Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-03
BOYS IN SERVICE
GET LOCAL BOXES
Many Letters OF Thanks Received by
Red Cross from Soldiers and
Sailors.
ARE GRATEFUL FOR PRESENTS
One Jackie, Eight Years in Navy, Is
Recipient Of First Gift This
Christmas.
ARE GRATEFUL FOR PRESENTS

Letters of thanks and acknowledge
ment are coming to Rock Island from
every part of the country, from the
boys who have received Christmas
packets through the generosity OF
local people, who contributed pack
ages to the local Red Cross boxes of
Christmas cheer.
One donor has received letter OF
thanks written entirely in German.
One note comes from the U. S. S. Ala
bama. The writer had some difficulty
with the English language and with
our modes of expression, but the sin
cerity of the gratitude is just as man
ifest as though the letter was written
by master of the tongue. 1t says in
part: Il with pleasure answer to my
very much welcome Christmas box
which come in very handy and tell
the dear girl or young man or who
ever send it to please answer and l
will try and return token to her or
him-With love and God bless you
ALL"
Another letter proves that at least
one package went to man who would
not otherwise have been remembered.
1t reads: Dear Friend: 1t was on the
evening of Christmas that l received
a package containing candy, tooth
paste, etc l was very glad to receive
such a present and have enjoyed it
very much This is my eighth year
of which | have been away from home
and this has been the very first pres
ent that l have gotten during my time
in the service. have been in the war
at Mexico in 1913 l served on board
the ship u s. s. Idaho. 1 expect to
leave soon for France, but l hardly
think that l shall ever come back
alive. But at the same time l shall
try my best Wishing you a happy
and joyful New Year, and also thank
ing you for your kindness, which
certainly appreciated very much.
Goodbye. Good luck" This letter
came from Waco, Texas.
From the ship U. S. S. Virginia
comes this splendid letter:
Il received your Christmas box to-
day and am writing to thank you for
it. 1t was full of useful and needed
articles. 1t is a gratifying thought to
men in the service to know that wo-
men of the country are working with
them in this great crisis and are lend
ing their wholesome support to and
in our great cause, which will termin-
ate, we hope, in an ultimate victory for
America and her allied arms. Such
expression of thoughtfulness as this
little gift of yours appeals very strong
ly to us in the naval service Of our
country, because we are often segre-
gated from the outside world for long
periods of time and we see and hear
little of its doings.
81 repeat that I wish to thank you,
especially, and all your co-workers in
general for your generous expression
Of thoughtfulness on this Christmas
day, and l hope that the New Year
will bring many joys and blessings to
the kind people of Rock Island and
fill your cups to overlooking with hap
piness. 1t may interest you to know
that my home address is at Thomas
ton, Maine"
With such a letter as this, people
Of Rock Island should indeed feel that
their efforts were worth while
Rural Districts Busy.
The children of the rural districts
refuse to be surpassed by the city
children in doing Red Cross work. Re-