The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1918-09-14
WAR HAS TAUGHT
Value OF THRIFT
People Have Learned How
SenseIess ard Unnecessary
Common Practices Are.
RETURN TO SIMPLE LIFE
Those Not Willing to Deprlvs Them
selves OF Some Comforts migrate
fuI for What Roys "ovsr Thers''
Are Doing fer Us.
BY JAMES W. GERARD,
Former Ambassador to Germany.

BY JAMES W. GERARD,
Former Ambassador to Germany.
In the days bsfore the war IL often
seemed TO me that the immigrant who
came here with practically nothing ind
who LEFT an educe ten ana often com
petence 70 his children lived as all
men should live. He worked hard and
well and saved his money. Then as
his circumstances permitted he placed
his family In comfortable surround
ings. Often he got hold OF little
piece Of ground and raised part OF
his food supply. Such men ns these
told me often that American Life pre-
scented very few diEcultiea TO a man
who wanted TO become wealthy
through his own Efforts
OF course these people did not have
the things that many OF their neigh
boris thought vitality necessary. There
was no show. no ostentation. nothing
merely 10 impress their associates and
naghbors. And after all man Ia sim
pie being. His wants are few. once
he gets out of an artificial point OF
view.
Return to sImpis Living.
Since 'he war has come with its ne
eesslty OF curtailed expenditure many
persons and families are approaching
the state of simple living. They are
being vastly benefited. A mental and
spiritual betterment comes with sim
pie hvirg and thinking. There is also
g great gain in resource. No man reed
ever fear that he will become misery
through the practice of thrift. Thrift
simply means using the right things
for the Fight purpose and putting
aside the Surplus.
IF the var mss 5oPe rothirg else &
has =, ;ensr taught 70 msny persors
The value % thrift The humn miDi
Is p4oae TO attach lg.bels 70 things. Be-
cause q thing is done 1t is done mors
and more. Once the individual gives
thought TO life and living he sees how
senseleSs and unnecessary are some
of the practices to which he thought
he WIS committed for the rest Of his
life. Too many people In America ars
living beyond their means IN order to
vie with some richer neighbor. Why
risk your children's future and edu-
cation through silly imitation In
duced by false pride?
To do anything well is a fine train
ing for any man or woman. The prsc-
tlce of thrift is only the utilizing in
the most scientific and exact ways
OF an individuals resources. II Is
character building and makes of man
almost the master OF his destiny.
Prove Superiority TO Hun.
The situation of the world at the
present time says TO civilized man:
Prove that you are fitted 10 survive
the Hun; prove that you are superior
to the Hun prove that you are worthy
Of being preserved. For q wastefui
use Of materials at the present time
is a crime against civilization. Tbs
war cannot be won unless the nation
and the individual practice the most
exact thrift. II We as q race cannot
DO this we are not At TO be the doml
nant factors il the world. We can
and we will. The Hun and the state of
affairs brought about by him are
challenge TO our civilization. We &C
cept the challenge and we Will win the
victory.
We could not do less Our OWE
conntrymen and our brothers In arms
are living in the midst OF the greatest
danger abroad. They are subsisting
only on the vitality necessary foods and
their general situation Is lacking In
comforts. We will deprive ourselves
of some of our own abundant comfort
that they may have the necessities OF
life We must not prove ungrateful
for what they are doing for Us. We
do not wish to live In an enervating
comfort while they are suffering and
giving tBeir lives that we may survive.
There Is for those who are rich. or
semirich or who merely have money
and extrsvsgant tastes another and 3
practical side.
Money Must Be Had.
We must have the money to carry
on the war. If money does not come TO
the government from the country's
present stock of money. then IL must
be created. for the war cannot stop.
Additional money means imitation
and that means fall in the worth, In
the purchasing power of the dollar.
So that every one VINO has an income.
Il salary or invested capital OF any
kind. bonds, mortgages or other obliga-
tons OF state or city or railway, should
be vitality interested In practic!ng
thrift, and thereof msintaiuing the
value OF the purchasing power of his
own property.
But greatest argument OF ell--the
spending OF money now unnecessarily
Is shameless. even criminal.
Are we to feast while our Sons and
brothers die over there and by our
very casting put their success In
jeopardy
No ruler ever led people as efficient