Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-05-30
Confused
Youth Writes
About War
No Surety Of Future,
Cant Plan, He Says
BY WESTBROOK PEGLER

SnlttleSS niue cNnlc with a mind
and spirit fed on scandal and
swing, hHtthe- ether-ene- who
is a freshman at college has
written letter TO his mother as
follows:
II received n very bedraggIed
letter from YOU yesterday. Have
yeti taken 10 chewing Your let
ters before YOU mail them or am
To blame this maceration on
the post office?
have selected my room for
next year and made out my
schedule Of courses. Our room
Is very nice. hut there II much
doubt that I shall ever occupy
this soom. The latest news IL
that all Of uS who have become
- since the last draft by July
will he registered
There II considerable talk ~
war here. II j., in fact. the
principal topic Of conversation
AT table now. a. never before.
THE question now II when
rather than whether. 80 there
IL considerable bother In my
mind
"Of those who are taking the
military science course only the
best will he accepted into the
advanced course. beginning jun
Tor year. I have only been doing
ID work In this course, 81 this
obviously lets me out.
For this reason ! have de-
cided not 10 take the course
next wear. ~ the elementary
course nv itself II worth moth
ing as far a. the draft or any
preferment In the army itself
goes.
81 DO FEEL that ought to
get ahead Of the game
somehow. although Mt the mo-
ment ] have no particular plans
in mind. Some are taking mp
flying. hut this I have rejected,
because I don't think my stom-
ach would stand II. and planes
have never interested me.
"Some one mentioned the
Plattshurg course In the sum
mer, hut | know nothing about
this. I have nothing definite in
nd ~
just nursing.
AS far a. the Summer job
goes. am not going 10 let II
stand In the WAY of this thing.
Pew of us feel that we will
get through more than next
year. " that.
New draft legislation and
things coming up make u look
as II our sophomore wear viii he
our last. and. although ! try To
make plans aS II were going
10 stay four wears, personally 1
don't think 30.
THE whole thing j. that ! am
terribly confused. don't know
what 10 think and, because
there's no surety of any kind ~
future. I can't plan. I am utterly
unable 10 make M my mind.
and. all in all. IL il n most un-
pleasant affair.
II feel that ought Ia spend
my summer in something that
would he really profitable. not
In the way Of eNperience for
future iob or anything like that
hut rather something that will
get me ahead In the army, when
co.
SCENATOR NYE was mp here
~ the other daN preaching
the cause Of peace. II was
stIangr how angry his speech,
made me. Yhe ostrRn 1v,,'r
again.
"He spent his time deuouncing
the New Deal and declaring
that this was not or war and
that we would be fools 10 make
again the mistakes 81 1917. as
" the situation were exactly the
same.
II realize that this il very
chaotic sort Of letter, hut ! am
sort Of chaotic myself these
days. Really I don't want any
part Of this bcast'y business.
II want four years more ~
college. 7 want, 10 read good
books and get good liberal
education. I want Ia learn To
appreciate tho fine things in life.
II am just heoirnirg 20 real
Ire what Storchouse there IL
in the past. u II ~ " had just
caught glimpse through the
kc-hoIp OF n great world. ] am
suddenly consumed with "a great
passion 10 learn.
There are literally scores ~
courses want 70 tP'xc. want.
to study music. drama. art
Orom comprehensive rather
than = productive view phi
losophy. other languages. psy-
cologv tSpcllcd better than that,
] trust.
w WANT TO write. I want 10
L read. travel. do things. I
want 10 live. II must he the
Spring.
~ cannot imagine what has
produced this very elun letter
from one who was supposed 10
cheer YOU IN. ~ may he the
reaction Ia tho war news In the
papers and 10 many individual
worries of my Friends"
Having read the letter, Mrs.