---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Steele, Frank C.
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 18
number: 10
published: 1915-08
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Frank C. Steele, "After the Struggle—What?," *Improvement Era* 18, no. 10 (August 1915): 914.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera18010unse
  transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers.
  identifier: improvementera18010unse
start_page: 914
end_page: 914
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1915-08)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera18010unse
  publication_year: 1915
  note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1915, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# After the Struggle—What?

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After the Struggle— What?
       When the war is o'er, and Tommy
            Returns with glory wrote
       On his weather-beaten features
         And his stained and faded coat,
       Will we hail him as a hero?
         Tell how gallantly he fought?
       Consider, please, one moment
                                —
         After the struggle What?

       Perhaps we'll have a banquet,
         And speeches, songs and cheers;
       Perhaps we'll grasp his brawny hand,
            And share his good wife's tears;
       But when the glamor's oyer,
            And Tommy calls for aid,
       Will we throw him out the life-line,
         The help for which he prayed?
       If he      wears his ragged khaki,
         And hobbles on a crutch,
       Will we meet him as a brother,
         And welcome him as such?
       Or should he ask for pennies,
         Will we pass him proudly by,
       With eyes too hard for pity,
         With ears that quench his cry?
           Or, if he's lost his sturdy arm
             In Freedom's holy cause,
           Will we put him on the pay-roll?
             Or scratch our heads and pause?
           Then say: "My man, I'm really sorry,
             I   really pity you;
           But we have no place for cripples,
                   —     —
             And well your story isn't new."
           And will we turn and grimly smile
             And gloat o'er fortune sweet,
           While he, forlorn and helpless, turns
             Into the cold, cold street?
           When the struggle's o'er will we deck him
             With bars and medals bright?
           Will we write his name on the Honor Roll
             And sing of his gallant fight?
           Fool World!   What use are medals
             To victims of hellish lead?
           Fine words and martial music
           Make mighty sodden bread.
           When the war is o'er, and Tommy
             Returns to a bitter lot,
           As Christians, answer this question:
             After the struggle     —What?
                                                   Frank   C.   Steele
RAYMOND,    ALTA.,   CANADA