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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 14, 1918)
Letters from Boys Overseas REGIMENT LOCATED NEAR THIRTEENTH CENTURY TOWN George Gamble Writes His Sister, Mrs. John Albert Williams, From France—Strawberries in Blossom— Is Near Queen Anne’s Palace— Where Is That? France, That’s All, Nov. 7, 1918. My Dear Sister: Well, I know you have no doubt wondered why you have never heard from me, but I have been busy and also have neglected to write to you and I have also been waiting to see something to write about. I haven’t seen much, but will just say that I am still in the land of the living and feeling fine and truly hope these few lines will find you all the same. We are across the pond from you ' in some or rather, near some city that I am not allowed to mention, but the place is very old and antique with its old buildings and some of which were actually built in the 13th cen tury. There is a cathedral here, much larger than Trinity Cathedral, Omaha, that was built in the 13th century and also the palace of Queen Anne. The roads here have high stone walls around, or rather along side of them, and they tell me they were built during the old feudalistic days. The climate here is very mild and I saw strawberries in blossom today. The people here all dress different ’ and some of them wear wooden shoes and some of them wear aprons like "Mother Hubbards.” I witnessed a French soldier’s fu neral Sunday that was very much like our own only the mourners walk instead of ride and two altar boys carry crosses in front of the proces sion. As for war news I guess you know more about it than I do as the news I get is very scarce and second handed at that, but from what I hear I think we will be coming home soon. I was talking to a boy Sunday from the 366th and from what he says the Colored boys have done SOME fight ing if only a few did come back from “over the top,” also the old 8th Illi nois. This money over here looks like to bacco ocupons, and is very confusing to me, but I hope I don’t have to stay long enough to get used to it. Well, sister, I must close for this time and hope to see you soon. Await ing an early answer, I am, your lov ing brother, George. SERGENAT GEO. W. GAMBLE, Hdqrs. Co. 809th Pioneer Inf., A. E. F. Via New York. SENSATIONS OF ONE’S FIRST SEA VOYAGE Moses Jordan Writes of His First Trip Across the Atlantic With Ex peditionary Forces, November 7, 1918. Dear Father Williams: This is my first opportunity to write you since I left the states. I was hurriedly sent with the 806th Pio neer Infantry, in the medical detach ment. I suppose you would like to know the nature of my work. I am being trained with a few more boys to care for the sick and wounded. Our woik covers a broader field than that of a nurse, besides taking care of the sick and wounded, the sanitary condition of the infantry depends on us. We are to follow closely behind the infantiy as it drives over the top or across "No Man’s Land” and give first aid to the wounded. So you see, Father, I belong to a very important branch of the service. Be sides my bit in the war I will return with a good knowledge of caring for the health of the community. I have met many medical boys who have seen active service in the trenches and who are skilled in medical service. Sometimes what I have to undergo in doing my bit makes me long for the post office, but when I see what our countiy has undergone and the task that now confronts it, I take courage and become as gay as I was the day I joined the army. My trip across the ocean was pleas ant, unpleasant, sensational, fright ful, dreadful, educational, and all other moo.fying words one can think of in describing it. I have read the sayings of many poets and novelists about the sea; I have looked on the sea from the pen of artistic painters; I have heard about it from the lips t __$5. U. 3. WAR-SAVINGS STAMPS at $.eacn r (bi*u» nurnbar waiilad; (Saa prlcaa balowj ? < _.-25c. U. S. TIIRIFT STAMPS at 25c. each. i \ <HUate noirbar wmttltil C J, Mume__ S $ Address _ -___ d f JynfiTC? W. s. s. cost during i9ta lj c* V V* CJ» April $4.15 I July $4.18 I Oct. $4.21 p < w*a;.