The Republic News-Miner

The guests included Misses Helen Robinson, Pauline Ball, Ester Anderson, Bernadine Moran, Marie and Ella Stack, Ruth Monteith, Carrie Hall, Marguerite and Marie Ferguson, Katherine Root.

Or she might say "The water will be on at 11:30" --"the lights will be on in a few minutes" -- "Charlie Chaplain plays at the picture show," -- "Don't think it will snow much longer -- "Yes I think the roads will soon be in good condition for motoring," -- and everybody is happy once more even the telephone girl.

One of the first laws, passed by the 1917 Legislature compels all vehicles drown by animals to display at lest one lighted lamp after the hours of darkness, so fixed as to be visible from front or rear. . .

Censored war news is published daily in a new Official Bulletin published at Washington, D. C., by the government. Copies of the bulletin will be sent free of charge to all postmasters and newspapers in the United States.

T most of us cannot go to war, but we can do our bit at home by contributing our mite to make life more endurable for those who are fighting our battles, fighting for the liberty of mankind. That the wounded will be cared for, and not left uncared for to die on the battle field. . .

The lawn was lighted with numerous Japanese lanterns which hung from the trees and about the attractively decorated booths where pretty maids wearing quaint and picturesque costumes, representing the allied nations, were selling their wares. . .

The young girls who presided at the Sweet Shop looked as sweet as the wares they sold and they too were in picturesque attire. . .

At 7:30 p.m. a splendid program was given on the large platform which had been built for the occasion.

The opening number on the program was an exhibition of Indian club swinging by Bergan Moran which was exceptionally good. Following this a vocal solo by Miss June Ritter and a chorus of dancing girls was roundly applauded. . .

In addition to serving our enlisted forces, it is assisting in the work of civil relief among our allies whošs soil is being devastated by the fighting. Thus the Red Cross is helping to interpret the constructive spirit of our Republic which holds sacred human life and the ideals it seeks.

As time goes on the scope of the work of the Red Cross in Europe will increase in order that the organization may meet the demands that will be made upon it. It must receive the full and hearty support of the American people. It is only through such an agency that we can be assured relief and necessary ministration to our young men forming our military force.

It is my sincere desire that adequate funds will be secured for the work of the Red Cross.

[signed] Samuel Gompers

"My Dear Mother: -- At last I have a few spare minutes to write my mother; I don't know whether it will be a very long letter, but anyway I will write all I have time for. Believe me I sure am some tired tonight but just the same I guess I can stay awake to write a letter home. I have been on the sick list for the last few days but am glade to say that I am just as fit and well as ever. Had to come out of the trenches though as I had a slight attack of trench fever. It is quite similar to la-grippe, only makes you feel a thousand times worse. We have quite a bit of rain lately, so guess I must have caught it from standing in the water, as my section of trench was extremely bad. You mustn't fret mother, because I am entirely rid of it and feeling fit and fine as ever. Reckon I must be getting real tough as I can sleep, eat and live now in a nice sloppy little hole full of mud without any disastrous results. Believe me, you will never see me kicking at any quarters you may billet me in once I get home. Just shove me out in the barn with an old dirty blanket, and no razor, soap or washing water and a big husky individual to beat a bass drum and I will sleep like a baby. In fact you should see me lean up against the wall and go to sleep standing up, donšt phone for the doctor or be in the least bit alarmed because I will just be following out an old habit of catching the odd forty winks in the trenches, while things are a little quiet. I believe I put in the tour in the trenches for eight days, not very long ago, yet. From the time we went in until we came out I never saw the sun once and didn't it pour, oh, no, it merely came down in buckets full. Our section of trench was full of water and mud. Not nice decent mud but nasty, disagreeable, sticky, gluey mud and it actually took two of us to pull out one of my boys from an exceptionally dry hole while he was foolish enough to fall in. My sergeant and self had a hole to crawl into occasionally called a "funk hole." Big enough for two to crawl into and lay down under cover, but not big enough to sit up in. Lovely isn't it? Nevertheless do you know mother, I never heard one of the boys mumble or kick, only to say just wait until we get hold of the Kaiser, he is to blame for this. That's the spirit that pervades every one and it is the spirit that is going to beat the old Hun so bad that he won't know whether he has flown back across the Rhine or walked.

I suppose you people are quite worried about the reports you read in the papers now about the Hun offensive. Well, all I can say, is don't worry as things are shaping out fine. True enough he has gained some territory which I wouldn't take as a gift, but the price he paid in men is really something horrible to even think of. He is just like the waves trying to encroach on our territory and beating themselves to pieces against our bulwarks. The only time he ever gains a wee bit of ground is when he comes over on us about ten to one. I sincerely hope he keeps on at his present rate and if we can only hold him even one-third as well as we are now doing because if he does at the end of another two months he won't have enough men left to make a decent batch of prisoners out of. Some casualties since March 15th at very nearly a million. Roughly about one-sixth of his effective fighting force, while ours have been extremely small considering the nature of the operation. It is his dying kick mother and you will see me home for Xmas after all bag and baggage. Nuff for that.

