The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-21

 7 people has proved as hard as NS getting into society did for others in inc days before it was permissible to be democratic, and only the really great wore simple manners. (Now the Inear-great and the would-be great nave learned that simplicity is the natural cloak of the really great, and many or them have ordered their spring and sum mer wardrobes copied from that model) The sinile, breaking into war work, breaking into society for some people, ends at the point of difficulty There may be many women tand mem who have experienced this difficulty. There are few Certainly there are many Iwhose voices are shouting In the will derness of chaotic conditions:
 q want to work for my countryH
 "Co-op! Co-op!- Co-opl Cooperation, cheep the birds of organization on all sides.
 Then, where do I get off" asks the |despairing patriot, standing on the plat form of his train of thought. II know how to make hay while the sun shines, and my record will show that ! am an expert at clearing away dead timber, and that I don't waste any time when I'm on the job. Where do l get off! Where do I begin work?"
 Scoop! Coop! Co-op Co-operatloE;" comes the slogan of the organized cho- rus which is the only definite answer to his inquiring mind.
 And so here's your chance, Mir Pa triot'', Drop into the breach and CO., operate with the book campaign for the soldiers and sailors Maybe the other kinds of war work didn't appeal to you; maybe you'd rather not knit with the Red Cross; maybe you'd rather not line up with the Hooverites; maybe you can't sing and dance and play the piano, and so you can't go to the camps and enter tain the soldiers. But, dear me, any, body can send a book to soldier man, so if you are looking about to get into war york;" why not cooperate With the book drive Campaign Director James l.. Davidson would appreciate your cooperation more than I can pos sibly tell you, because it's up to Eim to make this big drive for 10000 books in Birmingham this week during the na- tional campaign a success and he cant do it without your aid.
 When the United States troops mobl- lized in Mexico in 1916, it was discovered that no provision had been made against one of the most pressing needs of the men, for not book or a pamphlet or a magazine had been provided, and the soldiers clamored like magpies at every train halting at camp, begging periodi- calls, newspapers and any scrap of read ing matter that might be handy.
 But with our soldiers and sailors to- day the bitter lesson of experience with Mexico has been of avail, and we have profited by former mistakes, and now the whole world is active in sending our
 boys books-and books worth while--not the Nick Carter" variety, but books selected especially with substance lead ing their readers to better understand ing of the principles for which they are fighting. and will foster in them love of the ideals to defendd for which this country Is at war
 Some six or eight months ago Mir.
 Frank Vanderlip, whom Birmingham had the pleasure of meeting, and who is chairman of the library war council, gave out an interview in New York, in which the interviewer, by way of be- ginning. asked the distinguished bank CT the names of a few books which he thought our soldier men ought to have.
 That's a selection I'm glad I don't have to make,' confesed MT. Vanderlip. 
 Choosing those books is a difficult task. It is matter for the most serious con sideration. The men are all young, many of them in the early twenties. They have arrived at that period of life when the mind Is the most impression- able. This condition is further empfa- sized by the circumstances which throw many of them suddenly into wider asso- citation with their fellow men. The things that are put into their minds now will stick there. It seems to me that now is the time to give the best there is in literature. It is not the time to give them frivolous stuff.
 1T shouldn't give them just anything they want to read. The material should be selected for them with the greatest care. It is doubtless true they will be- come very hungry for something to read. and for that very reason they should receive only the most wholesome litera- ture.''