The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1918-10-17
the enthusiasm of the soldiers has been truly in
strumental in winning the war have been the mu-

the enthusiasm of the soldiers has been truly IN
strumental in winning the war as have been the mu-
nitions themselves.
read story in The MIRROR long time ago
which referred to bridegroom who was seen to be
looking extremely down-in- he-mouth. What's the
matter. Jock' anxously inquired the best
"Hae ye lost the ring? NO. muttered the unhap-
py jock the ring all right enough, but, mon. I've
lost my enthusiasmr'
Next to bridegroom without enthusiasm imag-
inc soldier in the same cold state of mind What
could the future hold for either of them? Certainly
the soldier would not come out winner. We hear
a great deal about the morale of the armies and
the organizations who will be asking for funds
in the united campaign all contributing to this
fundamental need of keeping the minds and spirits
of the soldiers high and eager. The king of the
CARNATIONS working for these ends is the Y. NJ. G.
A., the amazing efficiency of which in it's successful
meeting of the normal young on his own ground
and minisering his highest and also his homeliest
needs must receive unquestioned endorsement.
Working hand in hand with it we find the Catholic
knights of Columbus the Jewish Welfare, and the
American Library Association This latter orgaui-
zaton is a modest one which however has for it's
medium of work one of the essential articles in life,
namely, the book. Wherever you put
you can put DOCK. Great organizations IKE the I.
M. c. A. and the Red Cross realize this and part
of the equipment of every building they erect they
include shelves for books This they have done from
the beginning of the war before the American Ii
brary Association was called upon to take direct
charge of this work. Now the selection, distrlbu-
ton and administration of the libraries in camps and
is the responsibility of the A. L. A.
working in close connection with the other organiza-
L IL L. H.
paration of the men for advancement is due to the
libraries provided. The army has amazed us all by
proving to be army of ambitious men who are de-
termned to take advantage of every opportunity to
get ahead. Is man cook? He resolves to be-
come mess sergeant. What must the library do?
1t must provide cook books for study. One camp
librarian told me that he had seventeen cook books
and they were all in use Suppose the camp is given
to quartermasters corps. Beef, leather,
clamation methods, harness, Shoes and similar
themes not easy to study for there is not much
in print that is available. What do they do? The
officers write prepare what they wish the men to
learn and the source material is provided by the Ii
brarian. He gathered it from the four quarters of
the globe probably, but there it was in pile of type
written documents ready for the continued of
classes. This illustrates one phase of library work
camp on account of the determination of the to
get on. Without the services of competent persons
whose sole responsibility is along such lines only
part of what has been done for the army in this way
could have been accomplished.
Of course there is great deal of reading for
recreation. And what men like in the army of that
sort is much the same as what they like everywhere.
The most popular writer is Zane Grey. No camp
has enough of his works satisfy the demand. Next
comes Beach, Bower, London, o. Henry with Kip
ling, H. B. Wright G. S. Porter, all sorts of detec-
tive stories and adventure following But you never
can tell what man will really prefer. One there
was who got into talk with librarian who noticed
that he bore the marks of service. wounds.
and honors. 1t transplred that the man had been
the ship that chased the Emden. He said he did not
read much, especially fiction. No said the ibrari-
ar, "you have lived t!' well" the hero went on
there is one novel have read more than once and
would like to read again; it is The Harvester by
Gene Stratton Porter" As l stated BEFORE you
never can tell what will prefer. For myself,
1 can only say that The Harvester is quite to slow
for me.
Much is being done for the soldiers and in re-
turn they doing wonders for and for the world
l am all feeling that nothing is too much
which will help them to keep up the spirit and en-
thusasm which are so impressing both our Allies
| and our enemies
Yours Sincerely,
MIRIAM E. CAREY
Plain Tales From the Bible
By III Truism