Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-04-27

Vt n dinner party in Washington, an
old lady sat listening To the talk of the
Young people surrounding her her chill
dren and her grandchildren with their
guests. The conversation concerned the
provision made for the soldiers and sailors
entering the present conflict and the pro-
lection made by the government for their
kIth and kin.
As her grandson, who occupies a govern
ment position, told how he enlisted and
cnlisting men were urged by the govern
ment tn take up war risk insurance in
amounts never before offered, on terms
whose generosity was never before con-
ceived. the old ladv gave vet moro intent
ear To the conversation. The young man
told how the soldier or sailor Is being
gwen opportunity of taking out war risk
insurance in amounts from $1,000 to
$4,000, which would provide for his
loved ones If need came, and would help
rehabihtste him If he became disabled
through misfortuncs OF war. or would tor1n
nest egg for his future independence 1t
he returned home unhsrned.
The Young man spoke of the care be-
slowed by the government on the soldiers
and sailors wives and children, and oi
dependent parents; OF allotnentS made
to klth and kin and from the man pay,
and allowances made 10 WIVES and chIl-
dren or to dependent parents, which
meant cas-, Of mind SO far as hIs dear ones
were concerned for the fighting man when
he went away lie told OF hundreds OF
thousands of checks already sent out. OF
hundreds OF employees preparing more 10
go He even told few humorous storlcs
based upon the contents Of letters from
women. now better and more regularly
III f-r tbo,, haforp
The old lady had stopped eating 10
listen; she could hardly believe her cars.
Changed davs since ] was young, she
said ''One Of the earliest pictures IN my
mind is that OF my grandfather III knee
breeches, and blue coat and butt waist
coat. with the cooked hat OF 10 days,
hiding of from the home near Boston to
that city TO receive his pension check for
service in the Revolutionary War. There
was no provision made for his wife and
children, so far as | ever heard said the
old lady, and no kindly city postman nor
rural route Garner brought allotment and
allowance checks TO the doors OF Revolu-
tionarv dsy homes
To this dear lady who had come IN con
act with three wars since the Revolution
IL seemed incOmprehcnsIble that to-day
the wife OF a private receiving $50 month
Is allotted half his pay She was yet more
Impressed 10 learn that 10 that sum the
government adds Sl5 month as a
separation allowance. II she has one child
An allowance Of SIS a granted; If there
are two children the allowance Is S32 so,
Masking total TO the wife with two chill
dren who has gwen her husband to his
country in war service the sum OF 81 so
pes month.
II means much to the women OF America
today that the United States government
has taken thought for them, Tor no govern
ment III any country IN any war ever 50
generously safeguarded is soldiers and
sailors wives and children, their mothers
or other dependents Ii is much 10 them
also 10 know that their men are not un-
duly taxed for that care. II the husband :
or son 5 paw be the regulation $50 of a
private. no matter how many little folks
there are al home be i asked 10 re-
linQuiSh but So from his monthly pay
envelope for the benefit or the home folks
His government does the rest, making
allowances for wife and children arc0rd-
ing 10 their number. up to the sum OF
$50 monthly which ], the maximum
amount granted 10 the wife and children
OF an enlisted man
ALLOTMENTS AND ALLOwA NCES.
.Allotrnents and allowances, II should
be remembered, apply only 10 the enlisted
personnel IN the naval and military
service Every enlisted man must allot for
his wife and children al least 81 a month.
but In no case more than half his paV
The enlisted man Is IN partnership with
the government IN safeguarding ms
family Within the limits Of SIS q month
and half his paw, the enliSted man must
corne a close as possible IN his allotment