Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1919-07-31
IRIS NEWS FROM HOME
.sReaector' Reaches Italy on Time
Writes J. N. lEnEie.

Udine, Italy, June 15.-Editor Re
Hector: OF the several papers mail
ed to me from the states, the
.Weekly Reflector" is the only one
that arrives regularly, and / deem II
no more than just and right that
should send you line and tell you
how much l appreciate the get
there" qualities of your paper. When
a publication can cross the deep sea-
travel over and through the Alps
traverse long plains and valleys ana
Get 70 a little town stuck far up IN
the Caynia Alps of north ltaly-and
on scheduled time-it is entitled TO
a war cross.
Its Abilene and Dickinson county
news is Of intensest interest to me.
From the Reflector" / learn of the
wheat crop of our reliable county
and state, and sometimes | sincerely
wish myself there to help reap the
harvest. Perhaps / would not per-
form the same perspiring kind of
work that used to when / was with
the header and threshing outfits
that operated along the Smoky Hill
and in the regions north of eDtroit,
but could surely secure Gas the
Italians would say)-''multisslmo"
life insurance premiums.
But there has been world war
and my humble part in it has not
been a money making affair For
three months l have served with the
ITALIAN army as a representative of
the Y. NJ. G. A. There is a fascina-
ton about the work of supervising
half dozen Cast del soldali that is
hard to describe. An American can
not help but delight in the apprecia-
tiyeness. the cordiality and the sim
certify and simplicity of the Italians.
The "late unpleasantness" brought
about by the peace conference,
President Wilson and Fiume was
not a condition desired by U. S.
man living in Italy. and it would be !
folly to to say that there were not
times when he would rather have
been in Kalamazoo or some other
seaport town. But a good many
questions will be answered and argu-
ments settled by the simple state
ment that the "Y'' in italy is still |
recruiting new secretaries, is doing |
as effective work as ever and is re-
lceiving courteous treatment and
harty cooperation from army and
government officials. Too many of
the U. S. newspapers during the
worst of the Fiume discussion re-
sorted to yellow journalism. re-
call how astounded some of us were
to see the headlines Of the big New
York dailies that arrived here after
THE break in Paris.
In the work here in the War Zone
one feels much isolated and 1t is not
always easy to fight off depression
and encouragement and a man is
inclined to ask himself whether it is
better "to be or not be" here; but If
Emerson was right in his ~Compen-
sation," there is balm for every Ill
and every disadvantage his its cor
responding advantage.
The last time l heard-Over
month ago-I still had a wife living
in Chicago, my youngest son, an En-
sign in the navy was about to be re-
leased and the oldest son Lieuten
ant in the Coast Artillery was de-
modified and back in his old posi-
,tion in the Chicago Latin school.
When 1 hear from them again, If /
ever do I hope the news will all be
favorable. / was given little
change of scenery a few weeks ago
10y taking a ten day leave to which
each man is entitled after four
months service My trip was
circle around Italy from Udine to
Rome and Naples, from Naples to
,Finme, Florence and Milan. and from
Milan to Venice and back home.
Had a good opportunity for birds
eye view, so to speak, Of the coun-
try, the people and the "glory Of the
italian cities"
l trust that your faithful Weekly
will continue to find me. I shall be
more eager to receive and to read it
than was several years ago-to
read in it my own news items from
Hayes township. Sincerely yours.
J. N. ENGLE.