Show kathi kathleen 1 een norris says those who go on oa dell bell syndicate features feature v 4 N all I 1 get into nto work with our servicemen canteen red cross or in we one of the she recreation projects that exist every everywhere for our no loss less heroic and necessary and munitions workers fly by KATHLEEN NORRIS OMEN I 1 do not know WOMEN and never will see are writing me these days to ask for a word of comfort when the dreaded n news aws comes when they know that the dear familiar boy who was banging in and out of the house only a little while ago leaving crumbs and blobs of jam on the kitchen table leaving books on the stairway and unrecognizable lumps of muddy socks on the bedroom foor floor chattering at dinner about scout work and enghu spastic over nothing but some blodys twenty two when they know that he is missing in action that he coming home again nothing that I 1 can say can help these mothers but there is help for them neveTt nevertheless beless firm and unfailing there Is joy ahead for them again it if they will but lift up their hearts and theli their eyes to tad it not ty by looking down into the earth or into the depth of the seas will they find it but by raising mind and spirit to the blue sky and the stars and what lies beyond to begin with train yourself to take lake a comprehensive view of the titanic combat in which the whole great world Is involved then take ll a long look at life at its mistakes a and nd troubles disillusionments and burdens and ask yourself if the boys are really to be pitied when they quit this bewildering scene in youth so go out gloriously and swiftly in bat lie a battle which means concu confusion sion excitement thrill complete forgetfulness of 0 self no grind no drudgery no disappointment divorce worry for them no illness failure old age boredom at the very height beight of vitality and eagerness and keen heen absorption in what they are doing they depart tor for other scenes and leave such suffering tor for us who cannot follow future will bring reunion but ask the grieving mothers will we find them again ah if we KNEW that we would find them again that they are really safe and happier and wiser than before that would bould take away all the sting of grief but we DO know that we will tad find them again it does not take mere blind faith to convince ourselves of that it is not wishful thinking combined with sentimentality and conventional vent ional religious docility any woman who will dry her tears long enough to read the written word and study the facts will find so deep and real a consolation that presently she would not change her certainty even for the old joy of the boys living presence it will be granted that only one voice has ever spoken truth in this world all ali other true voices were either prophesying the coming of that voice or echoing it after it ceased there was but one christ in the two thousand years following we his death there has never been another und no uproar of voices or change in the world have been able to silence it it lives idill hlll what the waster master said in his lifetime was utterly incomprehensible to bie the men who were his friends it make sense to them and it toes nt make sense to us but feebly blind blindly stupidly we cling to it because becaas e we know that it Is true we know that a peasant preaching lor for but three years followed by a few fluen bial friends never writing a word executed as a common criminal we know that he is still the most powerful influence in the whole world all must work toward religion and this is to say bay that he did not clec deceive elve us it for we could adver claim that he told us some PRAY AND WORK TO EASE GRIEF blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted this is kathleen norris message to mothers who have lost sons in the war she asks them to try to get their minds og off their grief by exhausting themselves for the needs of others she suggests that mothers may find some happiness by being of help to other boys solace can be found by taking a comprehensive view of the file world struggle and best of all by prayer truths and some un truths and we wa KNOW that his doctrine works because whenever we ha have v e the courage to apply it harmony harmon y and peace fellowship and love follow it difficult as it Is to visualize a world in which enemies are forgiven possessions are shared the hungry and naked are solaced a world in which h evil Is not overcome by evil but overcome by good hard as it Is to envision yet all of us know that those are the conditions of his kingdom on earth and that it Is tor for every one of us to work toward that kingdom there Is no disputing THAT but having gone so tar far heartbroken mothers go a little farther and see what else he told us that those who love him and this means all the splendid boys who are offering their lives today for a new world of safety and freedom shall not taste death forever they are living out of your sight the wisest among us the vision that they have now this night thou shall be with me in paradise was said to a poor wretched stranger a criminal are we to believe these words of a dying saviour or are you going to pick out certain words to believe and others not to believe blessed are they that mourn tor for they shall be comforted that wa was you v was a divine as well as human said that the one voice in all the world that speaks the truth so hold fast to that tor for that comfort will be beyond all your imaginings of bliss get in the habit of stepping into a c hurch church every day kneel tor for a few minutes asking only the favor that you may be of use and help to other boys get into work with our servicemen canteen red cross or in one of the recreation projects that exist every everywhere here for our noless noles no less heroic and necessary necessary factory and munitions workers get tired get your mind off your own grief in exhausting yourself for the needs of others and in other boys just as young eager heroic homesick as your boy was you will find him again give up your own sorrow tears your own hopes and will s surrender rr them all to the unfailing guidance of god and you will be rewarded tn in a way that will make you feel that you never were truly living before fighters think of home here is part of a letter from a boy who went through the battles of 0 midway and coral sea it was a great comfort to another boys mother and even though your boy may not have had time to write you perhaps his feelings would have been something the same perhaps he knew in the last minute that the home people were thinking of him and praying tor for him the writer is 29 years old has been in the navy tor for 17 months and I 1 is still OU out t in the south seas dear mrs blank I 1 thought you would like to know that jim never was in better spirits than lie he was that last morning we had breakfast together r and he was just his same busm usual a I 1 self at ease and happy when the c crash ash came he was laughing |