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Show TENDER AND TRUE. While the Christmas spirit has taken hold upon the people of the United States as never before and hundreds of millions of dollars are being spent to bring joy and gladness into the hearts of the poor and suffering everywhere, we note with the greatest pleasure pleas-ure and gratification that the same spirit is felt by the American soldiers at the front in France. These defenders de-fenders of the starry banner who .have gone forth to die if need be for the preservation of the liberty of the world have been touched to the quick by the woe and misery of the hapless French people and are preparing prepar-ing to lighten tho gloom, for the little ones at least, on the Christian's day of ' days. We who are as yet practically untouched un-touched by the war cannot realize to the fullest extent the prevailing conditions condi-tions in Europe, especially in the sections sec-tions ravaged by the armies of the imperial im-perial German war lord. But our brave boys over there have come in contact with the widows and orphans whose husbands and fathers have died with their faces to the foe; they are familiar with the scenes of desolation and their hearts bleed for the unfortunate human beings who are unable to help themselves. them-selves. If the Christmas spirit can be put into'action in this country by joining join-ing the Ked Cross it can also be put into action in the war none occupied by the American troops in another manner and our soldiers have discovered how to do it in the most effective way. These gallant youths have not been long from the family fireside and a great majority of them have brothers and sisters who will awaken Christmas morning to shout with joy over their presents and partake of the usual feast. There was no prospect that Santa ; Clans would .visit the children in the war zone of France this year unless the American soldiers summoned him. This has been done and thousands of dollars have been spent for clothing aud toys for the French children of near-by towns. Thrice blessed are these big-hearted big-hearted givers. They are bringing sunshine sun-shine into many darkened homes and in the years to come they will look back upon their first Christmas in Franco as one of the happiest days of their lives, while succeeding generations of French people will hold them in reverence. rev-erence. Some of these lads will go down to death before the approach of another Yuletide season, but tiiey will perish for humanity "s sake and their good deeds wi'I be recorded in the Hook of Life. The recording angel will not overlook the Christmas joys provided for tlie French children by these warriors wir lion li-on t fear anil without: reproach. The contract between the American and German soldiers is stri ki ugly .illustrated by this story from the bat th'l'icld. The Anieiicans will strike fur the riht, hut they will nut violate lh: laws of Cod J I and man by maltreating a prostrate ! foe. That much can be said before they cross the Rhine. That they are humane and sympathetic is amply proved by the Christmas tres. The German soldiers, on the other hand, have a black record and the diabolical wrongs perpetrated upon the women aud girls, the slaughter of innocent children and the suffering brought upon the aged and infirm in the conquered strips of territory will cry out against them for ages. It is not pleasant to recall these foul crimes upon the eve of the Christmas festival, but one cannot help but point out the difference between the heartless heart-less and barbaric Huns and the American Amer-ican soldiers who have gone to France to fight the invaders as true knights of Christianity and civilization. No one can doubt the issue when such opposing forces meet and we are comforted with the thought that, although many of our heroic lads will not come back to us when the victory is won, their blood w ill not have been shed in vain and that their good deeds will shine as a beacon light until time shall cease. |