Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-08-08
FATHERS AND SONS.
From the London Times.

Four years ago. when prophets held
that three years, at the most, would
see the war through, boys born in 1901
were not inclined to take a very neat
view OF their chances OF service. The
overturn of the world seemed rather
fine to tive amidst, at one remove; but
still outside themselves. Elder broth
N such luck for US youngsters 1t
would be all over before we could be OF
military age. Spectators they expected
to remain.
But there came a day when the boy
realized that he might get a look IN"
after all. The khaki OF everyday school
Wear took a new meaning. 1t became a
foreshadowing of a possible reality.
n with that conviction came a grad
ual change, curious for parents n
guardians to watch. Not that the boy
ceased to be a boy in all outward es-
sentials. but something different had
been added-a hint of gravity, an in
crease of common sense, an interest in
public affairs that used not to develop
very strongly until the university was
reached. a general impression OF rapid
ripening. The burden of life and OF tho
nation had been aid upon him: he
Was taking it up. not grimly, Or in any
burdened way, but with seriousness.
the seriousness with which he played
oiAICS WIlCIe OHe must De WnOiG
hearted or fail. #
To his father the boys sudden lean
to manhood has been a revelation
somewhat disconcerting. What. his
mother thinks of it has not been told.
Tho days creep on toward his birth
day. 1t seems but yesterday that he
was an infant. In a few weeks more
his country will have claimed him.
But If the father had something Of
a shock WHOM hn Iic0nNynrol f1nt <hA
years of war a stolen away his boy
untilnely, he has compensation, deep
n wonderful, in the man thus sud-
denly set before him. For in twilight
talks it is indeed a man that now sits
beside him, a man with all the fresh
ness and charm of boyhood still un-
shed, more gracious perhaps and win
ming by Its whimsical contrast with the
new. strange gravity of certain moods
1t lightens the brooding shadow of UNI
certain fate, which to the elder will not
be denied; it urges of everything NOR
accepts the fortune Of war gladly.
These last years have been crowded
with glorious life: he looks only for
something more glorious. And those
who remain behind have u priceless pos
session-a remedy of good and evil for
tune.
For, let the event be what it may
there cannot now be any sense of utter
incompleteness in that young life. The
boy may nave ripened before his time,
as men accounted time in the sleek days
of peace, but nature or Providence has
spared him unhealthy precocity, and
a vouchsafed a glimpse. and more
than a glimpse. of the man. watched
for, wondered over with a myriad ten
der hopes and surmises for 18 fleeting
years, and now, on a day we looked
not for it, suddenly revealed in full
stature. 1t is as though the eternal
law Of compensation had ordained this
clear provision of 81 character that
might otherwise have remained only
fond speculation. But here is a com
forting measure of certainty: it is q
man that will go forth to war; a man
not merely dreamed of, but one whom WI
have seen and known-that will re-
ceive u parting blessing: "Macte
yirtute esfOin