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.