The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1916-12-28
Mothers Boy goes to the Military
School and what comes of it
tFlorence corbet for Am erIcan pefense Society

partnership with his kind, for he may
mot have speech with his fellows, be-
ng officially pariah. When the long
lay ends, he has mastered one of the
big lessons he has to learn; prompt
and strict obedience to constituted au-
thority.
Some Bright Spots.
But there are some bright spots. For
instance the stern decree that all ca
diets must shave; he Is already pro-
Iyided for this emergency although no
he stands before his little mirror, the
lather on his face acts as a delightful
balm to his bruised feelings. He Is
man.
seeks 1t. He looks about him, all are
in the same boat; the boy from an Ok
I lahoma ranch, the millionaire's son, the
son of a clerk in small town, Zip
Ling Hoy, the studious Chinaman
from Hawaii, and he finds that neither
friends, positions or money count for
anything here, ii Is what the boy him
self is Any faint of snobbishness he
may have had can not live in this
democratic atmosphere.
Soon the gloom lifts and what were
at first hardships, habit makes easy
and natural, even the once Ioathed
target shooting. the everlasting salut-
ing every five minutes some officer or
other the long hikes he regards as all |
in the days work.
Leaves With Regret
Time goes swiftly now in this busy
jovial company, and although at the
end of commencement, he with others
fling their shakos high in the air as
joyful signal that their release is at I
hand, he finds he is leaving this place
with regret and affection
He goes home little chesty perhaps
from his experiences but his once flab- /
by arms are filled out with the muscles
Of blacksmith. He has exchanged his
delicate white hands for pair OF
broad useful ones, albeit ornamented /
with ealloased places and divers blis-
tiers. souvenirs of his trench digging.
The round shouldered slouchy walk is
gone, straight backed, he has an easy
military stride that will stay with him
his life long Indifferent to extremes
Of heat and cold, and almost immune
from sickness.
But he brings home something more
han strong healthy body. He has
earned more than the A. B. C. of pa Z
.riotism. He knows now what his duty ]
$ as an individual to the state To
lin, the national flag is not only some
hing to cheer when carried in a par {
lde or flashed on a screen; It is some
hing for him to guard.
Not So Soft Now.
He is now ready for the university, !.
md having voice in the matter. his
'hoice is one where drill is compulsory,
or he has no intention of getting
soft" after these strenuous years of
Ipbuilding. Here the physical drops
ack to second place, but with his ro-
ust health he brings a clear brain to !
he strenuous work Of the next four n
ears, as he fits himself for his pro- 4,
ession, undisturbed by any visions Of t
he pomp and glitter Of army life for !
is work is to be elsewhere, but he will
Ign a contract with his government
lodging himself to give two weeks of 9
Is vacations to training camp work, 3
nd expects to be a reserve in case he 6
!. needed by his country He does G
MS without any to-do and as matter 3 8
course. =
And here in his junior year In the N
diversity we may safely leave him. as N
= Is now fully capable of taking care ~ "
't only Of himself but others. p