The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1917-12-06


played BLACK Jack. a favorite card
game or campaigners and one In which
they win and lose big. IL wasn't long
before n few OF them had all the mon
ey. The youngsters wrote letters until
I thought some OF them would never be
able to handle a gun on account OF
writer's cramp. One young fellow
didn't slight girl in the state of Tex
as. and l suppose he told each she was
the only one. He ought TO get lots OF
mail over there"
Because of the breaks in the sleep on
account of submarine drills and for
other reasons 1 am ordered not to dis
cuss some of the boys slept in the day.
time a good deal There were not
many duties aboard ship. and the Off
GERS let all hands take it as easy as
they could. They knew there would be
plenty to do in France
That is why the American soldier is
fighting for his captain and not to
make the world safe for democracy
He knows his captain as the fellow
who looks out for him. l speak of the
regular, the neat soldierly looking fell
low you can always tell from a guards
man. when / say this. And | don't
mean that as a reflection. Soldering is
the regulars business.
In the daytime l saw little OF my
husband, but with the aid of Cupid
Private Smithers / sneaked up to his
berth often at night. He still insisted
he would report me. The old timers
who knew me covered me up. and ali
the men were very decent. Whenever
an officer came along they would find
an excuse 10 gather around me, and
they did very little swearing. II a fel-
lorc Ho
from somebody. The loyalty Of these
boys l had known on the border
pleased me very much and hattered me
a little. I guess.
My headquarters were the kitchen,
where l was rated as one OF the cooks
and did my share. Here they called me
silent Joe" because l talked so little
afraid my voice would betray me.
Glad that they gave me this reputation
1 was ready to live up to it.
Fools Husband.
One day l was folding up my blan.
ket when l saw my husband coming
down between the tiers OF hunks
what are you doing there. rookie:"
he demanded. Don't you know there
is drill on deck -
My back had been half turned toward
him. l swung around and tore off my
hat. My hair had been clipped short
but he recognized ME and laughed
The joke was on him
You fooled me, kiddie," he said
You'd better go up to drill
But the best l could do was to help
myself to a good cry on his chest.
There was no one who could see us
He was gentle with me as always. and
! was happy. l had needed that CRY
a long time | think he was a little
proud, too. to know his wife would risk
so much and follow him so far just to
be near him. l enjoyed that moment
| didn't care il all the officers on board
saw me. but none did.
1t was easy for me to go through the
simple drills on shipboard. for was
familiar enough with the army to show
up a lot Of the rockies n { it. Some OF
the men who did not know l was
aboard were curious about my shaving.
when do you get out your razOrY'
a youngster asked me one day.
It don't have to use it except once
a week. l answered. I'm a kid yet.
You go to it every day to look manly"
Once | did try to shave to play my
part
OF course there were always the sol
der songs. and we had quite a collec-
ton OF musical instruments aboard,
manned by amateurs. One doughboy
who had recently returned from serv-
ice I'm Hawaii had brought a ukelele
along. and he went big. for the boys
liked those dreamy tunes.
1t is a strange thing about a soldier
that he does not sing the stuff written
for him. but prefers the tear jerkers
and sentimental ballads. The soldier
songs in France will be about back
home and not about beating the boches.
Yet these boys were going to the
trenches and that hell with a smile and
u song. If any reformer kicks on that
crap game he ought to go himself The
men are gambling their lives. Why not
their money?
The Rookie Who Talked Too Much
Most of the soldiers knew and had
served with and seen General PERISH
ing. He sees more of the doughboys
than most major generals and gets in
closer contact with his men. Yet they
talked little of him except to show
they had faith in him. He seemed TO
be a sort OF distant person who spent
his time in some indefinite place. The
captain is the soldiers friend
There was much speculation as to
what they would do when they reached
France. and all were eager to get into
action. They wanted to try 1t anyway.
I'VE may be fed up ON it year from
now" declared one fellow who had
been watchfully waiting several
months in Mexico, but | hope we get
some action soon"
haUinnfnu fc in I