Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-27
K|PL|NG DESCRIBES
| GUNSAND SUPPLIES
Famous Old Estates Taken Over
by Military in Building Up
New Army"
BATTERY "PARKs" IN SILENCE
Londoners at Home in Their
Seats and Saddles-Golf
Courses Held Sacred.
HY HuDYARD KIrLING.
Copyright, 1914, by Rudyard Kiplins.
All Rights Rcscrved)

All Rights RcScrved.)
LONDON, December lS.--Onc had
known the place for years as pic
turcsque old house standing In Il peace
full park; had watched the growth OF
certain young oaks along a new laid
avenue. and applaudcd the owners en-
terprise In turning Il stretch of pasture
to plow. There are scores OF such cs-
tates In England which the mOtorst.
through passing 80 often comes to
look upon almost AZ his own.
In single day the brackened turf
between the oaks and the iron road
fence blossomed into tents, and the
drives were all Gu. up with hoofs and
wheels. \ little later ones car sweep
ing home Of warm autumn nights was
stopped by sentrics, who asked her
name and business; .or the owner of
that retired house and d!screctly wood
ed park had gone elsewhere in haste,
and his house and lands were taken
over by the military.
Then one met men aud horses argu-
ing with each other for miles about
that countryside: or the car would
be lung on her brakes by artillery is
suing from crosslancs--clcan batteries
1ingling OFT TO their work on the downs.
and hungry ones coming back 10 meals.
: Every day brought the men and the
horses and the weights behind them 10
3 better understanding. till In u It'll.
while the car could pass Il quarter OF
8 ''''N '' ''''r'.' '''''S"N 40 ms w NUS
more than one.
why are YOU 40 lirtuousg'' she
asked OF "a section encountered ct a
blind and brandy corner. WHY DO
sou obtrud" your personality less than
ali average tax cart
Because" said driver, his arm
flung up 10 keep the untriinmcd hedi;.
from sweeping his cap on-"becausc
those are our blessed orders. W. don't
do Il for love.
a 10 "a rci ~
affection FOR anything except his bear *
and his weapons. He hasn't the time
He serves IL least three Jealous gods
his horse and all its saddlcry and har-
a3Eeas: his gun whose least detail Of
efficiency is more important than mems
lives; and. when these have been at
tended to the never-culins mystery
OF his art commands him.
Crazy Mixture Ia the Itnin.
II was wcttish. windy day When 7
visited the So lDng- known house and.
park. Cock pheasunts duckcd In and
out OF trim rhododendron clumps; neat
gates opened inio sacrcdly preserved
vegetable gardens; the many -colorcd
leaves % specimen trees pasted them
selves stickily against soddcn tent
walls: and there was mixture of
circus smells from the horse lines, and
the faint civilized breath OF chrysam-
themums In the potting sheds The
main drive WAS being relaid with "A
churncd ana pittcd under the gun
wheels ana heavy supply wagons.
Great hr"ad;hs OF what had been we'll
kept TURF between uubrowscd trees
were blanks % slippery brown wetness,
dotted with piCkctca horses and field
kitchens. 1t was all crazy mixture
OF stark necessity and nanicurod
luxury. cheek by jowl in the undis-
eliminating rain.
The cookhouses, storcrooms, FORCES
nrl- Si,N. tfy,,
poles. riclicloths and odd lumber
= bcavcrcd together as on service. TIL.
officers mess was thin. soaked
marquee.
Less than 100 yards away were
dozens OF vacant, well-furnished rooms
In the big brick house OF which the
staN furtively occupied one corner
There vas accommodation for very
many OF the men in its stables and
lou ouses alone, or the whole building
might have been Quilted and rearranEed
for barracks twice over in the last
three months.
Scattered among ;hc cents were rows
OF half-built tin sheds, the ready pre-
pared lumber and the corrugated iron
lying beside them. ready 10 be pieced
together like chliren's toys. But there
were no wo-kmen. was told that they
came ut morning. but had Knocked off
because ii was wet.
II see. And where are the battcrics?"
demanded.
"Out at work. of course. They've
been out since seven"
How shocking! In this dreadful
weather. too"
They took some bread ana cheese
with them. They'll he back about
dinner time if you care 10 wait. Here's
one of our field Kitchens
Batteries look after their own
stomachs. and are no, catered for by
contractors. The cookhouse was n
wagon tilt. The wood. being damp,
smoked n good deal. one thought OF
the wide, adequate Kitchen ranges and
the concrete passages of the service
quarters in tho big house just behind.
One even dared 10 think Tcutonically
OF the perfectly good paneling and
= the thick hardwood floors that could
Service conditions. YOU see" said my
guide as the cook inspected the baked
meats and the men inside the wagon
tilt grated the carrots and prepared
the onions. 1t was old work to them
after all these months: done swiftly
with tine clean economy of effort that
life teaches.
what arc these lads when they're
at homc?" inquired.
"Iondoners chicny-all sorts and con-
ditions'
Battery Gets Hungry.
The cook in his shirt sleeves made
another investigation and shifted ju-
dicially. He might have been cooking
since the Peninsular. Ec looked n: his
watch and across toward the park
- gates. He was responsible for $50
rations. and battery has the habit
OF saying all that 1t thinks OF its
food
GLOW often do the batteries go out?"
| continued.
"Bout five days week You see,
we're being worked up little"
"And have they got plenty OF ground
10 work over?"
"Oh-yes-s."
whats the dmcully this time:
Birds?"
"No. But we got orders the other
day not to go over golf course That
rather knocks the bottom out of tacti-
cal schemes"
Perfect shamelesancss, like perfect
virtue. Is impregnablc; and. after all
~. Continued on Last Pagel