The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-23
Gypsy Smith to Depict
 Some of His Experiences
tcontinucd from Page Fivc)

selves, and not send them to the boys
 over there As for myself. I want to see In thesmdst of the. blue day and under the heaviest burden the cultiva- tion of that. spirit which Sees soniefhins for which to give God thanks; and l can speak for the women of my country, God bless them, who are now gray haired and nearly blinded with the griet of their sorrow, who are thanking God that they had sons to give for freedom, and proud of the fact that their own boys laid down their lives that other mothers and women and little children may be free"
 If I can make those boys 'over there laugh and laugh well-if only for five minutes-and ip4ke them forget the hell or the trenches. why that's a bit of re- ligion. And what is religion, anyway, if it is not sunshine? To use the great words of the Master of us all--the Apostle Paul. who said: The fruits of the spirit are love and Joy and peace :. every thing is lovely If this old world could only get q grip on that idea it's eyes would be full of star dust-it would have a different vision"
 LOVES FAIRY TALES
 "The trouble with this old world is that it has forgotten its love for fairy tales" said Gypsy Smith. T love to sit in Gods golden evening and watch the sunset faries doing things in the sky; for you see have not yet lost my love for my gypsy cradle. l tell the boys over there of my little gypsy tent in the woods, of the dell and the hillside. and the flowers and the butterflies and the dew drops. of crystal palaces and special rooms tor angels and l sing them songs until the bows feel that they are not in the trenches any more. but that they are at home with mother, wife, sweetheart, lover, and l try to be to them--God knows l do-a breath of the hcme-the cottage-the mansion-a little bit of mothers apron string and the boys receive me that way My mes sage goes straight to them without any cant or humbug, or ceremony or stereo- typed language it is the language of love and the heart responds, and the old world, whether it be France. or Flanders, or Britain, or America, i'll the trenches, in the air or on the briny deep. is longing for love. and love is the great est thing in the world and wherever it reigns war is unknown"
 TELLS TWO STORIES
 Let me tell you funny little story,' said Gypsy Smith, his bright eyes twink ling. Just touch of humor from the trenches I was to speak to some Cana dian boys-sharpshooters fiery; you know 
 provised stage one of them said as l passed: Can you shoot quick, Boss? | stopped a moment and then realized the situation. Those boys meant if I could speak and speak quick. You know. there no introduction to a machine gun. They'd never have spoken to a bishop that way But that's the way they feel about me over there s And now I'm going to tell you dif- ferent sort of story" he said gently. "It is the story of a young American boy who crossed the border early in the game and went out fighting beneath the Brit ish flag. He was severely wounded l talked with him and he told me he had been greatly impressed with some things I'd said. I found he was motherless and l He told mo he had never been brought up, but just grew up and 1 grew wrong. But since going over the !, top things had looked different to him. asked him if he ever prayed, and he said no; he didn't how how, and then I noted he wore crucifix-shiny and bright. He saw I was looking at it ana told me that he had picked it up some where on the Somme battlefield. for it 1 was there he'd received his wound, ana that when the orderly or nurse had found it on him. they kept if. thinking he was a Catholic. as I did. until he explained matters to me- T have no religion he said but since I found that crucifix I've been thinking a great deal of what He did for me when I was going over the top. Is that prayer. sir?' sonny I said. that is prayer of the highest and best kind, and taking None of our little khaki covered New Testaments out of my pocket. I gaze 1t to him and told him to read it every day and learn what He had done for him. A few weeks later I received a letter from the boy anA he said: am still reading the little Tcsta-