The Sauk Centre herald., 1929-11-07
THE SPIRIT OF '29
BY. Sam Clark


when the war drums throb longer and the
battle flags furled, those of thoughtful mind will
note the changing character of Armistic Day cele-
brations What wonder that America went stark
mad that November day eleven years ago when
the news broke upon weary world that the bloody
conflict overseas had come to sudden end; what
wonder that the pent-up misery of those years of
strife should break loose in exultant manifesto
tion of trumph-n victory for the ideals for which
millions of and women laid down their lives.
But with each recurrence of the day it has become
less and less day of agonized gIorifcation, but
rather a day of tender memories of flowers and
tears The bitterness of that terrible conflict has
passed like uneasy dream, and today the mufed
drums of the marching boys do not throb with the
crash of victory, but rather they purr requiem-a
sort of sobbing acceptance of the arbtramen of the
sword-and the thoughts of Americans wander to
Flanders field
And this is true also of the annual National Le-
gion gathering. We recall the National conclave of
the boys which was held in the Twin Cities only
few years ago. Those Legion He'll Hounds was
what called them. And they pulled very
ingenious pranks to say the least. Some of cti-
zenry were shocked. I'VE don't want another Legion
convention the verdict of many. Well, after ALL
the boys just back from hell "War is HELP
and drafted them and sent them there. Let's take
another look There was Judas even among the
apostles wasn't there? And that ratio out
of twelve In several hundred thousand Legion boys
you would naturally expect to find few real hellions
wouldn't you? But man for man. they represent
best citizenship and thousands of them stand ready
to go to hell again for their country And with each
recurrence of their annual gettogether the Legion
boys making the meeting and
Young Grand Army Reunion with thoughts of Blue
and Gray lowering over the foreground of khaki.
The bitterness and hatred of war have been sup
planted with realization of the purposes for which
the youth of the land gave it's strength and blood;
Armistice Day is becoming more and more day of
memories day sanctifed by the tears of Gold Star
Mothers, day of prayers day of resignation to
the wonderful sacrifice made the side of right
There is nothing new about this resignation
nothing new about the calm that has invaded the
hearts of men and women when Time has had
chance to heal and soften wars bitterness. When
in all the cycles of human endeavor have waged
war more relentessy than did North and South, and
yet it was not long before Francis Finch's lines
"The Blue and The Gray'-breathed the true sent-
ment that had crept into the hearts of Americans
sentiment almost too tender for words:
No more shall the war-cry
Or the winding rivers red,
They Danish anger forever
When they laurel the graves of dead
e~s
Under the sod and the dew,
Waiting the judgment day.
Love and tears for the blue,
Tears and love for the gray.
Tenderness has supplanted bitterness; forgetfuf-
ness of everything but the bravery of lads, the
sacrifices of mothers, and the glory of having
fought for lasting peace-that is the spirit of Arm
stice Day in 1929.