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About The Chemawa American (Chemawa, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 13, 1918)
TH E CHEMAWA AMERICAN PAGE 4 SA VE FOOD All of us should endeavor to be good because it is the opposite of bad—the opposite of corrupt and evil qualities and practices. Being good adds to our own peace of mind, to the confidence our friends feel in us, it puts us in harmony with all of those things and qualities which humanity holds best and noblest. Being bad cannot assist us, our friends if we have any, or our country. By being bad we lose every thing worth while and cannot hope to gain anything. You can never lose anything by being good—just as good as you know how. Try it and see for yourselves. America must send to the armies and allies this year 50 percent more food than last year; three times the normal exports. America must be ready when the war ends, to rush supplies for 180.000.000 people, victims of Germany and the war, who are facing starvation unless help comes quickly. America must build up reserves to carry us over the harvest period and to protect us against the lean years that may come. The food conservation program is first military, K IN D N E S S that the movement of commodities may be so ordered Deeds of kindness shine forth with great brilliancy that nothing hinders putting forth our full strength on at all times and in all places. An air which is familiar the battle line and making victory sure. It is next humane, heeding the world’s cry for food to all of us contains an expressson which is a perfect which will be more and more compelling because of gem, “ Kind words can never die.” The refrain says, the wastage of four years of war. We could not be “ Never die, no, never die.” This is true, literally deaf to the entreaty of those who sit at the common true. It is so in deeds of kindness as in words. Few of us have reached many years without being table. It is in part economic. We must meet the demand able to recall some little deed or word of kindness if we wish to build up American trade and strengthen which came to us at a time when we were sorely tried our resources in the economic struggle after the war. —disconsolate or despondent. Or it may have been It savors finally of the soul of democracy. If we that we offered solace to the other fellow in his hour truly believe in the brotherhood of all mankind we of darkness. It is a pleasant memory with us, no cannot choose, but must share our abundance with all matter whether we or the other fellow were the prime mover in that which made for kindness, for in either in adversity. The conservation program reduces to this: Every case it proves a solace to both parties. “ It is more ounce of food of every so~t that we can manage to blessed to give than to receive.” save will set free its proportion of essential food for the Many people may mistake kindness and imagine it relief of those whose needs are greater than ours. is an attitude or a sentiment wherein a “ mushy” The success of this program rests not alone on the course is entailed. This is not true by any means. honor and cooperation, but also upon the intelligence Many times real kindness demands that unusual of the American people. Its success will be the high firmness be used. Where it is for the best interests est proof of the faith and works of democracy in of all parties it is most kind to be firm in your words and deeds rather than weak and meaningless. Being America. really kind means that you stand for something—that B E IN G GOOD you have moral backbone and love truth and fair- There is much more in being good than appears on dealing. first thought. “ And God saw everything that He SOM EW HAT H A ST Y had made, and behold, it was very good.” Being good means being possessed of those qualities of heart A certain master builder who was noted for his and mind which lead to peace and make for happi sharpness was constantly watching his men and if he ness. Being good means more than just being decent. found one loitering on the job he dealt with him un We say, “ He is a good fellow,” or “ She is a good mercifully. One morning he remarked to the foreman: woman,” etc., and we in geneial mean more than the “ You’ll have to handle your men more strictly. I just mere words imply. In such a case we voice a senti found a fellow standing around with his hands in his ment of trust and honor in addition to he or she being pockets. I gave him a week’s wages and fired him just simply good. then and there.” We might say that a dog is good, but we would “ I see,” said the foreman thoughtfully. “ Which mean in a far different sense than when the term is man was it?” applied to a human being. Again we might say that “ That fellow over there, just going around the cor the road is good, meaning something still different, ner. “ Why, that is not one of our men. That’s a fellow but in the main the quality of goodness is one of de that had just come in looking for a job.” sirability.
