The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1918-09-13
People Have Learned How
SenseIess and Unnecessary
Common Practices Are.
RETURN TO SIMPLE LIFE
Those Not Willing to Deprive Them.
selves Of Some Comforts migrate
fui for What Boys "over There"
Are Doing for Us.
BY JAMES w. GERARD,
Former Ambassador to Germany.

Former Ambassador to Germany.
Ia the days before the war 1t often
seemed to me that the immigrant who
came here with practically nothing and
who left an education and often a COM
petence to his children lived as all
men should live. He worked hard and
well and saved his money. Then as
his circumstances permitted he placed
his family In comfortable surround
ings. Often he got hold of little
piece of ground and raised a part Of
his food supply. Such men as these
told me often that American life pre-
sented very few difficulties to a man
who wanted to become wealthy
through his own efforts.
OF course these people did not have
the things that many of their neigh
bors thought vitality necessary. There
was no show. no ostentation, nothing
merely to impress their associates and
neighbors. And after all man is SIM
pie being. His wants are few, once
he gets out of an artificial point Of
view.
Return to Simple Living.
Since the war has come with its ne
cessity Of curtalled expenditure many
persons and families are approaching
the state Of simple living. They are
being vastly benefited. mental and
spiritual betterment comes with SIM
pie living and thinking. There is also
a great gain In resource. No man need
ever fear that he will become miserly
through the practice of thrift. Thrift
simply means using the right things
for the right purpose and putting
aside the surplus.
If the war has done nothing else it
has at least taught to many persons
the value Of thrift. The human mind
is prone to attach labels to things. Be-
cause a thing is done 1t is done more
and more. Once the individual gives
thought to life and living he sees how
senseless and unnecessary are some
of the practices to which he thought
ne was committed for the rest of his
life. Too many people in America are
living beyond their means in order to
vie with some richer neighbor. Why
risk your children's future and edu-
cation through a silly imitation in
duced by false pride?
To do anything well Is fine train
ing for any man or woman. The prac-
tice of thrift is only the utilizing in
the most scientific and exact ways
Of an individuals resources. 1t is
character building and makes Of man
almost the master Of his destiny.
Prove Superiority to Hun.
The situation of the world at the
present time says to civilized man
Prove that you are fitted to survive
the Hun prove that you are superior
to the Hun; prove that you are worthy
of being preserved. For wasteful
use Of materials at the present time
is a crime against civilization. The
war cannot be won unless the nation
and the individual practice the most
exact thrift. II we as a race cannot
do this we are not At to be the domi
nant factors In the world. We car
and we will. The Hun and the state OF
affairs brought about by him are 9
challenge to our civilization. We &C
cept the challenge and we will win the
victory.
We could not do less. Our owr
countrymen and our brothers In arm:
are living In the midst Of the Creates
danger abroad. They are subsistint
only on the vitality necessary foods ant
their general situation is lacking II
comforts. We will deprive ourselve!
of some Of our own abundant comfor
that they may have the necessities Of
life. We must not prove ungratefu
for what they are doing for us. W.
do not wish to live In an enervatini
comfort while they are suffering ant
giving their lives that we may survive
There Is for those who are rich Of
semirich or who merely have none!
and extravagant tastes another and ,
practical side.
Money Must BE Had.
We must have the money to carr!
on the war. II money does not come t,
the government from the country
present stock of money, then 1t mus
be created, for the war cannot stop.
Additional money means imitation
and that means a fall In the worth, II
the purchasing power Of the dollar.
So that every one who has an income
a salary or invested capital Of an!
kind. bonds, mortgages or other obliga
lions Of state or city or railway. shoult
be vitality interested in practicinI
thrift, and thereby maintaining thu
value of the purchasing power Of hi
own property.
But greatest argument Of all-th'
spending of money now unnecessaril!
is shameless, even criminal.
Are we to feast while our sons ant
brothers die over there and by ou
very feasting put their success II
jeopardy
No ruler ever led people as efficient
" IN war as does our great president