Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-02-13
Mothering Our
Soldier Boys

<AH1cT1Cd arc now T0nQeT1u8 III Tie
cause Of freedom and democracy con-
welfare. food conservation and
other household or public activities,
but Of contributing in q very distinct
way to the building Of the soldiers
morale on the battle front in Europe.
I'm the latter capacity the feminine.
matrenly quality is accomplishing for
hundreds of thousands of young men
away from home what no other hu-
man Enthusiastically no mascu-
line infiuence-could accomplish, say
Marc N. Goodnow, Chicago.
Opportunities for service have rude
ly upset many old and much cherish
ed notions concerning woman's place
in the world and the demands of war,
the needs of men. the calls for hui
man Observation-Disclosures and many 9TH
or; reasons exist for changing the for
is in the home" '~' 4
Within recent months results have
shown that woman's place is also ven
back Of the firing line. There she has
actually become a real necessity-the
human. intimate, feminine necessity
which every decent maj feels. 1t is
there on French soil, mingling with
the legions OF Americas finest young
manhood, that she is rendering this
VI wa
to the lonesome, homesick, wounded
soldier boy perhaps the greatest COM
fort that he now enjoys.
1t was through. the war work of
the 7. NJ. C. A. for the expeditionary
forces In France that this new oppor-
tunity for service came to English and
American women. 1t needed only
brave young fellows wanted and need
ed nothing but just mothering-not in
the least babyish want or need. but a
real. manly, human desire for a wom-
ans sweet smile and soft voice to re-
mind them in their long hours of
Loneliness OF mother or wife and
home. There are plenty-too many
Of a type that would have robbed
them Of their decency. but where were
ing personalities would send a noble
thrill through a fellows frame-and
make him a better soldier, q truer
patriot for the sight?
But the question was hardly asked
before 1t was answered-nd bv hun
dreds of mothers and wives willing to
do this "bit' though it should endan-
ger their own lives. How could any
one-much less a woman whose heart
has been wrenched and torn by cruel
warfare-refuse so small a service in
a time Of so great a need? Actually,
when the call was made. there were
more volunteers than could be used
in England and America.
And then the chorus Of proofs of
the wisdom Of such q move began to
be heard. A lad just back from. the
trenches, whose boots and uniform
still bore the mud-marks of his SER
American 7. NJ. c. A. hut in northern
France. 1t was good to be out Of
that hell OF oar and mud and filth
but 1t was better still to e that
motherly woman busy behind a long
counter in the hut passing out cups
OF tea and little cakes to the men on
leave.
He stared at her for a few minutes
In silent admiration and then he ad-
.eying her closely. It seemed like a
dream to him who had seen no de-
cent woman's face for weeks.
! He toyed with the cup, as II It were
only an afterthought, anyway, but. az
ter he had gulped its contents. he still
.loitered. In fact, he seemed rooted to
the spot.
well. boy, it's all. I a do for you
Just one cup you know, is all we
can give you.'
Her voice rang in his ears like the
soft tinkle of a Swiss music-box. And
still he stood rooted to the spot, while
his b~enefactress continued her busy
and cheering comments and minis
trations.
But she returned to him again.
What now my son? I tell you that
is all the tea we can spare for you"
"Aw." he began, ut amt the tea I
wanted. I wanted to hear u voice.
Hundreds of influential American
women have volunteered for this spe-
:cial: kind of wal service among Amer
Jean boys in France. These are wom-
en- with good health, a highly deve1-'
oped' social sense and spiritual in
sight. There are some whom the SOL
diers call good lockers" but good
looks are not the only requisite.
Brains and common sense are essen
tial in being able to meet the human
needs of these boys away from home.
They have been teachers, typists, u