*".w.sswmm Y"y ill Ain I K"r* Hi < caiMi bvtmh June 4.1/ I Sept. 4.20 I Dec. 4 23 2* W, S. S. WORTH $500 JANUARY I, 1923 ? BUY BOOKS Within Ihe past ten years YOUR race has made greater strides I toward literary achievement than in the CENTURIES that went before. * Heroine familiar with the work of RACE AUTHORS. t The Boy You Love The boy you love in the training camp will make a better soldier and a better man If he knows the ringing lines of ' Fifty Years” and the haunt ing pathos of "Black and Unknown Bards.” You will find these in James Weldon Johnson's “Fifty Years and Other Poems," a book the critics of the world Mve called the greatest poetical achievement of the Colored Race. Professor Brander Matthews of Columbia University has written a re murkubly fine introduction. From the Fields of Alabama A boy came fresh from the fields of Alabama to work ids way through a session of the sumcr school at Har vard. A few roughly scrawled poems caught the eye of his professor. The result was a hook of these verses. To day the author Is in France, a cor poral in a Machine Gun Company. Meanwhile the great literary newspa pers of the east are saying that Wav «-rly Turner Carmichael gives promise of rivaling Durbar. What do you know of this soldier author or his book, “From the Heart of a Folk." In Spite of Bitter Handicaps In Louisville, Kentucky, a Colored man, an educator and a poet, rose to a position where the best men of the community were proud to call him their friend. Now his son, scarcely more than a boy, overcoming the hit ter handicap of falling health, has published his first book, and again the critics on the great metropolitan newspapers have acclaimed Joseph Cotter’s “The Band of Gideon," not only a book worthy of the best lit erary traditions of the day but also a further proof of the rapid literary | progress of his race. You Have Seen With Your Own Eyes You have seen with your own eyes the struggle of the Negro for educa tion. You know the vjtul human side. That is why you will appreciate and want to read "Twenty-Five Years in the Black Belt." hy William J. Ed wards, the able founder and present head of Snow Hill Normal and In dustrial Institute. Professor Paul J. Harms of Harvard University has written the introduction. Tender Haunting Lyrics Isn't there some one you’d like to send a book provided you could find Just the right book that would be a message as well as a book. Georgia Douglas Johnson lias written Just such a hook of tender, haunting lyrics in "Tire Heart of a Woman." Why not make at least one girl happy by send ing her a copy? Do You Love Trees? Do you love trees and the great out of doors? Maude Cuney Hare, daugh ter of the late Norris Wright Cuney, has collected the finest things written or said about trees In a beautiful gift ' hook. William Stanley Braithwalte lias written the introduction. Another Race Bard Many a scrap hook contains treas ured clippings of the poems of Charles Bertram Johnson as they occasionally appeared in the newspapers of the day. Nowr in "Songs of my People, a new hook Just from the press, the best of Mr. Johnson’s poetry is • brought, together In permanent form and will give pleasure to the hundreds of admirers of his work. Them are other books, of course, and good books. It is impossible to mention all, and these are representative of the best. They are beauti fully bound and are as far above the ordinary book in book mak'ng as they are in literary value. That it may be easy for you ‘o secure them we will take orders for them at the publisher’s lowest NET prices, which are: Fifty Years and Other Poems, $1.25. From the Heart of a Folk, $1.00. The Message of the Trees, $2.00. The Heart of a Woman, $1.25. Twenty-five Years in the Black Belt, $1.50. The Band of Gideon, $1.00. Songs of My People, $1.00 Where the book is sent to a soldier or a sailor in a training camp there will be no charge for mailing. Otherwise, enclose ten cents for postage with every order to be sept by mail. DO YOUR BIT III-GIVE A BOOK ^ODAYIMI SEND ORDERS TO THE MONITOR. > ■ ■ -.■ ■ • --------^ of eloquent orators and I have dreamed of voyages across it; but from whatever source my information came I am convinced that the half has never been told. After bidding my friends farewell, I boarded a transport and it steamed away. After all noise of land had ceased and the landscapes had van ished in the distance, and after the blue skies (in bowl shape) had en circled the sea, rolling of the waves and their surging and splash ing against the sides of the vessel, sometimes pushing it out of its course, brought a peculiar feeling over me that is indescribable. My days at sea were not wearisome, for there was much to see that sometimes I longed for a thousand eyes to serve my greedy mind and insatiate wonder ment. Through association with other boys (and let me say, Father, that 1 the sea will make the grouchiest friendly) 1 learned some interesting things about the social life of our boys throughout the states. I said throughout the states because we have boys from the southern coast of Florida to the Great Lakes and