The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-07-15

thing? You and l have all read about the splendid things that great women and men have done for which We all love them. Those acts of patriotism and heroism and self-sacri
 flee all shine out of the pages of story and history like bright stars on cloudless night. But We must re. member that these acts were made possible by long years of the same Kind of thinking and acting. All things in this world have begin- ming, and we all have to begin some time to think about our country and what each of us has to do to keep it country which the other people in the world love and respect.
 No doubt great many of you have already begun to think about that sort of thing, but if you haven't now is the time to commence, or if l you have, now is the time to think more about it. Great deeds which help nations or great numbers of peo by making beginning in thinking about this sort of thing, looking for chances to do something for some body else, will develop an ability to do bigger and bigger things, just as little kiddie who starts to run foot races with other little kiddies in his block, grows up to be cham pion one hundred yard man, or the girl who sings about the house or sketches, better still helps mother and father with head and hand, be- comes able to use voice and hand and mind. grown proficient with practice, for the benefit of many
 To-day the world is aflame; men, women and boys and girls are sui fering because of selfishness and ar rogance. which the word Prussianism describes. Our dear old country, kind, brave. generous and efficient Uncle Sam's country has much to do and if we all begin now to help with mind and hands and feet, we will grow more proficient Uncle Sam has promised to supply the food and clothing needed by our friends, with and for whom we are fighting in Europe. He can't keep his promise unless every girl and boy, as well as every woman and man, does her or his part. We have promised food and clothing as we'll as money. If you or waste any of these things even the least bit that you or I do not need, we are just so much of stumbling block to our good old Uncle Sam, and help Prussianism every time we waste anything.
 "To do what is expected of us, the people who constitute the United States, are confronted with a new problem which is to save food. as we'll as or rather instead of money
 "I believe that out of this we are learning the greatest economic, might say civic, lesson that has ever been taught mankind. Rome and many other great governments have fallen because it had drunk too deep ly of wealth and pomp and display. The United States was on the verge of it, but now we are halted; and are by necessity made to see that we must give up extravaganza and indulgence and waste, in order that liberty may continue to exist in the world. This is not work to be ac- complished with blare of trumpets but is purely and solely educational. aided, of course, by it's patriotic fea- lures as we'll as the more practical and intimate necessities of the hour, but still and always educational.
 Tt would be waste of time for me to attempt to tell you as teachers, the influence you exert in com munity, not only on the children whom you daily meet and teach. but upon their parents and the whole community. It is for this reason that l appeal to you severally and collectively to increasingly, in season and out, wherever the opportunity offers, deliver to each of our boys and girls, as you can do better than any other, these three mes- sages: (1) Patriotism and loyalty to our country and those great prin- ciples upon which it is founded and by virtue of which it exists; (2) Un- selfish service for others who are less fortunate than they. and (3) That food and clothing and all the other material things that are pro- vided for them by their parents (No matter what their parents financial ability may bel is to be used care fully, without waste or extravaganza, but with the thought always that what they do not themselves need or want 1.-two widely different situa- tions) may be the very thing that is necessary to preserve the very exis. tence of another person somewhere