The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-08-22

and tennis, Of motor boats and yachts
and balloons, there Is no explaining tho
fancy OF the Woodworking American who
spends his vacation and his week-endg
squirting across the sights OF rife bar
rel or hiking" down a dusty road IN
militia column to flank an enemy he may
never see. But the spirit OF the Hay
foot. strawfoot man" exists just the same,
and the militlaman In olive drab who
goes down in the pockets OF his jeans to
support the army's war games is the
counterpart Of the raw-boned farmer in
coonskin cap and homespun whose night
PUSHES and elusive retreats one hundred
and odd years ago wore down tho veter-
ans OF Continental Europe and brought
about the independence Of the colonies.
Men who occupy Office suites in down.
town skyscrapers bankers, brokers.
clerks. and professional men stake out
their shelter halves at night and crawl
IN on all tours for a sleep on the ground
with as much cOmpOsure as though they
were going to bed on hair mattresses laid
on spiral springs. bucket OF cold
water when the sun just tips the eastern
bills takes the place OF shower bath in
the porcelain tub; coffee in a tin cup. a
bite Of bacon, and hard bread make his
bAN1AAhaAf anu NAtSn Allt UdAAdAAbN5 EtA
away for the days instruction each man
has a stick OF chocolate in his haversack
end water in his canteen to nourish him
through the day. says a writer In the
New York Post
Johnny Green. who has been the Won
Z der and despair OF the army since the
first commander-in-chlef OF American
forces had staff. is at last being slowly
licked into shape and discipline for the
army's reserve. and had his forebears
had half his chance they would have
made one OF the grandest armies the
world has ever seen. Johnny may be a
clerk at $i2 a week: he may be a motor
man or truck driver. In some Of the
smarter commands he is an employer Of
men. and has his town house and his
country home. while his pay roll Is large
enough 10 have supported Washington's
army, and in HIS Office, when he punches
an electric button, a score Of clerks and
boys jump to do his bidding
Equality in the Field.
In the field. II the plutocratlc mnitiaman
IS an officer. he continues TO exercise au-
thority. but II he IS an enlisted man he
runs to the beck and call Of his superior.
crawls on his hands and legs through
briars. climbs trees. gets dust and bark
NNnA AlAI DuLh VI Ills rlAlllutl Snlll. ana
comes In when the bugles soun0 recall.
sunburned grimy. and tired. but stin
bundle OF enthusiasm and ready. as
tired as he is. to get out Of his blankets
az midnight and do a forced march before
breakfast.
Call II what you will-love for the open.
the primitive instinct OF man. desire TO
get back to the blanket the spirit OF 70
or what motif Is with US still and liable
TO burn as bright and strong as Il ever
cid In the training days when Squire
Beadledebow mustered his company on
the village green, with the gaping towns
folk staring from the side lines in admi-
ration and amazement. But the merry
villagers don't stare these days. They
rush by IN a cloud OF dust, and with a
squawk Of the horn. begoggled and
bundled from head TO toe. waving a de-
risive hand at the toiling column their
careening juggernaut has crowded into
the ditch.
Benny Ravens, rear rank, number two
IN the last squad In column that was
hiking down the road near Purdy's on
Friday Of last week himself the owner
OF four cars, shook his fist at the dis
appearing automobile. and muttered:
GO II, you vulgar rich. Hurry up and
hit the ditchr'
the grassy plain and the moon makes
the little city Of shelter tents look Ike
fairyland. II is easy TO hear the call OF
Mars, though it be sung in the soft key
OF the night breezes, stunning some
ancient song Of glory The drum beat or
the guard preceding taps falls with
solemn distinction. and afterward the
clear. silvery notes Of the bugle lift their
goodnight TO the stars.
Strawberries I'm Camp.
Out on the field Of First Battery Farm.
where the battalion Of the Seventh Regi-
ment made It's camp at dark one night,
youth poked his head through a tent
flap in the morning and plucked wild
strawberries without leaving his blankets.
Wake up, orlando he called 10 his
bunkie "Dost not smell the odor Of fruit
for thy breakfast which awaits thee?"
There was plenty Of opportunity to OBJ
serve the mood Of the militiaman in this
camp OF instruction. He was seen under
all conditions. with the heat at times in
tense. the dust thick. and the work con-
tinuous. What impressed the visitor was
the willingness OF everybody to get out
and hustle. Those who came had volun-
tered. There was no pay for the work
feed time and money IN order TO do IT,
And there were no complaints or grum-
bling; instead. goOd-natured raillery,
chaffin6, and laughs at the expense OF
those who made any unusually bad
break In the rules Of the war game.
or those who met with ludicrous misfor-
tunes
A lieutenant Of the Brown army. as
signed to the important work OF checking
the advance Of a battery, crashed or
through the bushes with his detachment
az his heels. and made it hot foot for
the point In the road where he could
best stop the artillery. He carefully
studied his map. posted his force, and
establishing his location for command
sat down 20 rest, well satisfied with him
self Probably he was there an hour or
more when, after the booming Of field
gun In his rear the army umpire came
galloping down the road. He was duly
reported and covered all the way back 70
the Lieutenant commanding. who climbed
over the fence TO receive his visitor. and
tell him what a good defense he had
Established
You and your command report TO
your battalion ordered the umpire. be
cause you have been annihilated."
Annihiiated?' shouted the lieutenant
BY what2 There isn't a living thing
along my whole front except two good
COWS"
You're right as to the cows" said the
umpire but you are facing the wrong
way and you are on the wrong road
Hear anything passing on your right?
Yes, sir; 1t sounded like a heavily
loaded farm wagon"
Put Ont OF Business.
The farm wagon" said the army man.
was the qua, an6 there vas nothing 70