from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans. Among us are boys of all classes, reaching from desperadoes to saints and from the most illiterate to the best the country has e^er pro duced. There are hundreds of boys who cannot read or write; there are many who never left the regions of the plantations until the dratf got them. The saddest case 1 found was an American, born in the state of Louisiana, who could not speak French or Creole or anything except a community dialect. He was the only one taken out of that commun j ity. The stories that some of the boys tell about the backwardness of | their communities sound like fairy ' tales. I am glad to say and can truthfully i say that the subs have met their mas : tors. The inventive genius of Uncle Sammy has made them almost power less and it is now almost as safe to ; travel by sea as y land. While on sea I went to the movies every day, attended boxing matches, hung around the library, and attend ed many religious meetings.’ After many days smiling France was spied one morning ami I felt as happy as Columbus when he sighted San Sal vador. I shall next write you from La Hello France. Love to all. Au revoir. M. JORDAN, 806 Pioneer Inf., Hospital Corps, A. E. F. Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson announce the coming marriage of their daugh ter, Miss Mabel N. Jefferson to Mr. George Atkison, on December 23d, at Allen Chapel. I’R E-CH RI ST M A S ii AZ A A R TO BE CONTINUED Owing to the fact that the street car strike interferred with the at tendance, the bazaar which was held Tuesday and Wednesday nights by the Women’s Auxiliary and Altar Guild of St. Philip’s Episcopal church, will be continued in the guild rooms next Thursday afternoon and night. This sale presents a good opportunity to buy beautiful articles suitable for Christmas gifts at reasonable prices. For Rent—Modern furnished room, 1514 North Nineteenth street. Web ster 5262. Mrs. G. Hickman. FOR SALE 8-room thoroughly modern house. Paved street. Two blocks to 24th street car line. Sotuh of Lake street. Price $2,100. Cash $250. Balance like rent. 6-room, 131 North 37th street. Mod ern except heat. Chicken house and chickens go with house. Price $2,500. Cash $250. Balance like rent. For rent—7-room flat, 1551 North 17th street, $20.00. 10-room flat; all modem, 1527 North 17th street, $25.00. EUGENE THOMAS, Phone Doug. 3607. 413 Karbach Blk. BOYD » Days, Starting Matinee Sun day December 15 Epecial Matinees Tuesday and Thursday R. M. HARVEY PRESENTS Harvey Greater Minstrels The Largest and Highest Class Minstrel Show En Route. Guaranteed Attraction. 10-Minstrel Kings and Queens-4 40-Minstrel Kings & Queens-40 Including Famous Ballad Sing ers. Entrancing Dancers, Novel- | ty Entertainers, Expert Comed ians, Instrumental and Vocal Soloists. A Twenty-Piece Band. Every Man a Soloist. A CREOLE BEAUTY CHORUS L A Popular Minstrel at Popular Prices. Night Prices.25c to $1.00 Matinees.25c to 50c RED CROSS ROLL CALL FOR CHRISTMAS WEEK American Public Asked to Respond With Uni versal Membership. Is your name written there? Where? On the Ited Cross Christmas Roll Call, of course. beginning with Ited Cross Sunday, December 15, the entire American na tion will he given the opportunity dur ing the week of December 10 to 20 to line up for all those errands of mercy that the bright Red Cross ngalnst the white background has come to symbolize. This is In no sense a call for funds. It Is the annual call for service. Ev ery member of every household, from the grandfather to the nursery, should be represented on the Red Cross Serv ice Flag. Only dollar memberships are being asked for, and these are for the calendar year of 1919, Everywhere throughout the four teen Ited Cross divisions the week will be celebrated ns a rededication to per sonal service and self sacrifice. No matter what may he the Immediate task ahead, there are bound to be Increas ing demands mnde on the Ited Cross during the coming year, and every American, whether here or In foreign parts, has his part to play. Through the Divisions every Chap ter, and through the Chapter every Itranch and Auxiliary will spread the Ited Cross Message and endeavor to enroll every person in every com munity. Already the membership in this national organization hns grown from some few hundred thousand In 1910 to more thun twenty millions since our own country entered the world war. There are no limits set for the 1918 Christmas enrollment. Every American everywhere is the hoped for goal. Programs subject to local conditions will be arranged for the week, based on suggestions worked out by national campaign managers at Headquarters. On Roll