The Gavelyte, March 1907

"'EDARVILLE COLLEGE. 42 Why Belong to the National Guard. In the gradually growing prominence of military affairs in these mod– ern days, we hear very often of the National Guard. And yet the policies, use and general purpose of this body of organized militia are not very generally known. It would seem however that this is a topic which should be thoroughly familiar to everyone concerning as it does both patriotic and general utilitarian principles. Membership in the National Guard may be of great value in three distinct ways. First, because of its educational advantages; second, be– cause of its military training and third, because of its patriotic necessity. Of its educational advantages much might be said, for it will be se.en at a glance that the student of history needs this training that he m3y know, and reading, understand the great military campaigns of Cyrus, Darius, Alexander, Hannibal, Caesar, Fredrick, Napoleon, Oyama, and a host of others. These men were soldiers and their success was due almost entirely to military ability. It has been truthfully said that every distinct advance of civilization has been due to the military genius of a man or of men. It will be seen also that the general reader of current events could read and derive more profit from his reading, did he know the Briton's weakness and the Boer's strength; did he know the military significance of Oyama's marching and counter marching in tho~e mountains in the East, far distant from the scen_e of the general attack; did he know in short that one rapid firing gun was the equivalent of a whole battalion of in– fantry in figh~ing strength. And, again of what arlvantage is it to the traveler to visit Vicksburg, Lookout Mountain, Gettysburg or Waterloo, unless he knows the true meaning of that hill or this ravine, of yonder wood or the grass grown embankment at his feet? Where is the educational advantage of travel if travel means only looking without understanding? The reader may well ask, ''Does the National Guard give one all this?" Yes, and far more. Hardly a year goes by in which some regiment or company does not make some instructive trip. Chicago, Washington, St. Louis ancl Vicksburg have all been visited in recent years by Ohio