Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 May 1917 — PHILOSOPHY OF WALT MASON [ARTICLE]

PHILOSOPHY OF WALT MASON

I see my neighbors buying flags, and waving them on every hand; they stand around and make their I brags about Columbia, happy land. ; “We don’t want war,” I hear them say, “we do not lust for wound and scar, but if a foe should come our waj r , there is no sacrifice we’ll bar. Breathes there a map with soul so dead he would not for his country ’ scrap? If such there be, we’ll j punch liis head, and frorri"'his system knock the sap.’’ Bill Kickshaw sprung a musty gag, the other day, down by the jail, reflecting on our starry flag, which makes all other flags look pale. At other times his idle speech would not have stirred

us up to ire; bfit nbw we rose with , wrathful screech, nnd mauled him iFke a house aflre7'' We’ve all grown soft in times of peace, the worth j while things we have disdained;' we’ve lolled and basked and put on grease, and cash is all for which we’ve strained. ' So, wheii our' Country strikes a snag,-it's good to , see, throughout the town, our neigh- J bors bless the dear old flag, ■ and , mob thp -man who'd pull.it down' The nation is not gone to seed: still throbs the, soul of Bunker 11 ill. ‘ to battle,, at the: country’s need —it always has, it always will.