Evening star., 1943-04-15


diers over here that there isn't so
much as a pinpoint of a town at
home that couldn't borrow a quart
of milk and a pound of honey and
come close to qualifying as the
Promised Land.
There isn't an American soldier in
the British Isles who isn't willing to
put up strong argument that the
city, town, village or hamlet he came
from isn't suburb of Heaven and
that If he ever sets a foot in the
place again, nothing short of a half
ton truck and four mules will be
able to drag him away from it.
Will Be Real Boosters.
To judge by the conversation Of
our Army, one of Americas big post
war problems will be that of trying
to get the population to move around
a bit. To hear them tell it, the SOL
diers aren't going to stir lick once
they get back to the old home town
and hang their caps on Main, Elm.
Oak or Olive streets. They are
simply going to get a rocking chair,
prop it on the front porch and enjoy
the delights and pleasures of the
town they were born and raised in.
If the boys mean what they say.
no town will ever need chamber
of commerce booster any more,
The boys from Coon Hollow will
shout the praises of Coon Hollow
and the boys from Scrubbrush will
let it be known that little OIL Scrub
brush is the sweetest town in the
world. I have heard soldiers praise
the scenery and climate of towns
know jack-rabbit wouldn't live in
if he could help it, and paint the
glories of whistle stops that even
locomotives hurry to get through.
I have heard them say this while
surrounded by some of the most
glorious English countryside-coun-
tryside that has inspired poets to
sonnets and songs.
Jersey City Lauded.
An English friend asked me the
other day If I had ever been in
Jersey City, N. J. When I told
him yes, he looked at me as If he
were looking on some one who had
just returned from a vacation trip
to Valhalla. Envy was written all
over his face. "You lucky, lucky
chap" he said.
This puzzled me bit, because,
while Jersey City is fine town, it
doesn't have the reputation of being
one of the garden spots of our
country. Even Mayor Hague would
admit that.
why am I so lucky" asked.
Jersey City must be the most
gorgeous spot on the face of the
earth," he said, in almost lyrical
tone. ut must be an enchanted
isle" 1t developed that he had
made friends with an American
soldier from Jersey City and he
believed all that had been told to
him.
English May Visit U. S.
Since then I have met English
men who are saving for the day
when the war Is over and they can
visit such spots as Peeled Chestnut,
Tenn; Split Tomato, Okla; Frozen
Toes. Mimi; Gooseberry, VT, and
other beauty spots in the States.
just as they have forgotten that
there ever was a rainy, wet, cold day
back home or that they ever had
to make detour off the highway.
the American soldier has completely
forgotten any homely girl he ever
saw in the States or any bad cook
ing he ever tasted. Every girl is
a Lana Turner. Every mother, wife
or sweetheart can cook like Escof-
fier at his best, and I think the
soldier is right.
I was telling some Englishmen
the other night that they never
will know what it is to live until
they see the sunset over the clay
hills and dusty roads of Statesboro.
Ga, or have mess of friend chicken
with cream gravy to pour over hot
biscuits. I'll warn Statesboro right
now that If after the war they see
very British colonel with a red
moustache, walking the streets,
they'll know he's the one T sent,
distributed by McNaught Syndicate, Inc,