Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 101, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 March 1918 — KEEP THE SOLDIER BOYS POSTED [ARTICLE]

KEEP THE SOLDIER BOYS POSTED

Many people have-, doubtless asked themselves the question: '’Will •ii!y boy, granted he j~, . spared, through the conflict, return, "tb hi# horne, or will he be 'content to remain in some other country or some other part of this country?” And this is a question we may all ask. When this war is Over': there is going to be great inducement for our boys to settle down away from their homes and become citizens of other countries. The war will serve as a refiner, sei>a rating the dross from the pure gold, and the you.::: man who comes through v jh honor untarnished will be eagerly sought to fill places of honor and trust. Now we naturally are anxious that our boys do not forget the old

home or become weaned from home associations. We want them to carry ever with them a vivid picture of thf home joys and pleasures as they knew them before Uncle Sam called them to sterner duties. We want their allegiance to hold to the old home with all the old home stands for in their lives. To this end, are we taking the right course to keep the memory of home gjreen with them? You say ypu are writing regula,rlv, and giving them all the news of interest to you. Yes, but this is probably but a drop in the bucket to what they would learn were they with us. Every , boy should receive his home paper regularly. He should be able each week to tell all that is transpiring back at home, and to have as it were a bird’s-eye view of the social and business life of hr> home community. Home associtiions should never be permitted to fade from his memory but should be renewed with every issue of his hoe paper. In numbers of communities the home paper is being sent to every soldier*;’ who has gone front that community, frequently through the act of some public organization. No better action could be taken by a board of trade, commercial club, borne defense organization or any other organization than to send | each soldier his home paper for the duration of the war. It will show to the boys that not only have the 'folks at home not forgotten a single [one of them, but they are also determined that not a single boy shall forget his home through their negiieet to keep memories of that home green in his heart. Every traveler is familiar with the news stands in all the principal cities of the country where a sign similar to this is displayed: “(Name your town, we have the paper.” And every traveler - knows the thrill of pleasure with which he seized the old home sheet and lost himself in the familiar contents. Whatever else your boy may be deprived of, be sure he has his home paper. It will pay well on the investment.