The St. Joseph observer. [volume] (St. Joseph, Mo.) 1906-1932, 1918-06-15
THE SOLDIERS "CHow"
What IL Takes to Care for the Amcrt-
can Sammic When He Is
"Over There"

mostly sentiment, said and written
about the soldier of the American
National Army, his religion, or his
lack of religion, his spiritual aspira-
tions, his moral fiber, etc. in all OF
which regards he has. of course. been
pictured as a most exceptional indi-
vidual, but those writing or telling Of
their impressions have overlooked the
one and greatest fact-outstanding at
all times and on all occasions--re-
garding him
His appetite, =
Nothing like It has ever been seen
under the blue dome OF heaven. His
belly has seemingly no bottom. Its
depths are cavernous. They yawn,
growl. and grumble. For nearly a
year now this great nation. backed by
million people, has been trying TO fill
him, but at the end of that time is
ready to confess defeat. Into his ca
pacious silo we have emptied train
loads of proteins and the entire avail
able output of calories carbohydrates
and other things that are supposed to
fill. but don't
I'VE have put beans into him by a
derrick and have driven the herds and
flocks OF a thousand hills into his open
NAV Nothing doing. The longer he
goes the hungrier he gets. He enjoys
surcease from other things.
HE can case off his spiritual aspir-
ations easily at bedtime and doesn't
worry much after taps about his re-
ligious condition.
But his appetite, happy or unhap-
PLY. is always with him. 1t arises
with him at reveille. accompanies him
to the parade ground, and stalks like
some gaunt spectre through his
be put off
wherever he goes, 1t follows him.
Writing from Picardy. where If ever
the quality of the Imagination which
was his abundantly in time of peace
should react to a new and classic en-
vironment, where color should strike
home, he indites a soulful line like
this:
Dear Mother-Don't worry about
me. The eats here are good but don't
get quite enough OF them. Had chick
en- for dinner Sunday.-Will write
more later
| "And mother. who has ministered
to this same appetite since the day
this hungry young panther was first
placed in her arms. and who found
her supreme Joy in so doing strokes
the rumpled manuscript and sobs
softly. my baby is hungry as II there
were enough provender under heaven
to keep him from being otherwise
He may be on furlough at Paris, with
a historic past beckoning him on every
side; walking down a country lane in
England. where out OF atavistio depths
a racial romance whispers to him; he
may be wading knee deep in the apple
blossoms OF Normandy. but out Of the
heart the mouth speaksth. and when
Nellie Lou trembling opens her letter
she reads something like this:
This is a great country. OuI
chow is good. Send the chocolates
Will close
Brief, terse, almost vulgar. but
to the point. Those looking for fine
writing. for style. for impressions,
are Of course disappointed. but, after
all. these soldier letters are the bes
Of literature. because they make tn,
thing in mind so clear. because tho!
are at once so concise and 80 self
revealing. Incidentally. the writer
may state briefly that women, ovel
here are all ugly. and that adds an
other note OF encouragement, for only
the elemental male, one who can ca
we'll and TO whom female comelines
Is content and comfort. makes a goot
fighter. Wars are not won by chap
with peeved stomachs. The appetit,
Of the American soldier, reverting t,
his elemental state for the time in tn,
end is going 10 clear the road 10 Ber
lin. II a maximum hunger can be OBJ
tained he ought TO be eating in or nea
Potsdam by this time next April. Pol
the grease 20 him. Uncle We cal
wait until after the war for our 70
mance-but don't you let the chill
get too hungry. Not even II the res
of us have TO starve, Henry Count
Democrat
A MORE IMPORTANT POINT