Arizona republican., 1916-02-10
MILITARY BUG AND CHRISTOPHER
 A Fable.

CWith apologies to the National Guard Magazine)
 Two boys were raised in the same Community. Bill was one of the Ordinary Kind, that is. he absorbed Knowledge at the Public School and High School. and secured Position i Rustling for a Job. Mortimer was a Credit to one of the First Fam 1 lilies viz; the old Man had come into his Pile by the Wholesale Groc- cry Route, so Morty went to Private i School and afterwards Ornamented 1 the Younger Set
 l Bill was possessed of a large sense of Patriotic Duty, so after he had corralled job he enlisted in the Ma tional Guard. He attended drill one l or two evenings a Week, did his kneeling on the Rifle Range on Sun days, and spent his Annual Vacation in camp. At Camp Bill served nobly in the Kitchen Police, assisted at dig ging Holes in The Ground. stood Guard at Night in the Rain, Waded through streams, liked in the Dust, craWled through the Cacti on his | Stomach and in other similar Man ner enjoyed his Vacation
 While Bill was thus engaged, Nor timer was qualifying for a Place on the Ford Commission by becoming a Leader of the Young Men About Town. Sundays when Bill was Pros trating himself at the Six Hundred yard range in the Hot Sun, Morti- mer was Worshipping at the Country l NGh at Io1 Non-Coms School, or helped the Q. M. Sergeant get things in Shape for Inspection, Mortimer was demon strating the Latest Steps with some Doll or Lifting a Few in Select So lciety. Mortimer and his Pals gave Little or No thought to the C0un- ltry's Need, it wasn't Quite the Thing, you know and when they did Notice the Guard it was to refer to it in An lOriginal Manner as Tin Soldiers.
 As Years Went By. the Military Bug still kept Bill awake and his Military Duty kept him hustling for Ia Job with some Merchant whose Patriotism went further than the Tn God We Trust on the Dollar. After a Few Years Service Bill Secured | tOl1lOTdl land afterwards Advanced throughout the Grades of Sergeant and First Sergeant and on one Golden Day was Given commission as Second lieu tenant
 Mortimer in the Mean Time after long Effort and Study had become the Ping Pong Champion of his Set
 It was a Proud Day for Bill. some Years Later, when he became Cap tain and Company Commander This; Rest after years of Hard Work was welcome. All Bill had to Do now was to Recruit his Company, get the tRange, assume Responsibility for Several Thousands Dollars worth of Spoons, Blankets, Rifles, ammunition. etc, see the boys Bosses about let ting Them off for Camp. and Act as Banker, Advisor and Oracle for about Sixty odd Individuals Bill had To Pc at the Armory about Every night now and Try and earn a living in the Mean Time. His Spare Time was Ipretty Full
 About this Time wave of Appre- hension spilled Over the Country Some little misunderstanding in Eu- rope showed the People that hand full of men could Not lick the Whole World. The be f Sets began to see that this Preparedness was about to be the Thing but could not Agree to associate with the Rough Necks in the Guard Understanding This Mortimer needed his Country's Call
 bought a Seven Dollar and a Half uniform and Attended Summer Camp, listened to Lectures by Gen tlemen from West Point and Other Points and became Real Soldier
 No. Mortimer did not Enlist, he At tended one of Woods Summer Camps for the Idle Rich and At tained Real Proficiency in I've Weeks. Afterwards he Came Home organized a troop among His Boon Companions and was Handed a Com mission as Captain of Cavalry His Merit was thus Rewarded and his Training made him Invaluable Tn jabout a Year the Whole Outfit broke Up and Mortimer had to pay for Various Things that his Bosom Gen tlemen Friends Borrowed but he was made Major of the Continental Ar my and Wore all his uniforms and Equipment
 Bill did some Deep thinking.
 | MORAL: It is Better to be Popular than to be Prepared.