I received the candy o.k. and it was perfectly delicious. In fact I very nearly made myself sick eating it, just couldn't leave it alone. I preferred the peanut chocolate kind, so if you can rush me over some more of the same "toute suite," I sure would appreciate it. The way it was packed was fine.

Well mother I must simply crawl into my blankets as am now propping heaps and heaps of love to your self, mother, father and the rest..
From your loving son,
WARREN H. FAIRWEATHER

Miss Bernadine Moran, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Moran, who recently enlisted as Red Cross nurse, left Wednesday for Rockford, Illinois, to take a two month's training before going to France. Miss Moran graduated as nurse from Sacred Heart Hospital, Spokane, two years ago.

Charles is a second lieutenant and is stationed in the Hawaii Islands, Harris and Davie are at Camp Lewis while Mose and Joe are in the navy at C... Fremont, California. The boys are all well and favorably known for having grown to manhood in this community.

Lieutenant Fairweather was the first man from Republic to enlist. . .

He was born at St. Johns, New Brunswick, March 10, 1896, and came with his parents to Republic May, 1903. He graduated from Republic High School, spring semester of 1914. He responded to the call for volunteers in November, 1915, resigning his position as accountant with Republic Consolidated Mines Corp. November 15, 1915t, and left Republic for Victoria, B.C., November 17, 1915, to enlist in the Canadian expeditionary force; while at Victoria he received the promotion of corporal in the medical corps.

His company left Victoria, B.C., on or about March 8 1916, for Halifax, Nova Scotia, sailing from that port on or about March 20th, 1916, arriving in England about April 5th, and he immediately left for Shorncliff, Kent county near Dover, for the classification base hospitals.

He was in active service at this station for about one month, in handling the wounded as they arrived from the battle lines in France and Belgium; when he and one other of his company were ordered to the Director of Medical Service for the Canadian Expeditionary Force-office in London, where he served in the clerical work of army records for a period of about six months. The staff in this office -- about sixty men-- being very largely filled in time by returned officers that were incapacitated for service on the front line. He became very impatient with his confinement, claiming in letters to his family that he was well and able to take his post on the battle front, while his duties at his present post could be performed by men rendered unfit for service on the lines, and he appealed to his family (he being only 19 years of age) for permission to go on the front lines; also, for their assistance in obtaining for him a transfer from the medical corps to the infantry. . .

Besides his parents, Mr. Schmeling leaves three brothers, Bob of Republic, Albert, somewhere in France, and Fred of Wauconda.

"Am feeling pretty good again now but the mustard gas had me going for awhile. Was feeling so bad when we started for the front the last time that they put me on K. P. back with the kitchen. there is absolutely nothing doing on this front now, in fact it is considered a rest sector.

"Suppose you read all about the big allied drive. I was in the midst of the fray. We don't get much sugar or bread now. Guess its the same every where. Havenšt had any ice cream since I left New York.. Don't worry about me for I can't write sometimes for a week or so. The Y.M.C.A. and Red Cross are certainly doing great work over here.

"Yesterday was pay day so we all have "beau" francs to spend. Expect to get a pass to Paris soon. Have been living on eggs and milk since coming here. I visit the dairy twice a day. We are going to buy some chickens and cook up a big feed tomorrow.

"We were relieved by General Pershing today and some of the boys were decorated. They also took some moving pictures of the bunch.

I received a letter from Monica Morrissey at the same time I got yours and she said one of your high school classmates had been killed in action. His name was Joseph Cline. She said you would remember him.

Well I must close for this time. Write often and don't worry. I'll come back as good as fifty dead men, and we will all celebrate.

Some small boys purloined a cowbell belonging to City Marshal Mires, which he had brought to town for repairs, adding thereby to the general clangor.

A huge bonfire was lighted in the square, near the flag pole, around which the revelers massed. The brightly leaping flames silhouetting the crowd, the sharp peals of the fire bell and the ensuing confusing struck a very familiar note. As one citizen remarked, "The stage is realistically set, only it ought to be about 1:00 a.m." But the old fire bell by this wonderful message made ample amends for the direful alarms of the past. . .

Influenza was forgotten, while patriotism was the prevailing spirit. The real keynote of the situation, that Republic was celebrating through all the din and revelry, and one heard often on many a mother's lips, was simply this, "my boy is coming home."

The part which we at home played though infinitely small--in bringing about world peace fills us with pride; but ours can never be but a reflected glory. The great honor is due those of our boys who fought unflinchingly through a hell that out-rivals our wildest imagination, that those blessings of peace might be ours and the bells of freedom ring out for us.

The highest glory, the deepest measure of credit, let us reserve for those whose coming we now await.