Call Sunday the Ited Cross message will be preached from every pulpit, and all church meetings will arrange special programs of Red Cross activities. With the co-operation of local art ists, every community will be deco rated with Red Cross posters. Pasters will be used on all packages sent out from the stores during Roll Call week, and the movies will show films pictur ing the various Red Cross agencies at home and abroad. "For All Human ity” shows scenes taken on the actual battlefield. There will also he Wo men's day, club programs on Red Cress, special exercises In the Red NO FIXED QUOTAS FOR 1019. So great Is the faith of the American Red Cross In the American people that no quotas have been assigned to Red Cross Chapters for the enrollment of members In the Red Cross Christmas Roil Call. Universal membership is the goal. Chapters are limited only by the number of people In their Ju risdictions. The Roll Call will be fin ished only when every available per son, without regard to age or sex, has been enrolled. Children mny join only through the Junior Red Cross Auxilia ries, and their membership dues are twenty-five cents a year. The chief aim In enrolling is not to raise money but to Increase the membership. Spe cial emphasis Is In id upon the regular membership at $1.00 per year, but priv ilege will be given to enroll ns a Con tributing Member at $5.00, Sustaining Member nt $10.00, I.lfe Member at $50.00 or Patron at $100.00. TH.i CLIMAX TO VICTORY. During (he week before Christmas the entire American people will have the privilege of answering the Ited Cross Christmas Iloll Call, The re sponse should roar through the land with a unanimity that will stimulate to the uttermost the hopes of men In nil parts of :he earth. It will there fore he the climax of American Ideal ism and will usher In Christmas with a Red Cross membership approximat ing the census figures. What the Red Cross wants Is the approval of the American people of the Red Cross pol icy, and such approval will have the highest significance In the eyes of suf fering people everywhere. President Wilson lends the response and passes nlotig the message, “I summon you to the comradeship.” RED CROSS SCHOOL FOR BOY8. The American Red Cross has estab lished a manual training school for Belgian boys at Vuulruz, Switzerland. ****************** * PEACE MAKES * * ,*•' GREATER NEED * (t ; ' —- — A A Peace will not end the need A A of Red Cross relief work. On A A the contrary, the proclaiming of A A peace opens new fields of serv- A A lco for the Red Cross, nnd now, A A more than ever, the American A A people will be called upon to A A obey their generous Impulses to A A hind up the world's wounds. A A Membership In the Red Cross A ' A affords the noblest outlet for A A such impulses. Every American A A should answer “Here" to the A A Red Cross Christmas Roll Call. A A A f***x**AAAAAAA*AAA Cross workrooms, Employees dn.v (when special tribute will be paid to the contribution made by the laboring man), the week ending with n general ‘‘Clean up" day, when every person in the community not yet enrolled will again be personally solicited for mem bership. It Is believed that some time during the week at least one performance of the masque, “The Roll Call,” especial ly written by Mr. Percy Mackaye, with stage settings designed by Robert Ed mond Jones, will be given In every community. This has but twelve speaking parts nnd Is arranged espe cially for community presentation, with men, women and children In the pantomime parts. It can be given either elaborately or very simply, as conditions warrant. In Its dramatic theme It expresses the emancipation cf the human spirit from tyranny through the humanizing agency of the American Red Cross. Copies of the masque, as well as directions for cos tuming ami Incidental music, can be secured at Red Cross Headquarters In every town and city. One of the most novel and Interest ing features of the campaign promises to be the One-day nnd One-Hour plan of enrollment. This consists of divid ing the community Into units of one hundred houses, the Idea being to have sufficient workers to canvass these homes practically simultaneously, a sort of "home stretch,” distributing the work among many with a mini mum of time consumed by each. The official uniform worn by Roll Call workers will be a cap and arm brassard, 'yiese are to be made of red flannel and a small paper circle In white will carry the Red Cross em blem. This uniform will serve both ns protection against the unscrupulous nnd as an aid to the workers themselves. Corporations, business firms and In dustries will be supplied with a 100% Service