The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1917-10-18

The Letter He Got When He Left Hi:
Mother for France"

these last days. But hope we have
kept our feeling in our pockets. we
have tried to look Right in the face.
We wouldn't have you do otherwise. l
would have hung my head in shame
if my son had not wanted to go when
his country called. God knows
would go with you, shoulder to shoul-
der, if | could.
It's going to be very hard on your
mother. She has been very fine so
far. don't you think? But mothers
have a way that children don't know
about: of living awake in the darkness
and talking to the God of their boys
at such times. She has. And she
will. She is giving all she has; all
she can give; and she does it, thank
God. with brave heart. But you are
her all. So it isn't easy; it's no use
to say it is.
But you have a wonderful chance
to repay her. You are going into a
big thing: a big war: big army:
standing for a big idea. But don t
forget that the biggest thing about
principle or battle or an army is
a man! And the biggest thing war
can do is to bring out that man.
That's really what you and the other
chaps have gone over for: to dem
onstrate the right kind of manhood,
for il is that which weighs in fight
and wins it. The measure of any
successful result is the men VINO
made that success.
You neither want nor need maXlms.
I think you inherit my distaste OF
them. There is only one thing that
counts in this life, and it beats all
the maxims ever penned-that is, for
a mans spirit to be all right. If
that is what it should be all the little
details of his life will fall into their
proper places. l think your spirit is
all right, my boy. 1t should be, for
it came to you from your mother.
Live that spirit.
And as that spirit came to you
from a woman, do you play the game
and show that you have it to other
women. 1t is the finest thing you. can
do with it, and you can't very we'll do
less, because it is why your mother
gave it to YOU: that you should stand
foursquare before men and in this
case, means women. For when you
get ''Somewhere in France" you will
meet women: all kinds. Some of one
kind in particular. Many of them
will have their men-folks at the front.
They will be alone-alone for other
men to respect and honor and show
the right consideration.
These women will make much OF
you, for an American in khaki in
France is very welcome, and will be
made so. But don't let that welcome
for your coming to save their homes
and honor mean an approach or
opening for you for anything but the
highest consideration. Don't forget
that when you are invited somewhere
to hang up your hat it doesn't mean
to hang up your conduct also. You
will hear that in France they have
!'let the bars down." But there is
no such thing anywhere as letting
the bars down to a mans conduct
toward a woman. To be gentleman
in a French home is no different
from being gentleman in your
mothers home. Think of every
woman you meet as a member OF
your mothers sex, and treat her
accordingly. Think of every girl you
meet as you would Nell, and treat
her as you hope every chap in the
camp near US will treat her. 1t is
a tremendously big ''bit" that every
chap who goes to France now does,
who upholds his own honor at the
same time that he upholds the honor
of the United States when it comes
to his considerate treatment of the
women Of France. 1t will be the
finest tribute in the world to our
great country if, when our boys leave
France, it can be said of them that
they were Spartans of personal honor.
~ ~Nothing-no results in battles-will
count for so much as that one record.
These French women have suffered
much. Let US, as men of America,
not ask them to suffer more.
When you are called to get into the
game, get into it good and strong.
There's no fun in going through life
spoon-fed: in finding the soft seat.