Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 June 1917 — PHILOSOPHY OF WALT MASON [ARTICLE]

PHILOSOPHY OF WALT MASON

War is indeed a frightful thing, | and any decent thoughtful chap.i would gladly help to lynch the king who is the tii'St to start' a scrap. I hope this war may be the. last I •hat ever this old world shall know, I that armies never more will blast I the sacred stuffing from the foe.| And yet I’m glad I've lived to seel the. captain and his pawing nag, to I see our people, proud and free, once I more uphold the starry flag. For in our days of peace and. ease, they told me loyalty had.died, that noth-] ing but a stack of Vs would, serve to stir the nation’s pride. All o’er the world the story went, that coin's become our only god, our) dreams are all of ten per cent, and nothing matters but a wad. So often had. I heard this tale, that I began to think it so', and said, “The land that worships kale must sound the lower depths of woe.” I saw it headed for the dump, its institutions all deranged; ’and then the captain blew his trump, and everything around was changed. Still lives the spirit of our sires, they lie who say our hearts are ice; still for our altars and our fires we’ll make the last sad sacrifice.