flag. There will be no Christmas sale of tuberculosis seals this year. Instead, the Red Cross has made a direct ap propriation of $2,500,000 for tills work, and ten seals will be awarded each person who Joins the Roll Call as a reminder of the very Important work being done by the National Tubercu losis Association. Wars may come and w’nrs may go, but the Red Cross goes on forever. Will you not be among the first to place your name on the 1919 member ship roll? WHAT BOYS SAY ABOUT RED CROSS Slnco the soldiers overseas have been Informed by their officers thut the American Ited Cross will play San ta Claus this Christmas for all the hoys In kluikl who have no relatives In the United States, Red Cross Head quarters at Washington has been re ceiving hundreds*of appeals. Inci dentally the men at the front have taken this time to express their ap preciation for the work done by the Red Cross “Over There.” Following are a few excerpts taken at random from letters Inclosing Christmas Package Coupons: “Dear Mr., Miss or Mrs. Red Cross.—I would appreciate it tremendously If you would send me a Xmas package. I have no relatives, and a little something from the good old U. 8. A. would be appreci ated beyond words. The Red Cross has done so much for us over here, and you don’t know just how we appreciate It beyond everything else.” An Italian thus addresses his Christ mas appeal: “To Whom It May Concern.—I am in sendee In Francs and, having no people in^tfie I'nit*'<l States, would like to re ceive a little package from the Red Cross on Xmas. 1 am in No Man's Land in a big woods, and it is raining.” “I have been informed the Red Cross ! will send Xmas packages to any soldier , who sends them his Xmas package cou- | pon. I have received so much tobacco and other things from the Red Cross In j my fourteen months in France I scarcely 1 like to write again. I am In the hospital recovering from wounds, and the Red Cross furnishes us with dally papers, writing material, tobacco, fruits and rec- I reation.” “I have no one else to send my Xmas coupon to. so am sending it to you, as per notice on our bulletin board. If you send a package I would appreciate it if you would inclose a bill for same, for I would gladly pay it. 1 don’t want to im pose on you. The Red Cross is the best friend we have." One IU*(1 Cross nurse writes: “Am inclosing the coupon, but please be sure all the boys at the front get their packages first, then if one is left I will appreciate it. as I Buspect all the others will have something from home ■ which will make me a little lonesome. Words cannot express our appreciation for tiie Red Cross.” “The Red Cross is a great help and blessing to the soldiers any and every where.” “We of the A. E. F. are constantly being shown evidences of the wonderful work the Red Cross is doing and are ex tremely thankful.” “Dear Red Cross Workers.—After we left dear old America we thought we were traveling away from your kindness, but we did not. We cannot praise you too highly for your work. 1 have no folks at home to send me a Christmas package.” "Words cannot express the obligation we are under for the work you are doing to help us along.” "I know they would greatly appreciate any little remembrance. 1 wish to most sincerely thank the Red Cross for all the kindnesses and benti:ts they have be stowed upon our bo**.” WILL ENTERTAIN FOR -STAR PERFORMERS y Messrs. Wade, Thomas and Black, ' who are Stellar attractions in the Wonder Show at the Gayety theater for the next ten days will be enter tained at a 6 o’clock dinner at the Tqp. Notch cafe, Twenty-fourth and Hamilton streets, Friday night by the IJnlted Ladies’ clubs of Grove Metho dist church. V rt . ■ PORO . HAIR CULTURE We treat the scalp and grow the hair. Manicuring and massage. HATTIE B. HILL, Proprietor 2320 North 26th St. Phone Webster 3390. ■ • . . . . t— • • • - « - • . i .. Start Saving Now One Dollar will open an account in the Savinas Deparumnl of the United States Nat’l Bank 16th and Farnam Streets u. . »—«,mii , ■ »• t We Have a Complete Line of FLOWER,GRASS fi J AND GARDEN 'JCCUS Bulbs, Hardy Perennials, Poultry Supplies Fresh cut flowers always on hand Stewart’s Seed Store 119 N. 16th St. Opp. Post Office Phone Douglas 977 fc.. ■ »..«■■« «... IF. WILBERC BAKERY Across from Alhambra Theatre The Best is None Too Good for Our Customers. Telephone Webster 673 1C. H. MARQUARDT CASH MARKET Retail Dealer in Fresh and Salt Meats, Poultry, Oysters, etc. 2003 Cuming St. Doug. 38S4 Home Rendered Lard. We Smoke and Cure our own Hams and Bacon. t...... . .. I The Hamilton I SOFT DRING PARLOR Cor. 24th and Hamilton HOT LUNCHES ■ Get Acquainted With Joe I I