Norwich bulletin., 1918-09-20
Views of the Vigilantes
Acauirina a Habit.

AcGuiFin9 F7apits
 (By Gertrude Atherton of The Vigil
 antes.)
 Probably nothing could humiliate us more than to be forced to admit any superior quality in a race for which we have a profound bathing and con- tempt And yet it is a fact that the national habit of thrift in Germany is one secret of it's prolonged resistance to the combined might of the civilized world. It is quite true that before the war the Germans were gross eaters, but they wasted nothing. The moment the civilians were ordered to eat less and save the scraps they drew in their belts and did as they were told. It might be difficult to control the crav- ings of their distended stomachs, but to scrimp and save involved to long apprenticeship, cost them practically no effort whatever.
 The same may be said of France While England-as wasteful a nation as our own-was issuing repeated and almost frantic warnings to her people, devising constant new methods to control their natural extravagance,a and at one time threatened with stsrva- tion, the French simply went on econ omizing and never were in danger for moment.
 1 never shall forget my first visit to Paris. It was to friends who lived in great style. but l happened to feel hungry during the day or when I went to bed late, I either had to go hungry or satisfy my healthy young appetite at a confserie. There Is never an ex- tra roll in a French household Exact rations are bought every morning for the day. If there are children in the Ia foI lN y1 that is provided for, but nothing what ever for eccentric appetites.
 I have found it comparatively easy 1 to follow most of the Hoover rules for 1 have always eaten meat merely as g matter of duty, and took kindly to i Graham biscuit with my morning tea 1 Moreover, the bread and butter habit i ct lunch and dinner I have always l thought vulgar. But to eliminate waste l has been different matter. Still. 1 have in a measure succeeded. There 1 is nothing in the bread box or any where else (except the inevitable boxes ] of Graham biscuit) but the daily ra-
 tion so that now when I come home l in the afternoon hungry 1 either forget l it or eat a few more Graham biscuit
 which 1 shall never look at again afte1 i the war is over.
 1 mention IllS personal 6ApSrl6nce i because 1t is no doubt that of many others. In a short time it will be the 1 experience of every one in the United 1 States; for the way this nation has walked up, denied itself it's customary 1 luxuries in order to put the money into 1 the Liberty Loan and w S. s. is the most significant thing in it's history
 And as there is something very fas- cinating about thrift and economy after it has been practiced for a time no doubt the habit will be a lasting 1 one, and this nation will reach heights ] of wealth and strength of character 1 that it's most ardent native admireI never would have ventured to predict More than any other sinrle cause does national habit, if it is a good one i knit a nation together, prevent thf disintegration which comes from tht
 softness of overindulgence.
 And for the formation of this habit i of thrift, and the lucid exposition O what thrift means in the winning o ] the war, we must thank the w. S. $ campaign. I doubt if any individua in this country barring the traitors 1 who call themselves Paoifists and I W. W. W.s, has failed to buy himself
 at least one ". $. s. Manv have pu into them all their hard earned say. l ings. But even the possession of ont W. s. $. makes it's possessor think And when this nation has learned tt think as a unit it will be what it nov imagines it is, the greatest nation ii the worldly Gertrude Atherton 0 the Vigilantes.