Mohave County miner and our mineral wealth., 1919-02-01

wv kLl lLuO UIul lLiV UNTIL
 BY SOLDIERS AND SAILORS
 Otto H. Kahn, in addressing the Rutger Alumni Association, proposed that steps be taken to preserve in book form 800 letters from American soldiers and sailors that best bespeak the American spirit in the war.
 MT. Kahn said:
 "The book of American glory con- tains no nobler pages than those which record the superb heroism of our fighting men in the war now so hap oily concluded, and the passion of pa triotic devotion which everywhere ex- alted the men and women of many races who make up America.
 "We have seen humanity at its high est and greatest. We may not indulge the hope that we shall be able per- manently to maintain ourselves at the level of thought, feeling and action to which we were lifted by the force of lofty inspiration. But we do earnest Fly hope, and surely we shall not fail to strive, that some, at least, of the things the nation has gained spirit ually will remain as enduring attain ments. And we trust we shall find, many of us, as these solemn years re- cede, that in our individual souls we have stored up assets which will re- main permanent possessions.
 q have had occasion to read num- erous letters written by officers and | of f,-oy,, thnsp~ ments here and abroad, from the steamers which carried them to Eu- rope, from hospitals and from the firing lines. These letters bear the stamp and impress of a great time. They are touched with great spirit. Some of them in their sentiment, their views, and their expression are of exalted and touching beauty.
 "The boys who wrote them were on their way to look death in the face or had just come from encount- ering him without flinching. They saw things differently from what they had ever seen them before or will ever see them again. All the pettinesses, the make-believes, the conventionalities of existence, had fallen away. They recognized true meanings, true values and true pro- .ortions. They were lifted out of and above themselves. Things were revealed to them. They struck depths. they found words, they rose to heights which were not accessible to them be- fore, and probably will not be access sible to them again.
 "These letters are not only in the true sense of the term human docu- ments, of the rarest value, but ema- hating as they do from WI ters of the widest diversity of birth, upbringing, occupation and race, they are su- preme demonstration of the work ings of the crucible which is America, and of the irresistibly compelling pow CT of it's appeal and spirit, upon those who are brought within its orbit. They are proof conclusive of the theory of, America; they are both assurance and admonition for the future.
 "They are spontaneous and moving manifestations of the noble qualities latent in American youth, unknown, stifled, suppressed or denied expression too often, unfortunately, in the ordi- nary routine of life, but leaping forth eargerly il response to great call. They ought to be made known and accessible as widely as possible in form which will make them per manent national possessions, so that their spirit may speak forever to the American people.
 "I should like, therefore, to throw out the suggestion whether a scheme roughly on the following lines might not be found practicable:
 "A National Committee to be con- stituted, composed of small num- Der of distinguished and eminently qualified men. This committee would invite those who have received soldiers letters which they believe to be noteworthy in the sense l have tried to indicate, to send such letters or copies of them to subcommittee designated for each state.
 "A selection would then be made, of say five hundred letters, and these would be published in a volume, the proceeds from the sale of which, would go to some suitable purpose com memorative of the war. (Or, instead of one national committee, it might be found appropriate to have the gov ernor of each state appoint a com mittee and have each state publish a volume of letters from its sons.
 "Such a volume-a golden book in truth-would be a fitting memorial for our noble dead, and an inspiration and a solemn admonition for those now living and for generations who will come after them."