The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-12-28
''mARSE HENRY"
SENDS CHEER TO
BOYS AT TAYLOR
Characteristic Greetings Of
Season Written by Famous
Editor.

Henry Watterson, "Marse Henry"
famous Louisville editor. was chosen
to express Christmas greeting of the
middle west to the soldiers in the
Lincoln division, encamped at Camp
Zachary Taylor.
Here is copy of the greetings he
sent to each man in camp:
THE CONGREGATIONAL
LOUISVILLE
Gentlemen OF the Lincoln Division!
Soldiers Of the American Uunion!
AS Santa Claus desigate-of the
President OF the United States, of the
Red Cross society and of "The Old
Lady At The Corner shall speak,
IN transmitting these Christmas heart
tributes from many mid Western
Observation-Disclosures a Saint; but, as
your comrade older in service, your
fellow-countryman and fellow-citizen
let me speak-personally-as a man.
You have taken the field with the
generous unreflecting ardor of youth.
With some Of you it Is devotion to the
cause; with others the spirit Of ad-
venture; with all that sense Of patrio
tic duty. which, as blessed legacy
and birthright, God has implanted in
the bosom of each loyal son of the
soil.
Presently you will cross the ocean
and come upon a land made to all
seeming for mortal delectation-for
merry song and dance and careless
gayety-yet war-worn, woe-clad, blood
stained because of nearly four long
frightful years resisting invasion, de-
Tending its own, and whilst fighting
for world peace, fighting for France"
Take it to yourselves, dear lads, what
that means to the French people,
what. the situation reversed, it would
mean to you, and, when you get there,
recall that the situation was reversed;
that except for France the American
Union would not now exist, and. the
case thus simplified, doubt not the Is.
sue or the result.
No foe can stand against you. An
GELS keep you company. Heaven smiles
upon you. Beneath the tri-color.
twice expanded, you march to the
blended music of THE Star Spangled
Banner" and La Marseillaise"!
1t goes to my heart that all of you
will not return. But I have been a
soldier myself and full we'll l know
the soldiers end of it, 1t is required
that no one Of us has more than one
time to die. Each man-at-arms with
his rifle takes his life in his hands.
Happy he who falls upon the field of
glory for he shall learn how sweet it
is to die for ones country.
mot man, nor monarch half so proud
AS he whose flag becomes his shroud."
Good luck and God bless you, dear
boys! You are going on a mans er.
rand in the service of Humanity and
Freedom. Never was war more JUST
fled, never call to battle less selfish
and sordid. Above you shine the twin
stars of Bethlehem and the Republic
your banner carries the name Of
Lincoln-the dear ones at home fol-
low you with tender, Frightening eyes.
They love you and are proud of you,
wholly sure that you will make good.
The past of Your country is secure.
Sons and grandsons of heores, the fu-
ture is with you! Let your word be
Over the top" and "On to Berlin
not forgetting the pious admiration
ITO He'll with the Hohenzollerns and
the Hapsburgs!"
With never fear and Christmas
cheer,
Affectionately your friend.
HENRY WATTERSON.
Christmas Eve, Nineteen Seventeen.