Norwich bulletin., 1918-01-07
"The Thrill of Anerieanism."

By. WALLACE HULL MILLER of the Vigilantes.
 The happiest moment in mans life should be the moment when he puts on a United States uniform and offers hfnself to his country and to humani- ty. It is at this moment that he feels the greatest thrill of his 1ife-the thrill of An1ericanfsrn
 These words need very little ampli- ication. Think moment on their significance and the consistent historic truth represented by them.
 Can yon stand on Plymouth Rock Or Bunker Hill without your blood cours- I ing faster? Can you read the story of Daniel Boone and the long list of sturdy pioneers who drove back the ! savage hordes and pushed forward l the horizon of civilization; can yon recall the stirring career of John Paul Jones and the valiant men of tie infant navy who cleared the sea and mada | them safe for the Stars and Stripes.
 can you recall the dash and daring of Stephen Decatur and his associates l who broke the power of Tripolitan pi-
 rates and won the way for the free
 dom of shipping: can you tell your l children about Washington and his patriotic armies that gare life and>vi-
 taifty and power to the Declaration of
 Independence, without this thrill of 1 AmericanisYf1
 This is the wonderful story that runs | through the whole fabric of our na- tlonal life, the story of the persistent
 eoura geous self-saerifeing fight. often against discouraginfs odds. for human freedom and the right of the individi1-
 al to make the most of himself. We tell of the fearful struggle of the Civi
 WAX. with it's intense heroisn, Abra
 ham Lincoln and the birth of the Emancipation Proclamation. Cant lyou see the children thrill as they listen and their eyes grow bright witt
 the thought that they, too, are Amer
 ican citizens?
 | And all this panorama sof splendid . achievement and fighting for right justice and equality is but a back ground of the present world struggle il
 which we have our part as comrade
 or the nations that are upholding tn |, things most dear to mankind Wha a tirnid. pitiful figure is he who shrink , from the sound of the fray and hear , not the glorious call to the colors 1.-the summons to do a mans work in a:
 Americans way?
 Thank God, the spirit of our father
 
 Eful aFd determined.
 This day I received 6 letter from
 friend training in Fort Ethan Allen, i Vermont. This friend is youth wh has all that life can give. wealth, edu z Esatien, social and business standing . . yet he gladly responded to the call fo volunteers and writes these glowin ! words after weeks in camp: : This training is already niakin II finer men of us. We are learning tlla 2 we must risk and give of all we hay ! | to save and rebuild men, and instine : lively we are fSl starting on ourselves and are working to our utmost to s . shane our lives that We can wo thi r work and do it fearlessly and we ; when we so to France In short V , are trying to build up a spirit of liv l. ing and thinking which is as far g = possible in accord with the ideals fc . which we are fighting. The result we are building a camp of serious
 minded, clean living men of true or = timism and we hope of Christians. W 7 are going into this war not in tf !. spirit of killing, (thougla killing mui :. s be done), but <nly in the spirit of SCI . vice and with the highest ideals = giving to others firmly believe ths {. any man with the right stuff in hi
 WnO enters LnlS Work ana Will OVel !. ride the Iorivations and sacrifices I '. must make, will come cut far betts . man than when he enlisted AT A while appreciate what enlistment ma a mean, also know that if any man se' iI 1t as his duty to his country and h \ God to fight for Liberty and Chri. ', tianity he will be the happiest man n the world when he puts on e Unite ,1 States uniform and gives himself !. Uncle Sam.
 Heaven help and pity you if YOU ce r read that without feeling the Thrill 70 Radiant Afnericanism!