Daily Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1918-191?, 1918-04-13
YOUNG AMERICA
RINGING APPEAL TO BOYS AND
GIRLS MADE BY ROBERT
RIvEs IN THE cHILDREN's
MEETING YESTERDAY.
a,isls and boys Of America. you are

btEt' anl .bols Vi AineiiNo' !Vu eiS
the nc !hM tke world! This is not
M empty phrase. What remain OF
the youib of Europe after the war
win be crippled md Scared in body
or spirit. and those who are children
to-day will have to give all their en-
erries to the rebuilding of shattered
cities and the reconstruction Of sta
be government. There will be no
time for men to struggle long and
patiently in art or science or literl-
ture. There will b. 200 much COM
non drudgery that will have to be
done day by day. and the men Of Wis
ION will be few. Girls and boys of
America you are the hope Of the
world! We have a rich country. We
have not been touched by war, not
really touched by ii. Not touched as
Belgium, France and England have
been touched. cutehed, throttled.
nune down by il. You who are ten,
twelve, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen now
wiIl probably not be closely touched
bs il at all. Your brother may 20 TO
SIGHT for freedom on the sea or in
France, but you, Bill and Jack and
George and Mary and Susan and
Jane will stay at home and do
What? That is the great question.
AT bottom, it's the greatest question
confronting this dear country Of ours
AT bottom it's greater than any ques-
ton o. guns or money or potatoes
st submarines or party politics-the
suession in the nations crisis is:
What are you girls and boys Of Amer
leA going to do?
You are the hope of the world.
THIS Is not empty rhetoric. This is
hard fact. But, YOU say there are
boys and girls in other counties
Narcely touched by the war; in India.
sor instance. in Japan. in China. mil
lions Of them, there are girls and
boys in Norway and Sweden and
Spa and Holland and South Amer
ieAs Nhy.you say. are we the worlds
hope Why must we carry that re-
aponsibility? We'd rather not. you
10y.
You can not evade il. Young Amer
ies- 'siv stars are eonspiring against
yVu Destiny. which made your coun-
Try rich and gave her great leaders
N tire Of need. and helped her TO
su& q magnificent republic out Of
Hhn, aces and many creeds. Dest-
my IhRt brought you to the light
under the Eagle anG the stars and
stripes. Destiny, that chose Ameri-
m 10 be the greatest testing-ground
a democracy in the world. Destiny
fortune, God laid on you the privil-
ere and the responsibility Of being
The hope. Of a world in tears. You
can carry the responsibility and be
glorious. You can throw II off, and
be damned; but you can not ignore II.
You are the hope Of the world +!
And are you, whine your country
stripes for battle and your brothers
prepare themselves TO fight "for what
America has always fought for-Lib-
srty"-are you going on dancing
xsd spinning on your ear and loafing
NJ street corners and reading the
SORTING page and dofiing up your
ngures and your faes' Or are you
gang TO make up suddenly TO the
anptiness and the ugliness Of all
ais. and throw il aside, crying, by
suskets, there are big things In this
xorld. and by all that's clean in
me and true in me and brave in me
American In me, I'm going out
them and siv1eesCsu hs' y t ass
AHT6Ss%@s