Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-07-26

Everybody was looking forward to
real clean UP at Kansas City and
transfer to sleepers. To our great JOY
we were ordered to change cars when
we reached the city and to our greater
joy we were told that we could get
bath and swim at one of the Municipal
baths nearby. What a rush through
the station and across town to the
baths. We were furnished with a
towel and bathing suit and believe me
it did not take long to get into the
water. The pool was outdoors and
would measure so feet square with
several spring boards at the deep end.
1t was almost impossible to get those
! men out of the water. When we got
ready to go back several autos picked
the bunch up and took them to the
station. That is sample of typical
western hospitality. At the station a
fellow was selling the ordinary 5 cent
bottle of pop for dime. II the
major had not stopped the crowd ne
would have been mobbed
! Came to town of Emporia, normal
school town. We were met at the sta
ton by a group of pretty girls and
many of our company were ready to
/ stop right there. Page drew novel
from the collection handed to our boys
entitled Loves Labor Won" 1t was
only a short time before he was at X
If real style. 1t was almost impossible
to pry him away from it until the
kidding got SO strong that he read the
ending and threw it out of the win
/ dow.
| AWoke next morning feeling like
real man after the first nights rest
! since leaving home. We picked up
Bone" Lathe a Arkansas City during
the night. He was on the first sec
ton but got left and was just in time
to catch our train. Went through
Ardmore where they had that big gaso-
lene explosion a few months ago. 1t
surely tore things up but fine ne"
buildings are taking the place of the
old ones wrecked by the explosion.
When we reached Fort North there
was a big treat waiting for us. The
Red Cross of the town have made it a
practice 70 feed all the troops going
through. Each man received all the
iced cold milk and sandwiches he
could put inside of him. 1t is hard to
realize and appreciate the spirit of
these people in caring for men so far
from home. 1t typifies a real fine
Christian citizenship Of which the
United states should feel proud. Moth
ing was too much trouble and nothiny
neglected to make our brief stay in the
city pleasant and enjoyable. 1t will
be impossible for us to show our full
appreciation but 1t will be long time
before that brief hour in Fort Worth
will be forgotten. The typical western
terms were much in evidence as
When you all get to the border" We
have run across many things peculiar
to US Eastern men but the end is not
yet and indications are that our ex-
periences will be many and varied.
We now began to pass over guarded
bridges. This was the first signs Of
activity anywhere along the limo.
Rumor had it that the Mexicans had
blown up a bridge in front of another
troop train but as usual there was no
foundation to the rumor. AS we ap~
preached the border signs Of uneasi-
ness began to show among many of the
men.
More and more the Mexican element
could be noticed and few showed
their disapproval by shaking =
clenched fist at the train. What a
temptation it is to bore a hole through
one of them.
The cactus. one Of the few plants
that can live in Texas. steadily in
creased in quantity as we went along.
During short stop at a straggly
village one of our fellows brought
aboard a piece of cactus and for his
trouble received several good jabs from