Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 103, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 March 1916 — FIGHTING AND FARNING. [ARTICLE]

FIGHTING AND FARNING.

By Walt Mason.

Since winter on its way is faring, and spring is in again, old Europe’s hosts are now preparing to slay about a million men. Great husky youths who should be seeding the fertile fields to wheat and oats, will spend the spring-time scrapping, bleeding, intent on cutting strangers’ throats. The bills of France shall see no tiller, the vales in vain expect the plow, and Death, the dour and dusty miller, is doing all the grist-work now. And Death is measuring the acres where once the shepherds used to bask, to see that kings and kindred fakers have room to do their butcher’s task. And Death demands the ox and charger, which used to draw the loaded wain, and everything that will make larger his crimson tally of the slain. Where once the milkmaid drove the heifer, where once the vintner pressed the grape, Death’s bloody odor taints the zephyr. Death flaunts his rusty rags of crape. When to your divers gods you’re praying, pray not that either side may win, but for an end to crazy slaving, an end to murder’s smoke and din.