South Bend news-times., 1921-01-15
Dear WTn!fred Black

Dear WInifred Black
I wish you would advise me as
90 my present predicament, as ] am
unable 90 stand the same and can
not figure out any reason why X
should be-
Now. before ! went into the army
and put in one years service IN
France. 70 was my pleasure 20 make
friends easily and hold on % them:
i0 fact. my company was such that
I always had somebody AZ my heck
and call. But since NY return from
France I have lost all OF my old
friends and cannot seem 20 make
new ones
Is II because I have grown 20 be-
come q much stlrner and cOarser
man because OF army life. that I
have lost my pals2 1 have tried 10
flgGre 30 out but / cannot do 80. IL
il causing me worry. as one or my
pals who stuck 20 me for nine years
drifted away in the course OF a
nights company with me. Another.
with whom I had palled since school
days has left me. I am unable 20
hold new friends and acquaintances.
II is getting serious, as ] am afraid
nay makeup since my return from
France has driven away instead OF
attracted those who were my bosom
companions prior 10 the war.
II the army has made "A man out
Of me- then why should I be the
sufferer by losing those I claim as
dear friends?
The army has made me lose that
charm and grace OF character that
my friends once held dear, sup
pose. Why?
solve the problem and oblige.
A LONESOME BUDDY.
Adjustment Takes Time.
/ Vow Lonesome Buddy. I'm going
I % answer your letter-nOt because
/ YOU wrote L.. but because | believe
/ that You are just one Of thousands
/ who feel exactly as you do.
This country IS full OF young men
I who don't know what In the world
20 do with themselves.
Some OF them were happy. pros
! porous. normal, young fellows three
I or four years ago.
! Some OF them were drifters-
/ young Jacks and Jimmies. out in
! the world 20 seek their fortunes and
\ not caring particularly where they
/ went or what they did 20 find them.
Some were plodding matter-O Of
\ fact young men, working steadily at
more or less uninteresting Jobs,
\ watching the clock diligently. and
always hoping to get something to
do which would be easier and more
I fun and bring them IN better pay.
/ A lot Of these young men ..ayed
golf and baseball and exercise in
/ gyrunasiuns and went to dances and
/ skated and rode and sculled and did
/ the various things which amuse and
/ develop youth in all lands and In
! all conditions.
/ Some of them were good, some Of
I them were bad. some OF them We're
I Indifferent.
want 20 20 in at first-we
Then came the WAR. We didn't
\ Americans-but we heard a lot about
/ striking of the chains OF helpless
I people. and making the world safe
| for democracy, and we did go IN.
/ We had bands and parades n d
drives. We laughed and cried and
/ cheered and thrilled with the rest
I OF the world
Our boys went across the ocean
I YOU were one of them. Lonesome
/ Buddy-and they fought Ike men
and like Americans.
You. too. no doubt. Lonesome
I Buddy We were all proud Of you.
I and on Armistice day We Wept for
| JOY 10 know that many Of you would
z come nome 10 US aEALu-Our DO1St
bone OF our bone. flesh OF our flesh
the very flower OF our pride,
Then-then came-you along with
the rest.
Then somehow, when the fret
ecstasy OF tho homecoming was
over. things weren't as we thought
they would be
The world wasn't free, after ali,
] and there seemed 20 be quite n few
| chains jangling somewhere, just as
/ they tangled before the great WAR.
What was il all about? The horror
and the anguish and the terror of
IT, We felt as one feels who steps
/ off high place unexpectedly. We're
all a little she'll shocked yet-yes,
even those Of Us who didn't get
across"
We don't understand each other,
and we can't make out the mystery
OF life. and we haven't Yet become
accustomed 70 the humdrum Of
everyday existence.
just Old d-Fashioncd Nerves.
We take notions and set Ideas"
and have "spells'-all OF us--and
| then We imagine that our best friends
do not tlra r1g- and feel that the