Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1919-01-15
THE OBVIOUS THIN GS
BY sERGT. EUGENE GBEENHUr
American Expeditionary Force
Somewhere in France

Somewhere in France
In olden times the predominating
struggle was that of existence. Food
for the stomach, covering for the
body and protection from the ele-
ments constituted the whole scheme
OF things and engrossed every indi-
viduaIs entire energies.
For food, clothing and shelter are
the prime requisites. They are the
essentials. without any of these you
could not continue to live.
All this. you say, you need not be
told, because it is obvious. You
know it already.
But that is just the point.
There are some other facts which
, are just as obvious and as essential to
our present civilization, and there
fore to your scheme of things In carv'
ing your own little niche In this
worlds Hall of Fame to which you
may not be paying attention. Ano
only because they are obvious. Be-
cause they are not startling, enchant-
ing, romantic or exciting. Because
you know all about them.
You couldn't go without food FOL
month, could you? Or live without
clothing and shelter in dead winter
Well, these are physical comforts
creature considerations, Their are vi
I tally necessary
| But they are not all.
The writings Of Shakespeare, the
pictures of Rembrandt. the music o!
Grieg. the sculptures Of Rodin,. the
| Inventions of Edison-are they the
result of physical EFFORT only? Are
they the product of greed, ambition,
conceit or material self-adVance-
ment?
Or are they Ideal realized?
Could these men have accomplished
as much If Self entered into the
situation7
Anything real is obvious. The sun
shine, the rain, the wind are obvious.
We do not notice them because they
are obvious. Yet great would be the
havoc if each did not perform its in
tended function.
II that which is real is obvious,
then that which is obvious can be
localized, for to idealize the real we
must only realize the ideal. And it
is with the help of the real, or the
obvious that the ideal will be real
lied.
Now, then, what is Ideal? And
what are the obvious things you have
overlooked which will help guide
your uncertain footsteps?
There are ten Of them.
And yet, they are the foundation
of all things worth while Upon
them are built all religions. They
have inspired every work of art, lit
erature, music, science and invention.
There is no progress without them.
No man can really succeed who fails
to accept them as aids.
Their magic brilliance has light
ed the way for those who have left
this world better than they found 1t,
Faith
! Loyalty
Honesty
Charity
Courage
Perseverance
Conscience
Enthusiasm
Health
knowledge
These are the obvious things. They
are SO OBVIOUS, 80 simple, so pialn,
that we pass them by in the rush and
scramble for the things that count
not at all.
They are not the playthings OF
fools and knaves. They are for men
who understand. For only men of
understanding have helped turn the
wheels of progress.
Volumes of essays and treat Ses
have been written on these ten cbvi-
os principles of conduct. And yet
they are as simple and plain as the
world is old.
But they are the masters of your
salvation, the champions OF your hap
piness. Disregard them and your life
will be one of uselessness, discomfort
and unhappiness.
Live by them and the world is
| YOURS