The Washington times., 1918-03-15
To My Sweetheart
SOLDIER
Every Girl Should Read
These Wonderful
Letters.

My Soldier:
We have had a wonderful day
at GettysburG! II wasn't exactly
what 1 expected 1t to be, but as
tried to analyze the difference.
finally reflected that what 1 really
thought / was to see was an actual
battlefield with blood and carnage
all around. But not SO! The scene
OF our greatest conflict lay green
and peaceful under a smiling sky!
The beautiful avenues stretched
away. and were lost in groves OF
trees. The formidable Culp's Hill,
and Cemetery Ridge. lay pictur-
esque and with smiling verdure
against the blue horizoni Only the
monuments and the tablets. and the
pitiful cemetery. made real the con-
ffct OF years ago! So may II be In
the future. beloved. as we look
back. green fields and pleasant pas
lures covering the blood stains of
today. and the scars Of aching
hearts healed by the gentle hand OF
time. and the knowledge that
through sacrifice and strife we
have won eternal peace. How
proud Will be the children and chill
dren's children who can one day
say: MY father fought in that
Eeat war! My father helped to win
that victory" 1t is only by
thoughts like these that our minds
can be diverted from the tragedy
OF the present!
We had most extraordinary
guIdei Instead OF indicating objects
of interest with his hand as one
would suppose. he had a mustache
waXed up for the purpose, and
pointed with II. | was SO occupied
with the novelty that l kept my
eyes glued to the phenomenon, 10
the exclusion Of much that was IN
structivc outside. In going down
Confederate avenue with the Con-
fcderate landmarks on one side ana
the Federal on the other, he had
TO move his mustache so quickly
from side to side that the effect
fairly made one dizzy! ] never saw
anything 30 nimble and accurate IN
all life, II must have taken years
Of practicc and perseverance 10
produce th" uneErinE results which
he obtained. Not a false move! As
hc spoke the name Of monument
or statue. just at that very in
stant was the end Of the mustaChe
directed toward II without deviat-
ing u fraction Of an inch! He had
"A front tooth missing other
crccntricitI"s-- making a little win
dow through which he eNpeCtOrat-
ell accurately and at stated inter-
walls. ] presume there was some
thing about his long association
with battlefield which made him
take pride in being able to aim and
lire!
As Mr.. Lincoln said, he cannot
consecrate the ground where these
brave men fought and died, We
must rather ConScCrate our lives
and our service to the principles
of freedom which they so nobly de-
Tended, that Government Of the
people. by the people, and for the
people shall not perish from the
earth" But clearer than Lincoln's
call comes down through the ages
that ancient command. spoken so
many Years ago by the side OF a
cradle, and urging to victory ey-
cry conflict we ever have known
Peace on earth. good will to men,"
. In Gods good time will come ful-
fillment. For that we wait and
pray. Look up, beloved, from your
trench tonight, and see the star OF
Hope, forever. fixed and chanSeless!
Goodnight, my Soldier! In HaE-
erstOwn. Md. We APE tonight 1t IL
only Il little way from France. and
through the gateway OF dreams
shall soon be with you.
Your WEE.