TRANSCRIBED FROM THE LAFAYETTE COUNTY DEMOCRAT SEPTEMBER 13, 1918 P. 1
Chicago, Ill, Sept. 1
My Dear Parents,
It’s a typical September day today, with the cold wind blowing and I imagine the leaves in the woods turning brown. Of course we have some trees here in the town but they are always standing alone, petted and pampered like a child and it isn’t the touch of beauty that nature blesses God’s open woods with.
The patriotism of America is is shown on the streets and boulevards today. You see, the fuel administration in order to save gasoline for government use, made a simple request that no more Sunday pleasure rides be indulged in east of the Mississippi river. The result is that today, the same streets that have been a swarming mess of motors for years, is today quiet and deserted. It seems strange to see Chicago streets so quiet. It is a pleasure also to take a walk over part of the town when you don’t have to dodge cars and wait at every crossing for miles of automobiles to pass.
When the time comes for me to go across, I’m sure my dear parents will be proud with me that I have the opportunity to take my place there among REAL MEN. You have always insisted that we be real men under all circumstances and there is no doubt that we are in the right. It will be hard for me to leave you, in view of your age and so on, but harder still for me to be a coward not to go, when children are being burned and women outraged by a mad people who want to do the same for American people and would do so were it not for that splendid American manhood that will bar the way. There is no plan on foot for me to go just now but it is the intention of the War Department to send the wounded back here to do work in this country and send all able bodied men over. I will still do the same sort of work I’m doing here and will probably be many miles from danger. If however, it is my lot to go to the front ___ in order to help my countrymen in their task. I shall do so with a smile knowing that my ____ ____ with God and that ____ ____ ____ is only the means of fitting back to Him in the same way I want you to look at it. It’s a great good for humanity that my brother is doing “over there’ and I am anxious to join him.
The War Exposition which opens tomorrow here and continues till the 15th is one of the grandest Expositions ever pulled off. Thirty cars of captured trophies from the Germans have already arrived and more coming. Thousands of Soldiers and Sailors will take part in the sham battles and all weapons used in the war will be here.
Suppose many people are guessing about going to the war. Men with families will not have to go, that is the reason they increased the age in order to keep from taking men in deferred classes. I’m glad they increased it so single bachelors above 31 and younger men will go before men with families.
Love to all
James E. Burke.
NOTES: James Edmond Burke of Stamps, Arkansas was born on April 30, 1892 and died on June 15, 1983. He died in Habersham County, Georgia and is buried in the Lakeside Cemetery in Stamps. His draft registration described him as tall and slender with blue eyes and dark hair. He had been rejected by the Navy, but then did enlist in the Q. M. Corps.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
Chicago, Ill, Sept. 1
My Dear Parents,
It’s a typical September day today, with the cold wind blowing and I imagine the leaves in the woods turning brown. Of course we have some trees here in the town but they are always standing alone, petted and pampered like a child and it isn’t the touch of beauty that nature blesses God’s open woods with.
The patriotism of America is is shown on the streets and boulevards today. You see, the fuel administration in order to save gasoline for government use, made a simple request that no more Sunday pleasure rides be indulged in east of the Mississippi river. The result is that today, the same streets that have been a swarming mess of motors for years, is today quiet and deserted. It seems strange to see Chicago streets so quiet. It is a pleasure also to take a walk over part of the town when you don’t have to dodge cars and wait at every crossing for miles of automobiles to pass.
When the time comes for me to go across, I’m sure my dear parents will be proud with me that I have the opportunity to take my place there among REAL MEN. You have always insisted that we be real men under all circumstances and there is no doubt that we are in the right. It will be hard for me to leave you, in view of your age and so on, but harder still for me to be a coward not to go, when children are being burned and women outraged by a mad people who want to do the same for American people and would do so were it not for that splendid American manhood that will bar the way. There is no plan on foot for me to go just now but it is the intention of the War Department to send the wounded back here to do work in this country and send all able bodied men over. I will still do the same sort of work I’m doing here and will probably be many miles from danger. If however, it is my lot to go to the front ___ in order to help my countrymen in their task. I shall do so with a smile knowing that my ____ ____ with God and that ____ ____ ____ is only the means of fitting back to Him in the same way I want you to look at it. It’s a great good for humanity that my brother is doing “over there’ and I am anxious to join him.
The War Exposition which opens tomorrow here and continues till the 15th is one of the grandest Expositions ever pulled off. Thirty cars of captured trophies from the Germans have already arrived and more coming. Thousands of Soldiers and Sailors will take part in the sham battles and all weapons used in the war will be here.
Suppose many people are guessing about going to the war. Men with families will not have to go, that is the reason they increased the age in order to keep from taking men in deferred classes. I’m glad they increased it so single bachelors above 31 and younger men will go before men with families.
Love to all
James E. Burke.
NOTES: James Edmond Burke of Stamps, Arkansas was born on April 30, 1892 and died on June 15, 1983. He died in Habersham County, Georgia and is buried in the Lakeside Cemetery in Stamps. His draft registration described him as tall and slender with blue eyes and dark hair. He had been rejected by the Navy, but then did enlist in the Q. M. Corps.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT