The Topeka state journal., 1918-12-20
THE AMERICAN SPIRIT
Expressed in Letter by NJ. o. r. C.
Sergeant.
(From Trench and Camp.)

Sergeant.
(Trom Trench and Camp)
The following letter was sent by
Sergt Harry Fisher of the NJ. o. T. c.
at Fort Riley to friend, whose
brother was killed in action in France.
1t shows the true American spirit of
patriotism.
Medical Office s. Training Camp,
Fort Riley, Kan. Dec. 10, 1913.
A little over a year past a chal-
lenge came to the young men OF our
country. The. challenge was accepted
by the best of our youth. Thousands
of them gladly left home, business and
their loved ones. to fight for a just
cause, democricy.
Who shall say how many of them
realized fully what a terrible conflict
they were going to be engaged in, yet
they were willing to face the deadi-
est war machine the world has ever
seen, because they were justified in
the knowledge of the righteousness
of our cause, for right is always
stronger than might.
In the vast army of this country,
learned men rubbed shoulders with
the ignorant. This fact has added
riches to this great republic. thru the
abolishing of class feeling-a senti-
ment detrimental % the well-being of
a people as a whole -.as has too
often been shown US by many Euro
pean peoples. If this spirit of democ-
racy should be the only thing that has
| been brought to us. who shall say that
| the necessity of massing our manhood
into a great national army was q
| loss?
Thousands of our young men have
made the supreme sacrifice in the just
cause of libe-ty. Our brothers, sweet
hen rfQ md hIpSha ~ q frox
the ranks below to join in the great
| triumpha1 march which shall not ceas Sc
until the end of time.
Whether on foreign or home soil
! the sacrifice in the just cause is
equal. AL who made the challenge
worth the accepting and paid The price
with their life blood shall have the
honor of having had their names writ
I ten down in the annals OF our history
| They shall never be forgotten.
Then we must not forget those a,
| home who have suffered in silence
Mothers, wives and sweethearts have
| bravely smiled thru a mist of tears
Many nights have passed when the
instinct known only to a mother has
kept her heart from breaking, the
| sleep refused to rest the weary, eve.
lids. If one could have Watched close.
ly the lips would have been seen tmoy.
ing slowly in prayer for her son, VIC
| udo DecoIne again the precious treas
ure that she cared for as a babe. No,
on the field of battle have all the
| agonized cries ascended, but I'M every
home, and hamlet. where the call wa,
] needed.
When we stand in the home wher,
a service flag bears the goideff stal
we feel the feeb1eness and poverty o.
words. But God knows and cur hop.
is again concentrated around tn,
! Great White Throne, where tn,
plaudit has oft been repeated, Com,
up just little near sr. Son, you hav,
done what you could and it is bes
now life is ended, that you should re
ceive the crown waiting for you, from
the han Is Of the Great Commander
in-Chief of all armies"
So We feel peace that no human
tongue can bring, because we turn t,
that day when we shall all be presen
at the great review and meet agat
our loved ones in the greatest triumph
Of all ages-the gift of eternal life.
Il HARRY FISHER,
Sergeant First Glass, Medical De-
partment, U. S. A.