri
bald remarks In parenthesis in theil
letters, addressing the Interpolation
: to "Old Scout. the Keen-eyed Cen
: sor" and Dear Old Censorial Chap.