The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-08-05

w American citizen while 1.-The
| Star Spangled Banner is
being played?
OF what are we thinking?
Are we thinking of the flag and all
that 1t stands for, or are our minds
otherwise engaged?
VI course, it Is reasonably certain
that we are thinking of something,
but have our thoughts the slightest
connection with the message our flag
Is carrying to the enemy?
We obediently arise with the first
sonorous note OF the anthem and we
remain standing till the end. We have
learned or we are learning, to face
the music" more or less at attention,
and we are developing the conviction
that it is an offense to chatter while
the strains of our war-song, perhaps
our death-song, fills our ears. But are
we thinking of 1.-THE Star Spangled
Banner?"
Or are we silently urging the mu-
sicians to hurry up and be done with
rupted occupation? Are we impa-
tiently waiting to take up broken
conversation; a game of bridge; the
telling of a story; the reading of
newspaper; the liberal art of criticiz-
ing the war department., the navy or
the administration; or, what is inf
nitely more incompatible, exploiting
the hateful efficiency of the foe?
We sit in public places, and we arise
because we are in public places. We
suspend for the moment our physical
interests, and we look about us to see
if other people are doing the same?
Some of us get up grudgingly and
stand as we happen to have been sit
ting, with our back to the music; some
of US go on knitting; others of US con-
tinue to keep our hands in our peck
cts and our cigars in our mouths; 9th
ers think that nothing more is re-
quired of them than the lowering of
the voice to an understone; others con-
slider a bland expression of resigna-
ton to be efficient; and some fall into
an attitude of tolerant submissive
ness. There is little or no evidence
of exaltation, no sign of an inward
thrill. no suggestion of profound
emotion. The beautiful, inspiring con
centration of thought that attends the
.Marseillaise" is lacking; the full
hearted sensation that glorifies Rule
Britannia is absent; even the feryor
of the Teuton as symbolized in gut
tural acclaim is sadly wanting We,
the most imaginative, the most alert
people in the world, are totally de-
void of imagination during the rendi-
ton of our war-song.
Why should we not think, or even
pray, as the French, the English and
the Germans think and pray while
their song of hope is being sounded?
The Star Spangled Banner is our
battle-song. 1t goes into the thick of
the fight with our flag and our boys.
1t emphasizes our hopes, our aims,
our longings; and of what are we
thinking-we who stay at home
while its strains are falling upon our
ears? Are we, SO to speak, playing
the game?
Why shouldn't we, one and all,
great and small, think alike, for as
long as five minutes in eada day?
Let there be but one thought, one
prayer, while the hymn is ringing.
From one end of this great lard to the
other let this be the beginning of our
prayer the instant the band strikes up
THE Star Spangled Banner
God be with our flag and our sol !
diers and our arms wherever they |
may be-"
And let this be the end of our de- |
vout, intensified prayer as the last |
note dies away:
God give us victory.'
Not perfunctorily, not as matter |
of duty, but with our hearts in it, our !