Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1918-07-25
LETTERS FROM HOME BET
TER THAN MEDICINE

That frequent cheerful letters from
home actually help to make the AM
erican soldiers less subject to shell
shock in battle is one of the signifi-
cant facts brought back from hospitals
in France by w. Frank Persons, direc-
tor general of the department of
civilian relief, American Red Cross.
Mr.. Persons has just returned to
Washington after spending four
weeks with the American expidition-
airy forces in France, studying condi-
lions which might affect the morale of
the American fighter. He has been
with u troops at reception camps,
supply and naval bases and concen-
%tration points behind the line. The
American soldiers billeted in little
French hamlets seemed to interest
him particularly because they must
maintain their morale under condi-
lions that offer no suggestion ltof
American life or institutions.
"Of the morale of our fighting men
| heard only uniform approva!
throughout France" said Mr.. Persons.
"They are maintaining that morale
under conditions which, because of
loneliness, strangeness and remote
ness, do not, in themselves, predispose
to buoyance of mind. 1t is obvious
that we in America must do certain
things that will help directly to over
come the absence in such surround
ings of anything suggestive of Ameri-
can life. The English and the French
military authorities are fully awake
to the tremendous benefit to morale
of maintaining home interests and
satisfying the homing instinct of their
soldiers. They therefore make a ten
day furlough every four months a
regular feature of their military
system and make it possible, if not
obligitary, that the leave shall be used
for a visit home. Our soldiers cannot
come for such visits. Therefore, as
far as it is possible to do so, we must
take the American home to them,
must keep them constantly in touch
with American life as we are living it
from day to day in city, town or rural
district. The recreation agencies and
the %canteens maintained by the Red
Cross help by supplying the American
articles they like, and particularly by
giving contact with those who speak
English and who really understand
what a young American means when
he talks about "back home"
Very important in keeping the Am
er1can home a living reality in France
are letters from home-cheerful let
tiers giving complete news-personal
news not worth a line perhaps in any
newspaper but of real moment to
every member of that particular
family group. These letters must
come regularly and frequently and
leave no gaps in home history. AND
this serial story of the home life
should be illustrated with plenty of
snap shots and pictures. News and
frequent pictures of the children are
peculiarly important. Those at home
see the children daily. But from a
distance of 5000 miles and in a war
environment, it is difficult to imagine
a ~tWo-year-old as a three-year child OF
to make a satisfactory mental picture
of how a child left in curls and rom
pers looks as a real boy with hair cut
short and sticking his hands into his
first pants pockets. Such home news
keeps brother, father or uncle buoyed
up and in fine fighting spirit. It's
absence may send him into battle wor-
rled blue or and in no mental
shape to take care Of himself or to do
his full part in protecting his trench
mates."