"IN WAR TO FIGHT TO FINISH"

The following letter, which has just been received by Professor Copeland from a former University undergraduate, expresses a fine determination to see the present war through to a finish, and a confidence in the final outcome. Because of the sentiments expressed in the letter, it is to be used by the publicity department of the Liberty Loan Committee to rouse the country for the third Loan Campaign. Professor Copeland has kindly given the letter to the CRIMSON for publication.

The Letter.

"I take it for granted that you know I'm at last in the service, here at the ground school, for which I am thankful.

"Well, Copey, my twin brother was killed in France last week. You never knew him because he went to Yale, but he was a fine fellow. He would have been manager of the football team there last fall if he had stayed in college, and he was president of Scroll and Keys when he left for France. That is not an infallible proof that he was all right, but it shows what his own class thought of him, and you can take my word for it anyway, that you don't meet a man of his ability and kindness in every day's journey you make. He once fell off a cliff,--perhaps I told you about it, and was very badly hurt,--and had to stay out of school for a year with a bad foot, and I think that accident made him very patient and very kind and thoughtful of other people. He was really held in affectionate regard by more older people than any boy of his age I know, and of course I swore by him, and he by me. He was closer to me than anybody else, and I loved him as my best friend and brother. And now he has been killed.

"It really seems impossible that a boy who had as much promise as he had should be killed that way. I have always felt that if there was a God he would take care of men who always tried to do right, as they saw the right, and for a day or two I was sick and discouraged and felt that even God had gone back on me. But I can see now that perhaps after all it was a very wonderful privilege for him to die in that way,--in defence of his country and doing his best to uphold the right as he saw it and if I have to go the same way I shall regard it as an honor and a privilege.

"But I am not hoping for it, and I know only too well that perhaps I am not worthy of it anyway. My chief concern now is to get abroad, and when I get there to do my damnedest to avenge my brother's death. I won't stand for anything less than the complete conquering of the devils who let this hell on earth loose. Whatever my part is to be I intend that it shall at least be one that is felt by some German or Germans, and I have gritted my teeth to see this thing through and hang on like a bull dog until the end. I can do anything now that is at all possible, and by God! I intend to.

"It is not only this loss and my sorrow over it that have given me this confidence and determination. I realize now and I only wish that every man, woman and child in this country could and would realize that we are up against the wickedest and most powerful force of evil that the world has ever seen, and that it is going to be a gruelling conflict that will test our country right up to the breaking point,--a finish fight, with no holds or blows barred, that will take every grain of sand we have, and every ounce of fighting strength to win. And so I'm in it on that basis, and if it is possible for one atom in the mass to influence the result I am either going to influence it or be killed trying.

"That's the way I feel, and if you can make other people feel that way, you will be continuing the good work you were doing when I left College.