The Dolores star., 1918-05-24

We have most eoaspicuously in the
work Of the Red Cross. Not that our
men in arms do not represent our
for they do. and 1t is a char
acter which those who see and realize
appreciate and admire: but their duty
10 the duty OF force. The duty Of the
Red Cross is the duty of mercy and
succor and friendship.
Have you formed picture in your
imagination Of what this war is doing
for us and for the world? In my own
mind l am convinced that not . hum
dred years Of peace could have knit
ted this nation together as this single
year Of war has knitted 1t together;
and. better even than that. If possible,
1t Is knitting the world together.
Points to Hun Ambitions,
Look at the picture. In the center
of the scene, four nations engaged
against the world, and at every point
OF vantage showing that they are seek.
Ing selfish aggrandizement; and,
against them. twenty-three govern
ments representing the greater part
Of the population Of the world drawn
together into a new sense of commu-
nifty of interest, q new sense OF COM
munity of purpose, a new sense of
unity of life.
The secretary of war told me an
interesting incident the other day. He
said when he was in Italy member
of the Italian government was explain
ing to him the many reasons why
Italy felt near to the United States.
If you want to try an interesting
experiment. go up to any one of these
troop trains and ask in English how
many Of them have been In America
and see what happens
He tried the experiment. He went
up to the troop train and said, How
many OF you boys have been in Amer
ica?' and he said 1t seemed to him rs
OF half Of them sprang up: Me from
San Francisco Me from New York;
all over There was part Of the heart
OF America in the Italian army. Peo-
pie that had been knitted to us by as.
sociation. who knew US, who had lived
amongst us. who had worked shoulder
to shoulder with US, and now frienas
of America, were fighting for their ma
tive Italy.
Friendship is the only cement that
VIII ever hold the world together, And
this intimate contact of the Red Cross
with the peoples who are suffering the
terrors and deprivations Of this war is
going to be one OF the greatest instru-
mentalities Of friendship that the
world ever knew, and the center Of
the heart Of 1t all, IL we sustain II
properly. will be this land that wa no
dearly love.
Day Of Duty at Hand.
MY friends. great day Of duty has
come, and duty finds a mans soul ~
no kfRd Of work can ever find It.
May say this? The duty that
faces US all now Is to serve one an.
other. and no man can afford to make
a fortune out Of this war. There are
men amongst us who have forgotten
that, If they ever saw II. Some of
you are old enough-I am old enough
Ito remember men who made for.
tunes out Of the Civil war, and you
know how they were regarded by
their fellow citizens. That was a war
10 save one country-this is a war to
save the world.
And your relation to the Red Cross
Is one OF the relations which will re-
neve you Of the stigma. You can't
give anything to the government Of
the United States: it won't accent IL
There is a law of Congress against &C.
cepting even service without nav
A Channel for Giving.
THE only thing that the govern
ment will accept is loan, and duties
performed; but it is great deal bet
ter to give than to lend or to pay and
your great channel for giving is the
American Red Cross.
Down in your hearts you can't take
very much satisfaction, in the last
analysis. in lending money to the gov
ernment Of the United States, because
the interest which you draw will burn
your pockets: it is commercial trans
action and some men have even dared
to cavfl at the rate of interest, not
Knowing the incidental commentary
tnat constitutes upon their attitude.
But when you give, something of
your heart. something Of your soul,
something of yourself goes with the
gift. particularly when 1t is given in
such form that it never can come
back by way of direct benefit to your
self. -.--~
Appeals to All to Give.
You know there is the old cynical
definition of gratitude, as the lively
expectation of favors to come
We'll, there is no expectation of ia.
vors to come in this kind Of giving.
These things are bestowed in order
that the world may be a filter nIace