The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-23

WV e'Fe''ks - o. a., I" America.
ment, such as the X. c., Y. NJ. A..
Jewish Welfare Workers and other
commissions. Perhaps the best thing
the country ever did for the army was
to enact the law forbidding the sell.
ing OF intoxicating liquors to soldiers
A determined stand has likewise been
taken against more vicious evils.
believe there is less temptation to
gross evils In the army than in civil
life. Again let our Catholic people be
treasured that their Catholic boys are
receiving careful spiritual attention
The Catholic chaplain visits the hos.
pital every day. and all dangerous
cases are promptly reported to him.
In the hospital the Catholic chaplain
finds his saddest as we'll as his most
consoling work. One day there was a
Polish boy lying in one Of the wards
With the aid OF a polyglot manual
was able to hear his confession
He was only a boy and had the
marks Of gentleness and refinement
made more gentle and refined by SUI
fering patiently borne. He was not
only alone among strangers. but his
inability to speak or understand Eng.
dish cut him Off completely from those
about him. Their chatter only in
tensified his loneliness. But he I'm
derstood the Sacraments, which
spoke where words failed, and he could
understand the silent language of Him
who came to accompany him on his
way. He closed his eyes as IL shut
ting the door after his Guest had
entered in; pain became as IL It were
not; light and sound were forgotten;
all things Of the world were obscured
In His presence, and the happiness
He brought with Him beamed on the
face Of the dying lad like light break
ing through the clouds.
Entering a ward one day asked the
doctor in charge how the boys were
He answered that it all depended on
the point of view. I told him my
point Of view particularly had regard
to the long journey to eternity. do
you know, sir" he replied. II think
it is a mighty impertinence for any
man coming to die to cry out to God
for mercy" I answered, Doctor, I
don't know but I would agree with
you IL he were calling for mercy to
man. with his hard, cruel, unforgiv-
ing heart, but happily he is appealing
to a God of love and mercy" Per
haps you are right" he replied, per
haps you are right"
There is another tale, think worth
recording: A Boston reporter was
brought into the operating room, and
there was hurried call for the
priest. This patient, too, was only a
boy. He had been promoted from his
regiment to the camp surgeons Office,
and was making his way to his new
post along the trolley tracks. An on
He shouted and pulled out his hand
kerchief to signal, but it was too late
His left arm was all but severed from
the body. He picked himself up.
boarded the car, and ordered the con.
ductor to turn back to the hospital
When from loss OF blood he felt him
self sinking, he said, Il am a Catho-
lie. Send for a priest"
The first time ! saw him after he
had regained consciousness | said,
We'll. Joe, how are you feeling" He
answered.: Il am all right, Father.
Nothing but the arm gone" This was
not said in a spirit OF bravado, but
just in sincere thankfulness He asked
II he could so to mass the next day,
while all the while the doctors were
afraid that death might ensue from
loss Of blood. l was telling this story
to group OF officers. and one OF them
said. What did you say mis- name isl
Callahan" I replied. well, that ex-
plains it all, doesn't it?" he answered
1t is difficult to conceive how
quickly our youths are transformed
into disciplined soldiers. In few
months time these boys who did not
know the difference between a holster
and a trench mortar are drilling now
with the click" the standard OF en-
cellence that is demanded of them, and
have shown Workmanship which
the enemy has already found alto
gether too accurate.
The only homesickness they have
now is for the battlefield They are
"bearcats' spelling for fight. They
have the punch" and the daring that
is bound TO turn the tide OF this world
war They feel. however dimly, that
the door OF glorious opportunity Is
open to Them they rejoice that they
are alive in this era Of the worlds
history, when they can go forth 10
fight, to suffer, IL need be to die in
the cause OF justice, righteousness
and liberty They are young Davids,
buoyant. confident. unafraid, going
forth to smite the giant. the beast Of
militarism. that is devastating the
earth