--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Arnold, Frank R. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 21 number: 10 published: 1918-08 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Arnold, Frank R., "The Stars and Stripes," *Improvement Era* 21, no. 10 (August 1918): 888–892.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera21010unse 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: improvementera21010unse start_page: 888 end_page: 892 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1918-08) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera21010unse publication_year: 1918 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 1918, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Stars and Stripes 890 IMPROVEMENT ERA officer. When you've got that, you are pretty well immune against mal de mer, as the French call it. We call it that, and then some more. So don't bring any pills aboard your transport. And, when that feeling comes, and the ship is going up and down like the old seesaw out in the back yard, and the sky looks like the upper side of a speckled trout, and — the waves are lashing higher than the Woolworth building just give in.Everybody will be doing it from the C. O. down. In fact, if you don't give in you will not be playing the game; you will be missing a real experience. What were deck rails made for, anyway? Don't try to recover too soon. Don't skip any meals. Keep right after your little old stomach, giving it something to do, so as to take its mind off itself, feeding chow to it as often as they will let you. After a while your stomach will get it through its bean that the chow was meant for it to keep, and will say "Thank you" and hold its peace. The process of education, though, is apt to be a pretty long one. Don't try to hasten it. Another thing: Don't spend all your money on board ship, if the ship has a canteen or a barber shop or any place where you can spend money. You will have lots of use over here for all the dough you have, and you will get twice the value for your kale over here that you will on the transport. Besides, if you start out with a neat pile, you can usually increase it on board. How? Guess! Speaking of sharp bargains, bring your own razor. You have heard, of course, a lot about English cutlery; but England isn't engaged in j»-»ki lg that kind of cutlery now. Don't gamble on picking up a razor on this side. If you use one of the safety affairs, put a package of blades behind each ear, one in the sole of each shoe (a la Nathan Hale with the fort pians\ one in every pocket, and the rest wherever you can stuff them. Good safety razor blades are as hard to find in France as Boches in heaven. Also soap: Soap is not as plentiful over here as soldiers are. Although you may not have much occasion to use it, the mere having it viil give you a sort of righteous feeling. Taking out your cake of soap and looking at it every once in a while will give you almost as much comfort as looking at your girl's picture in the locket she gave you. That cake of soap will remind you of many a happy Saturday night spent wallowing in the family sink. It will form one of your most potent links with honn;. Our co-inhabitants of the dugouts are cute little fellows, but are rather pressing in their attentions at times. They like us a lot, and just dote on our underwear, which they think is good enough to eat. If, however, we have a cake of good, pungent tar soap around, they fight as shy of us as ministers fight shy of a corner saloon. Therefore, try to slip in a cake of it in addition to your other soap; it's as good as an anise-seed bag for keeping the shirt hounds on the wrong scent. Bring along one good book for use on the trip over and on the long train rides that seem to prevail in this corner of the world. Inasmuch as you've alreadv got a book, look it well over to see whether it bears reading and re-reading. If it doesn't, get another, one— almost any one that's written in English. You needn't bring a Bible, because somebody will be giving yom one every time you turn around in England and in France. Take them all, with thanks, when thev're handed out to you. If you collect enough of them the chances are that some day you will read part of one; that's why they give you so many. Thus the term Stars and Stripes is taking on a new meaning, and its latest signification is not unworthy of all that the term has connoted hitherto. The paper costs ten cents a number, and is well worth it. We talk about sending cheer over to the boys in the trenches. If you send a dollar to 10 rue Sainte Anne. "THE STARS AND STRIPES" 891 Paris, you will get weekly laughs in return for three months that will surprise you. Good cheer is not alone to be found on this side of the water. It is noticeable wherever good Americans, especially young ones, get together. Logan, Utah. Poems In the issue of Stars and Stripes, March 31, 1918, a number of poems are found, which are doubtless fair samples of American poetry from the front. They serve further to illustrate Mr. Arnold's estimate of this lively publication: THE LISTENING POST The Strange Case of Edgar Alfred Allen and Oscar A. McGinnis (From The Stars and Stripes, France, May 31, 1918) When Edgar Alfred Allen was a little boy with curls, He used to cut out paper dolls and play around with girls; 'He never did a naughty thing, he never was a knave; And all the people on the block said: "My, he does behave!" At school he always studied till he got the highest mark; At college Edgar never went with boys upon a lark. He never lost his temper, and no matter what occurred, He never would articulate a naughty, naughty word. Now, Oscar A. McGinnis was a different sort of lad He was the kind of whom the neighbors said: "That boy is bad!" He pulled the hair of little girls and gave them all the creeps, And people used to say he played at marbles— and for keeps! When Oscar went to college he was captain of the team, Although the old professors held him not in high esteem. A virile, brave, intrepid, fearless man was Oscar A., And one who everybody said was sure to make his way. Well, Oscar joined the Army, as the brave men always do, And Edgar Alfred Allen? Why, he joined the Army, too. And after several months in camp they both achieved the chance To come and fight the glorious battle over here in France. Edgar Allen, who in boyhood days, was never known to swear, Displayed conspicuous valor, and he got the Croix de Guerre. And Oscar A. McGinnis, who'd been fearless all his life, Likewise achieved the Croix de Guerre for bravery in the strife. Moral: This is the little story of two soldiers overseas, As to the moral of it, it is anything you please. 