The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1918-09-18
ARE YOU WILLING
TO HELP OUR
SOLDIER BOYS?

EVERY SOLDIER OR RED CROSS
NURSE SHOULD HAVE HOME
TOWN PAPER REGULARLY. T
Every citizen interested in the. boys
CT his home town now at the front, and
in the brave women who equally are
serving their country abroad has an
opportunity to show his appreciation
Of the sacrifice they are making. The
opportunity comes as result of the
generosity and thought of Col. Will
liam Boyce Thompson of New York,
who has conceived and put into execu-
tion what is known as the Home Pa
per Service.
Under the plan, every man and wo-
man in foreign service will receive
the town newspaper, and so be kept il,
constant touch with the places and the
people they know and love.
Every branch of the United States
government is interested in the plan.
The government realizes the import
ance Of keeping those in the service
happy and constantly in touch with
their home ties and associations. Nc
thing is more depressing in a national
emergency than the spirit of loneli-
ness in those serving their country,
and officials know that nothing can
dispel this feeling more effectually
than reading the home town newspa-
per.
Publishers of newspapers in all
parts of the country-this newspaper
included-have grasped with pleasure
Fthe plan outlined by Col. Thompson,
and they have agreed to cooperate in
every way.
Under the ruling of the War Indus
tries board newspaper publishers are
forbidden to send their newspapers
free, even to soldiers. The newspaper
must be subscribed for in the regular
way, the only exception being sol
diers who formerly were in the en-
ploy of the newspaper and who left
that service to enlist. Col. Thomp-
son therefore proposes that the public
in each community contribute to a
fund sc that the home newspaper Tin
our case this newspaper may reach
every man and woman now in the sr-
vice of his country.
Anyone may contribute to the fund
and any sum may be contributed. 1t is
not necessary to contribute the entire
amount Of cne subscription. 1t does
not matter whether the rich man sends
in 500 or the poor boy or little girl
sends in five cents. Each gift will
be a message of love and helpfulness
to the home town folks "cver there"
The money will be Jumped into one
fund, out of which subscriptions will
be entered as fast as the money is re-
ceived.
Contributors who send in the full
price cf years subscription may, If
they wish, designate to what tarticu-
lar person they wish the newspaper
sent, but if the name given is already
listed as receiving the paper, then the
published reserves the right to apply
the subscription to some less FORUM
ate soldier boy or noble woman who
is just as lonely fer news of home
and home folks.
The name of every contributor to
this home paper service will be pub
lished in this newspaper, and the name
of everyone entered for subscription
will be published as we'll as the num-
Der of those remaining whose SUBJ
scripticns have not been covered.
The plan is endorsed by the publish
er of this newspaper without any
thought of profit, either directly or in
directly, but with a sincere desire to
help keep the home fires burning and
to send to our heroes and heroines
news of the town to keep their hearts
warm for us and to let them know
they are constantly in our minds
The publisher of course cannot
make profit on circulation and addi-
6onal circulation such as this will be
circulation from non-purchasers
sent far across the sea-can have no
added value to the advertiser.
These facts are stated so that ev-
cry contributor may feel that every
cent contributed goes to the good
cause.
The mothers of our boys are facing
and ordeal with a bravery that COM
mands respect and admiration. Here
and there where tiny stars are turned
from blue to gold, where anguish
grips the heart, the nation stands in
silence and honors the women who
have given of their blood, the very
bone Of their bone, to their country.
To them, home has lost its meaning
the soul of it has fled--there is no
home, it is just a place, and no place
is quite so lonely, unless it be within
the hearts of those brave sons in far
off France who long for just word
of home. There cannot be q man,
there cannot be woman, no, not even
child, who will fail to contribute
Just a little to make the hearts of
these patriots lighter. Not one. Not in
our town.
Il Assistant Teacher.
M;.s uo1ov, Dros~1v bos hoou an