The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-05-26
OUR SOLDIERS AMERICANIzEO EVERYTHING THEY TOUCHED
 SAYS MRS. MAUD 3. BOOTH
By MRS. MAUD ARLINGTON
 BOOTH. COf The Volunteers of America-)

Nre Impression that will ever re- main with me from my sojourn with tho A. E. F., was the absolute Ameri- Sanization of everything they touch t-A. The spirit of America trans formed signs, thorough-fares, streets. lanes and h, paths into one har- monious locahzation of well-known namos Side by side with French nomenclature would be Broadway, Iffth avenue, Fremont Street, the Adirondacks etc. The spirit of compat-iots gave American life to every movement of men and vehicular traffic. As soon as I renched the heart cl my first ob- jective, l was profoundly impressed with the cleaa-cut manhood in con tradisHnction to tho heavy German. British and French nannerlsn1s. Everywhere was the smiling cheeri- ness of the Amer1 ans, which seem- ed to enliven the gloom of the eli mate and the mud and slime of the highways; they had a spirit and it went over tho top of all hardships ard emergencies
 In other words, the very sunshine and homo atmosphere of America adorned their actions. It v-ls clear to me from the beginning of my con tact with the A. F. F. that they hadn't and wouldn't allow the hor- TOTS of battle or tho privations and war-weari ess of its aftermath 10 mako them unduly conscious of tho mud and the ra1n. There was no danger of our American boys becom- ing Europeanized Into the sIoon!ness that seems to be part of the climatic rigor of the winter. The fact is the A. F. r. was bound together with such ties that we felt like one big family or fraternity, with all the mystic charm that belongs to true cornra deship, and ] feel at present strange and lost amid tho civilian population of our Eastern cities.
 Bonds have been forged in the blood and fire of battle by the spirit of sacrifice that will bind the hearts of all who served in the A. E. F.. never to be dissolved. however far asundcr they may find themsef in the homeland.
 In going to France my idea was not merely to take an entertainment to the boys. but to forge a link be- tween the homesick lad and his anxious mother at home. The fact I had been known throughout the Tn .od States as "the Little Mother" 1 and that I have worked so much among the boys. made me confident that I could be able to touch the springs of manhood, and true affec-
  scenes of isolation and misery to the higher things of life.
 How She Won the Title
 When company after company and regiment after regiment. publicly voted me their Little Mother I real ized that I had been able to reach the goal of my mission. No mere public speeches or addresses could have given me the personal touch l A11 Book that I carried with me where ever I went. night and day, to TSen by the wayssde or In large numbers assembled in all kinds of gathering places. That book enabled me to reach and talk with the boys per sonally, and provided me with won derful privilege and opportunity Of cheering and comforting the mem bers at home The name of the Mothers Book preceded my movements, and as soon as I was about to conclude, I would observe officers and soldiers alike turn to their pencils and foun- tain pens There were 4.0oo pages to the book, and each boy who wished could write and intimate message to his mother which would reach her quicker than his ordinary mail and.i be carried to her with all the direc- l tions and pathos of a thought from l the pointsof duty.
 oh. how my heart was often l touched. almost to the point of tears, | as have stood amid the mud and | chilled discomfort of some barn or hut and have seen those boys write | their messages on a plano CT against | the wall or use the backs of their comrades as desks. Many a time a | boy has handed me his message and l then taken a long grip of my hand l and whispered, "I have been nearer l home and mother today than any day | since I came to France" When ! have afterwards cut open and read the mothers replies. hundreds have said in effect. Your letter has made 1 me feel nearer to my boy than I have at any time since he left home" and turn away now from these letters and feel that my message was worth while, simply because 1t accomplished its glorious communication between heart to heart and its most sacred expression
 Some Of the Letters.
 I ought to say that it was with War Secretary Bakers special sanc- ton that was able to make success of the mothers book for he gave me permission to act as censor of the letters and to despHtch them by the quickest ssrvfce. Some idea of these messages will be gleaned from a few samples, one reading thus:
 Dearest Mother-dIave just heard tho bss6 heart-to heart talk given by an American mother. Mother, keep your courage at it's highest, as the service stars you wear representing your boys over here and will be kept as pure and clean as the stars above. With love from both.
 CALVIN HESTER.
 LYMAN HESTER" Another follows: Dear Mothe<@Tonight have listened to the Little Mother, who is indeed O Little Mother as she is prov ing herself to be over here, and she has ruade made us realize as we per haps never have before how much ! you mothers have done to help win this war, the sacrifices you have