Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-12-15

O
blind. Some will die. All are
grievously hurt.
Perhaps it is the presence of God
there where SO many men are close
to death that makes the old scales
drop from our eyes. For among
these mutilated that is what hap
pens to us-the old values, the old
conventions drop away forever.
Each crushed or broken body be-
comes so infinitely precious, as we
see it dominated by spirit, This
black man, this blind BOY have
lifted us up, With new sense we
know that the things which are
seen are temporal, but the things
which are not seea ars eternal.
And lifting up our eyes from the
stretchers, we see The Red Cross
We see it on the arm OF the sur
geon, giving his skill. On the arm
of the nurse, giving her youth. On
the insignia of the ambulance unen'
giving their careers. We know that
it was painted on the cases carry
ing these surgical supplies and
these healing drugs We know
that it will wave above the hospital
to which these men are going to
have their chance of life.
From this minute the Red Cross
becomes a part of us, and we be-
come part Of the Red Cross,
EKTHII.E we do our Christmas
wv shopping this year, while
we live these days of new
exhiliration-these thrilling days
that are like draughts of the richest
wine of life-now, before we suffer,
Red Crosses will seem. to oc every
where. In the stores among the
cleaning fabrics and the gifts tar
soldiers, among the pretty toys on
the Christmas trees. in railroad
stations, in factories, in theatres,
in markets, in churches, in settle
ments, in hemes, in schools, in the
streets there will be hundreds and
hundreds of Red Crosses. Every
where there will be picturesque
booths, with someone in uniform,
smiling and happy, asking for new
members. And it will all seem like
some wonderful, beautiful game.
Let us take all the strength and
inspiration that it gives us. Truly
it is beautiful and it is wonderful
so much of these things that it will
make many men and women see
double: see with the eyes of the
spirit the Red Cross on the battle
front, on a brassard thai is stained
with precious blood.
The campaign drive for 10000
600 members will be on! But it
won't seem large. Yet one new
member has potentialities of serv-
ice beyonc any computation.
THEATRES will be crowded,
and the gaiety, when 1t is not
cruel, will help to make the
world go round: so many men in
uniform and beautifully dressed
women, the orchestr.. playing THE
Star Spangled Banner" patriotism
beating high!
But we know it is a changed
world There is something sinister
in the waT-sax at the bcx-ofFice.
Underneath the laughing there IS
choking, In France. boys are go-
ing over the top; and through the
strains Of "The Star SpangIed
Banner" there seem to echo the
words of the French officer spoken
over the graves of the soldiers
killed in the first American en-
gagement in France, in Norcnber
Of this year:
We will, therefore, ask that
the mortal remains Of these
ycung plen be left here, lefA
with " forever We vii As-
s@nbe vu THAR .ruhs. Now
liz tbe FIRST soldiers CT he R~-
public Of H. T1n;tes Sss.es -
fall on the soil of F..=aes. n shs'
cause of Liberty and Justice"
The passer-by viii stop and
uncover bis head; travellers and
men of heart win 60 out of their
way to come here, and pay their
respective tributes.
Private Enrightl
Private Greshami