The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-11-19

Ing the O1lVo Uf0D either.
Well, it would certainly be bully
IL Harold and Chauncey and l and
Ray could be home for Christmas,
but you must not lay any hopes and
plans for such q glorious feeling.
Don't let me be understood as a
Grape hanger or calamity bowler or
plain pessimist but the face of things
make me believe that none of us
will be coming home fol-. at least s
months or more il peace is signed
today, and 1t Is not signed yet, tho
I look for the official notice any
time, Possibly Ray will be released
or rather returned from overseas
within a few months after peace is
signed as he has now served about
year actively there, but others will
continue to go across and take their
places in the vast organization that
will be necessary to police the whole
of Central Europe and Asia for the
next five or ten years. look for
a lot to cross and for many more to
remain in the service year or two
here in the Home Guard and to look
after these camps, to guard the vast
property held in this territory BY
Uncle Sam. To man the hospitals
that are so necessary for the recon
struction of the men who are re-
turning from the battle area.
1t is not mentioned in the news
dispatches how many men we have
in the hospitals OF Europe and Eng
land who will eventually be brought
home for treatment.
We read today's casualty lists and
mately to US we dismiss the number
from our mind and then tomorrow
we see another several. hundred listed
among the casualties. Do we really
realize that these daily lists are pill
ing up and totaling into thousands
and thousands with wounds and dis
ease fractures and amputations that
will come home after awhile to show
us we never have felt before what
this War of Wars has meant? Think
OF the sacrifices that have been made
and that must be made yet, and the
long years of suffering men must
undergo. All this Is not really UNI
derstood by the people, it is only
family impressed upon those at home
that they have sacrificed when they,
have drawn from their savings to
put the money in a good security
of Bonds, and given the odd dollars
for charity, and then some have had
their touching good-byes with their
own, sbut when they see in every
town the cripples, the convalescents,
the nervous wrecks and then only
will they come to feel that someone
has made the real sacrifices. We
all pray that ours will not be the
one to pay as the debt is really paid
to country, we pray that he will re-
turn to us whole and sound, but in
the granting of this prayer let us not
be afraid to offer that which we can
and SO those of us who also are in
the service must continue our duties
with all the spirit and willingness
possible. Let us do our duty nor
ask to go home till they feel we are
no longer needed.
How I wish things were so could.
be with you to relieve you from the
drudgery, the he d work Of the farm,
but can't, and / only hope you will
conserve your strength till we return
and not try to do too much, as 1t
will only result in your breakdown,
and we cannot either enjoy the fu-
ture then. Life is not worth it for
to try to, do all the little things.
Just so you keep things from going
all to pieces is all we want and when
we come home we can make up for
II Wa have all learned what IL ia
to drill and to work and to econo-
mize.
With this little sermon ended I
will say that it has rained all day
and it is still raining and it is also
after 10 p. M, SO I will close with
an expression of love to you and
mother.
JOE MADSEN