The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-07-17
Sentiment In The Trenches
BY Francis Rogers of The Vigilantes.

Our boys in France maturing fast. The
conditions amid which they live tend both to
no responsibility for their own, physical needs;
food, shelter and clothing are all provided for
them. Many If not most OF them have assigned
the greater part Of their pay to their families
and efforts Of theirs can increase their in
come. During the day and often at night they
are almost constantly under orders in doing only
what they are told they doing their full duty.
Their only real responsibility is for the conduct
Of their own thoughts.
In intercourse with our soldiers in France one
soon discovers that many of them living an
active, often exalted, inner life. The gossip
that used to satisfy their hours of leisure
longer meets their need for mental refreshment
and their minds seem to crave the solid nour-
ishment to be found in poetry and religion. A
member Of the foreign legion, who was by no
means educated man in the usual sense Of
the phrase, told us that he always carried in
his pocket a copy Of THE Golden Treasury"
which had comforted him through many a. weary
vigil in shell-hole and trench. Robert w. Serv
ices Rhymes Of a Red Cross Man" is the ia
miar friend of thousands Of our boys Kip
ling, too, they know well, and host of other
pbets less celebrated. Many a boy has his pocket
spondents at home have culled from the news
papers.
Not only do they read poetry; they write it.
We met boy who had composed reams of
'vers libre" and whose letters home his official
censor told us, written in the same medium
That delightful mirror Of army life, The Stars
and Stripes" is trimming with the poetic effu-
sions Of its readers The Partisan New York
Herald" held competition in verse last spring,
OPSI4 W L4S4 III Inc American EXped4Llouary
forces The response was overwhelming in
quantity and the prize winners, especially the
sonnet that won the first prize, were worthy Of
really serious consideration.
Confronted with the most serious of all prob
lens, that Of death and what comes after it, the
boys thoughts turn often towards religion-not
SO often to the traditional creeds in which they
were brought up to the significance to them
personally Of the sacrifice they hold themselves
prepared to make. The 7. NJ C. A secretaries
and the chaplains find them willing to lay bare
and discuss the most intimate problems Of their
lives. The trend Of their religious thought is
away from the Journalism Of dogma and doctrine
and towards simple code of, service and self
sacrifice. The many tales of gaantry and self
line show how this code expresses itself in deeds
TWO incidents that have been reported to me
show how it expresses itself in words
In the course of hot battle a detachment Of
American soldiers was cut off and surrounded
by the enemy. Some one must cut his way
through to where relief could be obtained
private, generally known as a "rougbneclx"
ice Afterwards he confided to Salvation ARMY
worker that, although he never before had
prayed, this time he had offered a prayer before
he left his lines.
But. what did you say?"
Oh said, God" don't give damn what
happens to me, but please keep me safe till can
bring back help for these boys here"
Another boy confessed that he always nraved
before he Went over the top. He did not pray
to be saved from all HARM for that would Seem
as II he were taking unfair ADVANTAGE Of the
fellows who forgot or did not know how to pray.
ne prayed only that no matter what happened
ne might be given the strength to bear himself
Ike brave man. Could the most pious Of
saints have framed a nobler prayer than this?