Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 91, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 April 1918 — MADE FOR LOYALTY [ARTICLE]

MADE FOR LOYALTY

Good Effect of Citizens’ Battle With the Snow. Gave Slacker an Opportunity to See Himself a* Others See Him— Also Helped Realization of What War Means. YBy GEORGE E. BOWEN, of the Vigilantes.) It took a lot of backache and blisters and frostbite to clear this snowbound western world of drifted obstruction, making it safe for travel, secure for the daily affairs of life. Those two great January storms created a desperate situation —one that had to be met and overcome. Everybody suddenly had the same idea—a strong shovel, a willing heart and a cheerful disposition. There was nothing else to do. We had to be free. And we were. Every patriot In the middle west who had a shovel and a backbone got' out and used them. Lot lines didn’t count, for we were fighting a common enemy. The shoveling spirit thrilled us, en masse —no one stopped to be saluted or introduced —no one stopped to theorize —no one claimed exemption or superiority. We just asserted our right of way—and dug it. So, here is freedom —to go or come. It was a great lesson in united action, a convincing example of the solidarity of human interest, a reassuring experience in loyalty to the cause of common welfare. It was an American demonstration. The slacker was thoroughly unslacked when he saw his neighbor Shoveling off his walk. It was a worth-while storm.

Men mes each other In these neighborhood trenches with a new expression in their eyes—a new feeling in their hearts. Over the white-blocked barricades of snow, head high and miles in length, .they were seeing those reddened, sandbagged walls in Belgium. Seeing loyal bayonets shoveling humanity’s way to freedom through storm-crushed Flanders. Seeing braver patriots than themselves struggling manfully against Alpine avalanches of steel and blizzards of fire, that the home-paths of mankind be not obstructed forever by any brutal drifts of hate or selfishness. The roar of the Arctic terror these neighbors knew when the storm broke upon their unpreparedness was as nothing to the scream of shells and the thunder of artillery they are hearing now in those trenches across the sea—and in their souls. They have realized in a small, bloodless way the meaning of war —war that is a perpetual offensive storm, Instead of an occasional one in January. When men meet in these snow trenches of the West, there%only one comment: “We’ve got to help them win.” And they mean it —as they meant every shovelful of snow they threw out of their paths of peace and contentment Some great blessings come thickly disguised. -