Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-08-08
Gloomy Gus
Or PoIIyanna
Letters Out
Army Authorities Ask
Civilians Be Careful
BY HENRY McLEMORE

MILITARY authorities nave
vi asked us civilians 20 be
more careful about the letters
we write TO soldiers.
They feel that it doesn't do
soldiers morale any good to Eet
a letter from home IN which the
brightest hit Of news is that
Aunt Emma has run of with a
houndcr just because he prom
isod her all the fuel oil she
needed for next winter, or that
the pup is erieving himself 70
death because of the shortage OF
canned dog food.
The request is a sensible one.
\ soldiers lot Is tough enough
without having the burdens OF
the folks back home added TO
his pack.
After a day Of forced march
ing under a blStcring sun, or
jumping from an airplane, or
driving tank through forest
and uRderbruSh. il couldn't pos
-Slhlv cheer him up 10 learn thar
the tcrmitcS had eaten the Nv
ing room floor away, that sister
had b r o k m her arm in Two
places looking for scrap rubber
in the basement, and that his
best girl was going steady with
tho boy next door who missed
induction because of Sneezing
fits.
1t should be remembered.
when writing 10 soldiers, that
their sacrifices are so much
bigger than those of civilians
that they may find 1T difficult
10 SympathiZc with the petty in
cOnVenlCuccS suffered by those
on the home front.
4 MARINE. say. who has been
"A practicing landings through
the surf all day, is not calculated
10 he very understanding Of the
hardship of having TO get by
with an a gas card.
II might make ferry COM
mand pilot swear a-bit, when
opening his mail after a foggy
crossing Of the Atlantic. TO
learn Of the discomfort suffered
by The folks at home during a
Commute blaCkout.
And the boys on a lonely Aus
trallan outpost might not quite
understand a complaint against
high taxes, driving across town
with only the DINNERS on. and
not being able to get the Choic-
est cuts of beef every time the
butcher is called.
on the other hand. those of
us al home should guard against
being too cheerful There is a
happy medium. which is proha-
bly, the note military authorities
want us 10 strike in our letters
\ Gloomy Gus is no worse
than a pollyanna who uses milk
and honey instead OF ink. The
average American is no phony
and can spot il a mile off.
IT WOULD really upset the
Il average soldier TO get let
ter such as this.
Dear Charley: ..
Congress voted some more
taxes today and / wish YOU
were here 10 see your father.
He is tickled 10 death. When
he read about the new surtaN
he was happier than I've seen
him since he first broke 100 on
the golf course.
HE said the more they taxed
him, the more he liked il.
Your young brother, Nou'll he
glad 10 know. has ObeNed 10 the .
letter your instructions about .
not touching any of your things
while you're away.
II told him the other day
that he could use your tennis
racquet. that YOU wouldn't
mind. hut he said. NO he had
made YOU promise and was
going to keep il. Love, Mama"
Charley is no sap lie knows
hat bis dad has all but had
7popleNY over the taxes. and .
has probably haraneued the
family for hours on how the
government couldn't do that 10
him
Charley also knows that he .
had no more gotten out Of .
sight than his kid brother went
to.work ON everything he had
tenni5 RACQUET GOLF sticks. tics.
shirts. socks and everything
else and that he'll be lucky 10
have so much as a cuff link
when he returns home
TIERF is no use for Charlev's
sweetheart to try 10 fool him.
either
The chances are that Charley
know, his best girl pretty we'll.
and loves and trusts her.
j Won't make him feel any
hCttor for hcr 10 write hum
l0ticr M which she paints hcr-
self rs sort of young WhiStlcr'S +
Mother rocking away on the
porch moplng from morn TIN /