The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-12-20
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1917.
Advice to Mothers.

Here. is a BIT or ADVICE TO mOJnefS,
written by Betty Tansey of the
"Vigilantes, {" on "When to hide your
hearts sorrow" 1t is worth adopting
and will contribute to the boys con-
tentment and happiness.
"When you tell your boy goodbye
as he entrains for environments, don t
break his heart with your grief.
'The other day party of khaki-clad
soldiers boarded train on their way
back to business after furlough
at home.
'FTheir mothers, their sisters and
their sweethearts accompanied them to
the train. And what did those women
dog They wept bitterly and convul-
siyely, they chung to their boys necks,
and as the train pulled OUT, one gray
haired woman tainted.
"That woman s son sat down by
me. He pulled his service hat over
young brows tortured by his mothers
sorrow.
"'I'm ready to go, said he. I'm
not lodging my duty to my country
and I'm willing to go over there and
fight it out with those Huns. But my
mothers heart is breaking and it,
mighty hard to bear
is that what you want your boy to
say as he leaves you to do his duty?
Is the last sight of you to be a misery
to him and pain? Or is it to be an
inspiration, something wonderful and
full of hope something which he will
recall with thrill of pride when he
thinks-and he will think every day
of his mother and his loved ones?
Am / asking too much? You know
in your hearts that / IN not. Boys
have gone out into the world day by
day since the world began Their
mothers grieved to lose them, but what
grief to have them so much less than
men that. they would not go, that
they would today hide in the home
nest when their duty and their country
calls them!
When there was peace in the world,
our boys--I have one, fighting age
our boys went out into the world out
Of their homes to fight and to make
their own place. They kissed us good
bye, and their eyes were set, not on
our faces, but on their own future.
And now, with the world in mourn
ing with mothers Fover there wearing
their sorrows like a crown remember
ing with pride that they had a son to
give that the world might live, what
are we mothers over here thinking of
that we tear the courage and the young
smile out of our boys eyes when they
go out to fight for the flag?
"Shall they be less men than the
nglish boys and the French? Than
Russian lads or Scottish, than Irish
soldiers, or the high hearted Italians
who hold the rsmparts of the Alpsg
"This is plain talk to mothers from
mother, but it rings true. We expect
our boys to leave home, when they
arrive at mans estate, and strike out
for themselves, and we bid them Ggood-
bye and wish them Godspeed.
"They are leaving us today in re-
sponse to the call of duty. The most
sacred call that was ever issued, be-
cause the safety of the nation and the
welfare of humanity is at stake. We
would not have them ignore this call
If they would, and so we send them
away with q God bless and keep you.
"The life that counts is life of
sacrifice. The current of our nationl
life has been running so smooth, for
the last half century, that we were
absorbing its blessings as matter
of course, and with but little sense
of appreciation.
"The war cloud, which has. settled
over us like q black pail, has brought
us up at a short turn, and for the first
time in the history of most of us, we
are asked to make some sacrifices for the
country which has done so much for us.
"When our boys step out to the
front and offer their services and lives,
if need be, they are making the su-
preme sacrifice. We, who stay at home,
can not do less than to give them most
cheerful and loyal support.
fThey are entitled to all the in
spiration that we can give them. Let
us cheer their hearts with hope and
courage, while we pray for their
safe return