The Era-leader., 1918-09-26
SAW RESULTS OF GREAT WORK
WHICH WAS BEING AC-
COMPLiSHED.
BUSINESS MAN IS ENLISTED
Great Drive for Funds for S. A. Work
Places Houston at Head of Ameri.
can Cities in Campaign.

H0uI " F1dltCS Will luS liz 81 Ci
shing forces in 1917-that the great
work the Salvation Army was doino
for him and his fellow soldiers must
have its proper recognition and sup,
port by the people back home. Over
and over again ne and his fellows
benefited by the work of that great
organization; over and over again
they found its workers eagerly,
cheerfully and courageously spending
themselves in service for the men in
the ranks through the day ard
through the night, in times and pla
ces which gave to such service a
peculiar and tremendous value in sus
tanning the morale Of the men.
This soldier has been there, where
at night the troubled earth between
the lines is carpeted with pain;
where death rides whistling in ev-
cry wind" and where "the very
mists are charged with awful tor
ment." He knew the awful pui'
against fellows manhood--tn the
slow, tedious hours of trench duty
amid foul mire, and vermin, and cold
and wet, and the nerve-racking crash
and concussion of high explosives.
And he knew how nearly heavenly
it seemed, on coming-mired, cold
weary and sometimes nearly mad
from that hell of trench duty, TO lind
the simple, earnest men, or the pure,
honey women or girls of the Saliva
on Army right there with CHEEKY
word, and the yet more CHEEKY deed
of hot coffee or cocoa, or doughnuts
or pies or sandwiches.
And in the days off from trench
duty, how the defI fingers of those
wholesome women, as they piled
needle and thread mendiag the rent
jacket, or trouser, or sock, or sewed
Oh a missing button, proved magic
telescope lens piercing through dis
tance and time, bringing up vividly
those other faces and hands of moth.
er, or sister, or wife, and making
more precious than ever the home
ties. And in simple hankfulness,
there formed in that soldier lads
heart the purpose that the folks back
home sholid know of the service he
and his fellow workers were getting
from the Salvation Army workers.
and should generously support that
service.
And over and over again as this
soldier wrote to his home folks, came
the story and testimony concerning
the work of the Salvationists, and
his urgent, reiterated plea for aid
for 1t. And in the head and heart OF
the hard-headed and successful man
to whom he wrote-a man who for.
merly had only seen its work to
criticise-was planted virile germ
Of sympathy and interest for the Sal
vation Army.
Before the days when Irwin Cobb
aud other peers OF the quill challeng
ed the attention of the nation to the
wonderful work of that organization
quiet, unassuming Pennsylvania
with wide and successful experience
as a campaign organizer. came t.
Houston at the command of Briga
der George Wood and Commissioner
Estill, but between the quite genera
feeling among MANY business ant
professional men then that it's worl
was duplicating the Y. NJ. C. A anG
similar organizations, and the lacl
of definite knowledge or convincing
testimony as to the extent and quail
ity of the service of the Salvation
Army, he found it pretty nearly i'm
possible to enlist the organizat Or
necessary to mako campaign sue
cessful, and was just about ready Il
conclude lie had undertaken a hope
less task.
Finally, in a conference with tht
leader Of another great war servic,
drive, he learned Of the business mel
referred to above. And he fount
that the germ planted by that soldie
in France had become a flll-growl
conviction that the Salvation Army
work deserved generous recognitio,
and aid; also an equally strong pur
pose that this city should do he
share. Through mis- personal nell
and counsel other leaders were in
terested: in ever widening and in
Rnsifying circles the interest grew
and an effective organization was en-
listed. Houston's citizens, and thos
throughout the county, were givel
the opportunity to help our soldier
through the Salvation Army and hay
responded so heartily and generousl
as to win for our city and count
the very first place in the Unite
States in the national $4,000
drive. But back OF it all--the earnes
gratitude of "Sammie" Corpora
Joseph Lynch Calvert. And throug
his interest our community found it
opportunity to do creditable SCI
vice.
| The fund has passed the $4,000
line, being increased since Friday b
S22Sfl from Chairman Daley Of hloc