Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1918-03-02
NEXT TUESDAY.

NEXT TUESDAY.
The order from Chief Jones to entrain the
final increment of the first quota from Berkeley
County under The draft settles the very annoy
ing doubt as to when it was to be done. Again
the fears that something will happen to these
Inen if they go will surge in the hearts of those
whose family ties will be broken by the going.
Again, we suppose there will be crowds at the
station to cheer them Off. and the men them
selves will again leave their homes with the
idea that they are in reality the "savors of
heir country" And that impression will last
j until they reach Fort Oglethorpe
/. has always seemed to usa sort Of mockery
that here should be public demonstrations sur
rounding the departure of men for the stern
est, gravest task to which they have ever adj
dressed themselves. It has seemed an ihconsist-
eney both because it does not conform with
the spirit under which they are being sent, and
because it is as far removed from what they
will actually experience as day is from night
We venture to say that there is not one par
cat our Ct ten who honestly is glad to see her
son so. We 10 not question for moment the
willingness Of the parents, but we do not be
lieye they are glad, in their heart of hearts, to
see the men go. For that reason the shouting
ard the yelling throw over the occasion an al
mosphere which does not represent the true
feeling whatsoever. 1t would be far more prop
er it seems to us, to weep,-as many do in Sc
cret; publicly to shout and sing is homogeneous
except for those whose sole motive in coming
out is curiosity, whose hearts are not touch ed
by the departure of members of their own inn
mediate kindred, and whose hearts do not re-
spond to the impulse of sympathy.
The boys themselves will find out very soon
the inconsistency between their send off, at
home and their reception at their training camp
There TREY settle down to business from the time
they step off the train: there everything is done
by rote: there they learn the art of war;
monotonous, grueiing, often revolving lesson
there they work under the constant feeling thai
what they are learning to do is to kill in right
eous cause: there they learn that their business
is not a gladstone sport. but stern necessity
No sympathetic mothers and sWeethearts; nj
friends to overlook mistakes and encourage b.
ever-knd words; no applaudng for purely for
mai performances, and very little when some
thing unusual is done. Training for war is
business which demands so much time itsel
that there is very little left for the haelujahs
and Furthermore there are very few around t.
shout the halleujahs.
We do not mean to discourage public demon
STATIONS from those whose conscience am
straight thinking prompt them to 50 applaud
we know the swing of the military step TIL
tramping Of a thousand feet as one, and tn
and the inspiring physical appearance of such
number Of men all Of military age and bearin
set the heart and passions to humping, an
reason does not always reign under those Gil
cllmstances But We still hold to the premis
That such a demonstration is grossly out of keeT
ing with The spirit Of the object FOR which the
eHtrsda.
THE NATIONAL FARM LOAN BANK