The Washington herald., 1918-02-22

or our boys, with that sort OF stern
eye and nose and chin and Jaw, get
over here, we'll win the war; and
they like his good nature and they
like his manners. He's polite, this
boy of ours! He compares most ad-
vantageously with the men of any
nation, in that fundamental polite
ness which is based on consideration
for others. Add to these things the
fact that he Is jolly and generous,
and there Is small wonder that the
boulevard girls, when they are look
ing for someone to entertain. should
prefer these handsome, distinguished
looking boys of ours.
YOU NEEDN'T WORRY ABOUT
THAT, EITHER, in spite Of certain
stories emanating from sensation
mongers who should be in a better
business.
They'd have you believe that the
entire American army is plunging
headlong to the Old Nick. that they're
STEPPED in vice, sodden with drunken
ness, and rapidly undermining their
health and morals.
It's an infamous untruth!
An Infamous Untruth.
The fact is. the boys who have
taken roistering advantage of their
opportunities, are only q drop in the
bucket, as compared with the great
body of the American army in
France, which, as a whole, Is self
respecting and we'll behaved.
And these boulevard girls, these
women of the streets of Paris, are
only a drop in the bucket as COM
pared with the true women Of France.
the fine, courageous women who have
proved their worth by the wonderful
sons they have borne and reared, and
torn from their hearts to lay on the
altar OF their country!
There Is something in the French
patriotism which we, of a great free
country as yet unassailed, cannot
quite appreciate; for II takes adver-
sity to test and cement both friend
ship and love.
We love America because we are,
en- the average. good citizens with a
high sense of responsibility, we love
America vaguely, as a principle; but
an American will go very far indeed
for a principle.
A Frenchman loves France as II
she were q PERSON.
France Is his mother. and his un-
dying devotion to her Is c4mented
and sealed by the fact that for CEN
turtles she has been threatened by the
foe which invades her now. and life
itself is not too precious a thing to
lay down, cheerfully and gladly, for
the protection Of La Patrie.
France Gains Spiritually.
The nobility Of that attitude Is re-
flected in the faces of all France, and
it Is not too much to say. that, pro-
found as her sorrows have been and
deep as her miseries have been.
France is the better spiritually for the
tremendous sacrifices she has made.
That same foe would do to Ameri-
ca, and to all civilization. what he has
tried to do to France.
Your boy has seen and he has heard
much; escaped prisoners, refugees
from the stricken districts, and con-
tact with the homes which have been
so ruthlessly ravaged, are bringing to
him a more human reason than mere
DUTY for helping to destroy the bar
barity which has risen 20 horribly in
the midst Of peaceful and happy
world.
He has been very close to the rea-
sons for the American entry into this
immense conflict, and those reasons,
as he has come face to face with
them here. have reused in him a reso-
luton which can only be for his ul-
innate betterment and for the ulti-
mate betterment of his kind.
No, you need not worry about your
boy. He's getting nlong!"
copyright, 1881
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