South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-09-05


cor Ded-boards are usually stackeI
or PILED against tire wall SO ss 81.
sne more floor-Sace.
These bed boards have dlrni-
hed simplicity Of their own The
are simply btle RATS" or plat
forms OF inch board. about foot
long by feet wide. with a cles'.
or hatten d. inches thick nauel
across each enc so as 90 life ther.
bote tho floor. Sometimes tick
and mattresses are provided Vhea
straw Is readily available bar often
the blankets are lust spread direct
N upon Tie historic soft side of
pine plank.
But 6y the time the men have
been in the trenches a month tkeE
have learned 10 sleep like a To-
anywhere that as warm and dry
with space enough 10 stretch them
selves out in. Plenty of blanket
are prov ideJ BAGS or coats servo
for q pillow. and with the sss'ss-
ance OF the stoves. even on the cold
est nights the huts ere kept SINUS
and warm.
This return 10 the primitive and
dispensing with such modern lux
uries as mattresses mas certain
hvsienic advantages from the point
OF view of cleanliness. one OF the
greatest and most troublesome
enemies or camp life is vermin OF
various descriptions. and their
stronghold and hiding place is I'm
the straw or other hllings OF mat
treeses-
Unless these are very frequently
emptied oct and turned or disin-
rected AMI steam cleaned, they are
almost certain 10 become infested
with leas lice ana other com
pany." so that the bed board, STnloh
affords no cover" whatever and
can be easily washed Gown or laid
out in the sum. has certain advan-
taees in addition 10 its spartan and
hardening" influences
1t strikes ms as pretty hard ana
comfortless at first, but it ~ ~ell
TO remember that many OF the
Asiatic races Of our species, inrdud
ing even such highly civilized ones
as the japanese and the Chinese.
sleep upon the floors or on simple
wooden platforms or shelves. with
only q sin-le thickness OF mattlnE
under them for mattress. and many
of them with small leg or stick
OF hard polished FOOD tor pillow
% ie really astonishing how
quickly men under primitive cordi-
,iors-as. Tor instance. in our lum
her camps in the biz woods-learn
tu Sleen .oundlY with an almost
Ierfect Indifference. on the floor or
amy other hard 5nd reasonably
level surface once the hips ami
the shoulders set hardened 60 it. b.
Is not So bad. and certainly even
i'm ths t1in2 campaign. their
has been no development or sore
ZONES on aching muscles or ~heun9-
tism OF any sort from these hard
couches.
The main timing 90 he watched
for the protection Of health IN the
living and sleeping quarters, IS the
ever present problem of strict per
sonaI cleanliness, particularly with
reference 10 underwear, clothin-
and blankets Practically ali the
camps are provided with big steam
steriIizine outfits. capable Of deal
ing with hundreds OF kits an nour.
and whenever the troops change
lines. or if there he no cn4ngins.
about once a month. IL is made
matter OF routine 20 pass ali
blankets. clothing. etc, through one
OF these. so as 10 completely de-
stroy any parasites or their eggs
that may be present.
Al FIRST these were constructed
solely from stern sanitary and
disciplinins point OF view, with no
REGARD TO estethic effects. but so
bitter became the complaints or
the uen about the wrinkled and
rumrled appearance OF their coats
and trousers after having been
through this steam laundry e.
peciaUv If they were gong home on
leave in the near future, that DO
was found necessary 10 add press
/ ing and ironing equipment, so that
uniforms could be made smart ana
shin. shape and dnwrinkleG once
more
This was done for two reasons;
one because the men so bitterlF
objected % having the snartness
taken out OF their uniforms thar
they would move heaven and earth
and uy every possible dodge To
avoid putting their kit, through
/ the mill" second because. - stu
dents OF human nature the author.-
ties thought It hest 10 foster and
encourage the natural self-respecf
| and pride Of personal appearance"
of the soldier man. because tins
strongly promoted personal clean
iness and tidiness In matters %
hathir1. Washing. shaving cham
/ i'm. Of shirts and underwear. etc.
Indeed. In spite OF the absence ~
ltbe fair sex and the awful mud or
ltbe trenches the Overwhelming
mass Of the men. Tcmmies ana
Poiius and sammies alike. are no."
| fresh. clean-shaEen. clean-Fhirtei
lama almost SO spick and span ia
line rest camps a. tney are when
they appear on then leaves. or Pc
missions on the city streer 'to
j Give the girls q treat
have heeu through scores of