The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-06-28

' M AVA away to far off Mexico but they didn't sing it when they left.
 they left
 They were jubilant soldiers, hungry for fight: no Peace Councils" for them, if you please; they talked about war, deep-dyed and splendid war, and every mothers son of them stroked his gun and loved it-bless 'em.
 In Samuel Lovers song, "The Girl He Left Behind Him. was figure Of more or less importance; certain sen- timental interest attaches itself to any soldier when the call of duty and coun- try takes him away from the woman he loves; the sentimental side of sol diering is embalmed in verse as old as the first war.
 You can't help wondering after see- ing our soldier boys march off gaily and happily, every one of them &with a smile on his lips and a blessing in his heart, with never a tear drop or chok- ing farewell; each as brave as a lion as courageous as the warrior of old, or even reminiscent Justification of the joy of staring forth flor my country and you, dear,' what the men of the militia are made of, anyway.
 Whats wimmin when there's a war ahead?" was the eloquent expression of young officer, as he shouldered his gun the other day.
 What. indeed?
 "How are the wives and sweet hearts feeling?" has been the question on every tongue since the Presidents proclamation that one hundred thou- sand men were needed.
 They don't figure in the natter was the silent assent of every man connected with the military.
 Standing erect and soldierly our brave boys didn't finch or show the white feather one iot or little when mustered into service. for when a sol dier starts off for duty "what's vim min?" they say wearing that exalted, My Country Iris of Thee" expression.
 What indeed. except that they are soft, tender, clinging things, and very few of them have hearts that can take command like soldier.
 Somehow you can sort of understand a "Commanding Officer" feeling like that. for his mind and his thoughts are naturally taken up with the game of war; somehow you can understand q Commanding Officers" intolerance oi the gentler phase of the situation, flor only private" may have a heart, as any one knows who has frequented Moving Picture" playhouses, and un- derstands the devotion they are capab ble of, on the stage
 Broad shouldered officers shouted orders the other day; there was scurry- ing and hurrying to and fro khaki suited, men strapped tighter their army packs about their slender shoulders, and no debutante ever packer her precious belongings for a campaign to the springs" with more anticipation than these soldier boys. when they glanced at their flannel shirts and frugal wearing apparel.
 Crowds assembled about the station small boys with their bright shining countenances waiting for the train to start; women with tear stained faces, mothers bidding their precious sons goodbye, little knowing whether they'd d ever see them again-sweethearts- wives-children
 In the crowd and commotion the women's faces looked sad and pinched, in gay contrast to the bright, exuber- ant faces of the soldier boys.
 Amid the crowd stood pitiful solitary figures of sweet faced girls. the "col- lege widow" sort of, person. and as the soldier boys came and went-she sighed->-for she knew most of them, and in her heart she wished them we'll, no matter how she had played with them heretofore; for gone now were all the earlier infatuations no soldier boy had more than a careless ."good- bye" for her now: faithful to the last, she must have come away from the scene of the leave taking, feeling the signifi- canoe of the the Commanding Offi- cer's" words whats wimmin when there's a war ahead?"
 Maybe when they are far away, these braye soldier boys-in the prickly pear and cactus deserts of Mexico the thoughts of all those bright eyed smil- ing, soldier men,. will turn again and again to Birmingham and the sweet girls they've left behind them-bur that day they left--war was their cry victory their slogan!
 There are pictures in old books of TO- nance of camp fires about which sol diers are grouped, joining in heart melody and all sang Annie Laurie and one can't help wondering If the blood-thirAty soldier remembered to kiss Annie Laurie" farewell when he left home.
 "Only cadets and middies wear their hearts on their sleeves" suggested a brave boy reluctantly. ~,"We are regu- lar soldiers; we will grin and bear the separation."
 Indeed. they will. most admirably. unless appearances deceive and if they don't. we women will never know it.
 Was there shout of "All aboard D. If so it wasn't necessary. except to warn the by-standers that they were making ready to depart. for every sol- dier boy was aboard and-waiting- the bell was ringing and the train was chugging off!