Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-11-23

Thanksgiving in this great world war At the
| training stations the ships which patrol the
coast lines, in the submarines which move about
a hundred feet below the surface of the water,
and the great battleships on the high seas
| Thanksgiving day is to be observed as it never
before has been by the boys and men who are
dedicating their lives to Americas cause. 1t will
not be merely a day of sensuOus pleasures, of
stufing oneself with foods to please the taste;
rather it viii be a day of mental inspiration, Of
a spiritual qualification, of thoughts of home and
those who dear.
In a general way the stories of how Thanksgiy-
ing is observed in the two branches of the Amer
lean fighting forces do not differ. Soldiers who
yet.in this country will perhaps be given fur
loughs so that they can be with their families or
other relatives Thanksgiving day. Sailors and
marines who are detailed to the training stations
may be invited out for the day they may gather
in the big mess halls for program But the lads
who far away from their loved ones, those
who are on the high seas, will experience feel
ing entirely new to them. And it is going to have
a tremendously important influence, too. Per-
haps you have wondered some time other why
the tight-ftting blouse. the black handkerchief
and his saucy little white cap seem TO give the
jackie youthful appearance than the khaki
olive drab do to the soldier.
1t is not deception resulting from a marked
difference in the uniforms. Rather this apparent
boyish appearance of the jackies in comparison
with the soldiers is a reality. The jackies
Just boys-the brightest youth of America. who,
before they have attained their manhood are
offering their lives to make this country secure
from Prussianism and to establish peace through
out the world
A spirit of youth permeates the United States
navy-an atmosphere which perhaps is not to be
found in the army. Most of the boys, who
being trained to the battleships. and the
of those who already have met the Ger
man fleet in battles, are scarcely out of their
teens There is a fascination for the sea, for the
experience of moving about the waters and be-
ing constantly in danger of attack from beneath
the sea by hostile ships-a something which
holds peculiar charm for American youth. And
so it is that the American navy is composed Of
great host of young men-youth who seek adj
venture. those who eager to avenge the ter
ible atrocities wrought by Germany.
Months have passed since many of these young
ackies transformed in incredibly short time
rom sehoolboys to fighting men-o'-wars men. left
heir mothers and their fathers to join other
ouths in protecting country from the
ges of barbarian foe. Their activities have
cen so strenuous that few have had the time or
he inclination to mediate about their homes. But
II of these boys have been separated from their
wn people long enough TO give them sincere
,nging TO visit again hometown and to see mother
Men of the army better able to combat
ceiling of inconsistencies than the jackies be-
iuse the soldiers have come as general rule,
-om the Offices from the cares of business, from
,Ileges, and from situations which have, IN their
cry nature, separated the men, more or less,
om their family interests. Should this state
ent sound exaggerated and false let me amend
somewhat. The soldiers probably more
TO absence from home than are the
ilor boys most OF whom came directly from the
fuence of their mothers and who all by
emselves for the first time in their careers, con-
onting some of the bigger problems of life.
And so 1t is that this Thanksgiving the many
ousands of American boys who are fighting in
e first line of defense are going to experience
eat mental awakening-a spiritual change,
iich might not have come to them under normal Il
nditons until they were much Older in years $
d experience. 1t will be perhaps their first
anksgiving day on which they have actually Il
ken the time to mediate over the blessings for
itch they should give thanks.
The boys probably have not previously had oc- d
sion to appreciate the home influence. They h
i rejoice IN the knowledge that the United X
ties now has q navy which measures up TO the IL
/ in the world. They will be glad because they