The Washington herald., 1917-11-07
THE CASUALTIES OF WAR
By DOROTHY DIX.
The Worlds Highest Paid Woman Writer,

II the local war news published in
our papers were veracious II would
read something like this:
"A fatal engagement took place last
night between Private Thomas Jones,
OF Troop S. Second Infantry. and Miss
Maude Smith. in the parlor of Josiah
Smith. on lIain street. Dressed in
full uniform and looking fit and smart.
Private Jones went over the top at 8
p. m. and advanced to the attack.
miss Smith was camoufiaged in
pink chiffon and blue ribbons so art
fully arranged that 1t was impossible
for Private Jones to perceive his dan
ger until It was too late to retreat.
He was met by a withering barrage
fire of tender glances from two lovely
eyes, both Of which went into action
at his approach. This was followed up
by a ceaseless bombardment of bombs
| that when they exploded emitted
noise that sounded like My hero"
| Shall miss you son Shall think Of you
all the time!' Bewildered by being
thus gassed, and having neglected to
bring along his gas mask. Private
Jones made a futile effort to escape.
but was pierced through the heart by
two clinging white hands laid upon
his breast.
"Thereupon Private Jones surren-
dered and presented arms to his fair
captor. Later on he made his Gay
back to camp in a half maudlin con-
dition, raving somewhat about the
only girl in the world. Private Jones
says that the honeys are using very
superior brand of powder. 1t tastes
and smells like violets, but is particu-
larly deadly in its effect"
This is no joke. 1t Is a sad record
of one of the perils of war, for to
thousands of our soldier boys the most
fatal engagements they will ever take
part in are the precipitate and Ill
advised matrimonial engagements they
are recklessly making on the eve OF
their departure for the front.
Why a call to the colots should also
be a call to matrimony is a mystery
past finding out. However. there
seems to be something in the horrors
of war that makes the peace Of the
fireside seem irresistibly attractive.
Or, perhaps, in the larger fear Of bat
tie and sudden death men lose their
fear of the domestic fight and curtain
lecture.
Be that as II may. war always
booms matrimony. Men who have been
case hardened bachelors take to them
selves wives. Men who had not ex-
pected to marry for years rush to the
altar. Men find themselves popping
the question to girls to whom they
had never given two thoughts before.
while as for getting engaged. men
enter into that as casually as they
would buy a box of cigarettes.
| thu nGvHhnlnWV nf this is
as plain as the nose on your face.
The whole country is worked up to
the highest pitch of emotionalism and
sentiment For the time being We are
living in a world of hearts, not
heads, and we are feeling a lot more
than we are thinking.
The men who have put on the khaki
have put aside their every day af-
fairs. They have given up their situ-
ations or wound up their business.
They are going away into the un-
known. Whether they shall come
back or not they do not know. Wheth-
er their life is to be only few short
months or many years they have no
idea
All of this quickens their sensibili-
ties and keys their emotions up TO
concert pitch. Above all il gives them
an imperative need to love and be
loved, to have some hand cling TO
their own. to know that when they
go on their journey to somewhere in
France" they will leave behind them
some one who will miss them, some
one who will watch the papers with
anxious eyes for tidings Of them,
some one who will weep IL Ill betakes
them "over there"
This is what makes the soldier boy.
who is bubbling and sloshing over
with his own sentiments. bestow them
upon the first girl who happens to be
handy and solemnly pledge himself
to come back at that indefinite date
when the war shall be over and mar
ry her for keeps.
Even when the girl is a nice girl
and would make a suitable wife for
the young man under normal condi-
tions, it is suicidal thing for him to
do under the circumstances.
To begin with, at the most impress
sionable time OF his life almost, the
young man is starting forth on the
greatest adventure that any human
being ever undertook He is going to
far country, to strange scenes. to a