892 IMPROVEMENT ERA PRAYERS A Mother's Prayer O God, look down upon my son, In distant France, now serving Thee, And save him from the frightful Hun, Whose gas and shell destroy the free. But if, God, 'twould end the strife, When I should offer Thee my son, Then plunge Thy sacrificial knife; I shall not weep when Thou hast done! A Soldier's Prayer O God, protect my Mother dear, Who toils and suffers more than I. Her love of country sent me here; That she may live, I will to die! I'm ready, Lord; take Thou my soul A hostage; let the pact be made; Twas she who urged me to the goal, A partner in this last Crusade. Thomas F. Coakley, Lt. Chaplain. THE LITTLE CHILDREN (Editorial in The Stars and Stripes, France, May 31, 1918.) She is five. She believes in fairies. Her great confidant is her brother, twice her age, whom she calls "Boy." "Boy," she said, wistfully, one morning, "I wish I had a dickey bird like Glenn has." "Well. Janet, why don't you save the pennies the fairies leave you under your pillow every night and buy one?" "But, Boy, you tee I have to buy th-rift tamps with my pennies that the fairies leave." "But, Janet, you could save your pennies and buy the dickey bird, and then afterwards buy thrift stamps." "Boy! You know I can't stop buying th-rift tamps because you know I must tend my money down to Washington to buy shoes for the goldiers and things for goldiers to eat and warm clothes for them, too." "Yes, I guess that's right, too, Janet. But after we've licked the Ger- mans, then you can save your pennies and buy the dickey bird, can't you?" The little children throughout America are saving their pennies, deny- ing themselves their hearts' dearest desires, that we, their country's soldiers, may have shoes and things to eat, and warm clothes, too. Every night they lisp their prayers for our safety, our triumph over the dreadful enemy of mankind. Blot out all the other reasons —the little children are sufficient reason why we must fight on until the Hun is beaten. For they are the hope of the world. A Living Witness to the Power of God" By Elder Joseph W McMurrin, of the First Council of Seventy . This is very unexpected, my brethren and sisters, for me to be called to this position this afternoon. I was one of the number who took advantage of the opportunity to speak in our meeting this morning at 8:30, before the Mutual Improvement workers. I there bore testimony to the truth of the everlasting gospel. I have in my soul a feeling of deep gratitude to my Father in heaven for the opportunities that have been presented to mc from time to time, in the past, for the bearing of testimony. I am convinced of and believe sincerely in the doctrine advocated by the Redeemer of men that whosoever would confess him befor men should be confessed by him before the Lord our God. My soul, I trust, is attuned to the great work that our Father in heaven has instituted among his children in this last dispensation. It has been my high privilege, for a long period of years, to labor in the interest of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, and for a good many years to be in quite close association with the presiding men of the Church. By contact with these brethren in authority I have learned to know that they are men who are devoted to the work of our God. They labor with an eye single to his glory, and in a most unselfish manner for the benefit and blessing of the people. I am very happy to say that the privileges that have come to me have also brought me in contact with many of the prominent sisters in the Church and in traveling in the stakes of Zion and listening to the counsels they have imparted to the people, and to the doctrines they have advocated, I have discovered that into their souls, also, has come just as sure and perfect a knowledge of the truth of the work of God as has been given to their brothers. Our Father in heaven is no respecter of persons. He stands ready to reveal the truth of his gospel to all men who are willing to seek for it. I bear record to this before this great people. In these latter davs, according to the words already uttered in the opening prayer, God opened the dispensation by giving a revelation of himself and our elder Brother and Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. He declared to the Prophet Joseph Smith that the time *A testimony delivered at the joint meeting, M. I. A. Conference, June 9. 1918 in the Great Tabernncle. Srlt Lafca Cif=. 894 IMPROVEMENT ERA had fully come for the reintroduction of the gospel; that the time spoken of by holy prophets in all dispensations, concerning the greatness of the work that God would establish in the last days had arrived. I bear testimony to the choosing of Joseph Smith, young, without experience, without advantages. The God of heaven took him and schooled him, and by communion with holy angels sent for the purpose, educated him, and made him acquainted with his wonderful ways, and the marvelous principles of the everlasting gospel, and revealed unto him the powers and rights of the holy priesthood, until the unlearned youth, Joseph Smith, became the best educated man, concerning the purposes of Almighty God, that could be found upon the face of the whole earth. I rejoice that the prophecies delivered by the great prophet, Joseph Smith, are being fulfilled, day by day, before our eyes, and that even this great struggle now attracting the attention of the human race, God revealed to Joseph Smith; and all who will can read, in the very first section of the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, that just such times were coming. God declared that, foreseeing the calamities that were coming upon the inhabitants of the earth, he had called his servant Joseph Smith and had clothed him with power and with authority. The word of God in that section, also, announces that the time was not far hence when peace should be taken from the earth. If time permitted, we might call attention to the prophecies that so wonderfully point out present distresses, all of which can be found in the revealed word of God as given in this dispensation. All those prophecies bear unmistakable record, to any man or any woman who desires to know the truth, that Joseph Smith did speak of things that it was impossible for him to know, unless they had been revealed by the inspiration and power of the Holy Ghost. I bear testimony to this congregation that the doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ, when he commissioned his apostles to go forth and preach the gospel to every nation, kindred, tongue and people, promising that signs should follow those who believed, has been abundantly verified in the experiences of the people of God in the age in which we are now living. I bear record in all humility, and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,that I stand in your presence here, this afternoon, a living monument to the mercy, power and blessing of the Almighty. I myself have been restored from what appeared to be death, and was declared to be death, by the most eminent physicians in this city of Salt Lake and yet I was promised by an apostle of the Lord ; Jesus Christ that if I desired to live, I should live, no matter what doctors might say to the contrary. That promise of God, as vou all this dav see. was fulfilled. I bear record that into nw