Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 53, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 October 1918 — WILL YOU HELP OUR BOYS ABROAD? [ARTICLE]

WILL YOU HELP OUR BOYS ABROAD?

Every Man, Woman and Child Can Join to Send News of This Town Into the Front Line Trenches. WHOLE NATION MOVES TO BANISH SOLITUDE pur Heroes Are Calling From Over There—Give What You Can to Help Those From Home.

Every citizen Interested tn the boys of his home town now at the front, and in the brave women who equally are serving their country abroad, has an opportunity to show his appreciation of the sacrifice they are making. The opportunity comes as a result of the generosity and thought of Colonel William Boyce Thompson of New York, who has conceived and put into execution what is known as the Home Paper Service. Under the plan, every man and woman in foreign service will receive the town newspaper, and so be kept in constant touch with the places and the people they know and love. Every branch of the United States Government Is Interested in the plan. The Government realizes the importance of keeping those in the service happy and constantly in touch with their home ties and associations. Nothing is more depressing in a national emergency than the spirit of loneliness in those serving their country, and officials know that nothing can dispel this feeling more effectually than reading the home town newspaper. Publishers of newspapers in all parts of the country—this newspaper included —have grasped with pleasure the plan outlined by Colonel Thompson, and they have agreed to co-operate in every way.

Under the ruling of the War Industries Board newspaper publishers are forbidden to send their newspapers free, even to soldiers. The. newspaper must be subscribed for in the regular way, the only exception being soldiers who formerly were in the employ of the newspaper and who' left that service to enlist. Colonel Thompson therefore proposes that the public in each community contribute to a fund so that the home newspaper (in our case this newspaper) may reach every man and woman now in the service of his country. Anyone may contribute to the fund, and any sum may be contributed. It is not necessary to contribute the entire amount of one subscription. It does not matter whether the rich man sends in one hundred dollars or the poor boy or little girl sends in five cents. Each gift will be a message of love and helpfulness to the home town folks “Over There.” The money will be lumped into one fund, out of which subscriptions will be entered as fast as the money is received. Contributors who send in the full price of a year’s - subscription may, if they wish, designate to what particular person they wish the newspaper sent, but if the name given is already listed as receiving the paper, then the publisher reserves the right to apply the subscription to some less fortunate soldier boy or noble womarr who is Just as lonely for news of home and home folks.

The name of every contributor to this home paper service will be published in this newspaper, and the name of everyone entered for a subscription will be published as well as the number of those remaining whose subscriptions have not been covered. If the amount of money received shall be more than is necessary to send the paper to every person from the town now in the service, then the balance will be turned over to the Red Cross., The plan is endorsed by the publisher of this newspaper without any thought of profit, either directly or indirectly, but with a sincere desire to help keep the home fires burning and to send to our heroes and heroines news of our town, to keep their hearts warm for us and to let them know they are constantly in our minds. The publisher, of course, cannot make a profit on circulation, and additional circulation such as this will be—circulation from non-purchasers sent far across the sea —can have no added value to the advertiser.

These facts are stated so that every contributor may feel that every cent contributed goes to the good cause. The mothers of our boys are facing an ordeal with a bravery that commands respect and admiration. Here and there where tiny stars are turned from blue to gold, where anguish grips the heart, the nation stands in silence and honors the women who have given 1 of their blood, the very bone of their hope,, to their country. To them, home has lost its meaning—the soul of it has fled —there is no home, it is just a place, and no place is quite so lonely, unless it be within tfte hearts of those brave sons in far off France who long for just a word of home. There cannot be a man, there cannot be a woman, no, not even a child, who will fail to contribute just a lit tie to make •he hearts of these patriot* lighter. Not one. Not in our town.