Even though we will be moving ahead in parallel 1918 – 2018 time, I am going to stay with Rev. Emmanuel Jones a little longer. He was in Kinsley only a few months before he had volunteered for service with the Y.M.C.A. The June 13th newspaper reports that the Jones’ household goods were being shipped to Kansas City where his wife would make her home while he was overseas. He also advertised to sell his car. Perhaps Mrs. Jones did not drive like many women of the time.
The editor of the Kinsley Graphic received a card announcing Rev. Jones safe arrival overseas (Aug. 15, 1918). Then the following letter was published in the September 26, 1918 edition of the Graphic.
“Tells of Hardships Overseas
Emmanuel Jones, writing from 47 Russell Square, London, England, to Antone Lippoldt, of north of Kinsley, says:
I am just back from Llandudno, Wales, after visiting mother and the dear ones there. I find these dear people deprived of many of the pleasures of life on account of the awful war, which is paramount every place in the home land. Yet, with all the privations and hardships of life, they are cheerful, and willing to make any sacrifice that the liberty of all nations may be with them.
When I left the States we thought hardship was with us when denied sugar, and the little things that we could do without, but over here it is not pounds that they are offered but only ounces. I would to God that this war was over. When I call for the friends and school companions of past days I am told that they will never return to Blighty, but have gone West. These are the heroes that are daily dying for liberty, and I ask myself when I look into the faces of these sad mothers, wives and sweethearts, “What have I done?”
I am sitting at this time at the door of our hut, where we have been serving since early morning to the boys the things that they need, and here let me ask that the loved ones at home remember the boys in reading matter. Just the clippings that you send them from your daily papers are read and re-read until they are worn threadbare. I want to tell you of the sacrifice of the women here. They are never-tiring in their efforts to do for the boys, patching and darning their clothes day and night. I have prayed that God would keep from our American mothers the heart-sting of France and England are now going through.
I am just called from this letter to wait upon an attachment of our boys, tired and worn, but with a radiant smile and the same Yankee determination to win.”
This is a picture of Y.M.C.A. Eagle Hut in London which opened on September 3, 1917. Perhaps Rev. Jones was one of the 800 volunteers on the staff. In the same Graphic issue, a letter replying to one of his Boy Scouts, Ernest Hampton, was published.
“My Dear Ernest: I was glad to get your letter this morning and I read it with a great deal of interest. I often think of you and the other boys and I love to show the lovely watch that my boys gave me. I have had very little time since I came over for I have been very busy and on the move all the time, but I am having the time of my life and if I could come back I would have lots to tell.
I have met about 10 boys from the good old state of Kansas, some of them from near Kinsley, and I am planning to have an evening tea with them before very long.
While I have only been in England but a short time I have spent a few days with my folks in Wales and you can just imagine the time I had.
Now I have charge of a hut and while my hours are from 7:30 in the morning until 10:45 p.m. you can guess I will not have much time to be lonesome.
I am sorry that they haven’t found a person to take charge of the scouts but perhaps this fall when school begins and all the boys are in town they may get together.
Well, I must come to a close for today. with love to all the boys and remember me kindly to your folks. Send me all the papers you can get, the Front Rank and the town papers. With love and God bless you, my boy. – Emmanuel Jones”