New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-28
With the Army in France
Wbo Working Y NJ the Camps the American Army

once. He could look at me that day, now
and again. His lieutenant could do nothing
for him on the change, and he supposed he
would have to 60 on. So we talked about
that for few minutes, and then he pulled
out a letter and poked 1t at me. 1t was
from his mother and it was one Of the
finest letters have ever read. 1t was we'll
written in a nice hand, and full Of courage
and faith and affection. They were farmer
people; fairly well-to-do farmers, should
think. She spoke of the crops, how they
were getting on; how they were short Of
help so that she and the little sister could
not drive across the country to the county
seat-ther old home-as they wished, but
would have to give up that drive and work
with the men. The letter closed with an ap-
peal to the boy to do honorably; to do his
very best for his country's sake and hers; that
she was very proud to think Of him enlisted
and ready to do his part. Because liked
that letter he ventured TO show me Sec
ond one, and that also from his mother and
equally fine.
Most of these boys Of sixteen are home
elCh. s4Ch VI buc4E NGHkALcp NV eOlAs bHab
they responded to their country. You can
always touch them at that point, but sorry
there isn't something doing" They didn't
know that the greater part of war is mo-
notony-the most fearful monotony to be
endured because it's monotony in a strange
country where the language is strange;
where letters from home are very, very few;
L. -.
almost any village has at home. There Is
nothing to do after the long fatigues, no
movies" no chewing gum to buy, no stick
candy no American tobacco, no girls tina.
"savvy" United States.
1t isn't that we haven't these supplies.
We have them, and then they run out, and
it is the in-between times that seem always
to be there.
American Talk
The first night / went into the hut cus.
tiers OF boys, seven deep, stood around, elbow
ing their way into the centre Of the circle
just to ask question; it didn't matter what
question; it had nothing to do with what
they wanted to know; it was just talking for
the sake of talking and looking. If caught
the eye Of one through the crowd it would
embarrass him for just a moment, and then
he would invariably say, San American
woman! Why, amt talked with a woman
who could 'savvy' me since June" And for
days that's what they would say. They
would file in and edge up to the counter and
talk, or just look-crowds Of them--and then
gradually they would come up as individuals
and show me letters and talk about home.
One night, during a speech at the other end
of the hut, boy was hanging over the coun-
ter beside me. There was only candle light
one candle.
81 wouldn't mind very much being hons
tonight" That was all he said. don't
think he could say any more, for his eyes
were full. That is all anybody said One
short, very laxative, uneducsted man, not
young, showed me the picture of pretty
French woman. "A young school teacher,
he said. "Yes, sir; she teaches hundreds OF
refugees mot 'refugees) in Paris. Yes, sir;
the place had supper at with her, the house
in Paris, why, it had cost between twenty
five thousand and thirty thousand dollars
and everything to match-ffty rooms"
He had served Uncle Sam in several cam
paigns. The Germans will never take him
alive. IL gotta revolver to do the bushes"
when I get cornered."
He told me about shooting an elderly man,
a spy, In Cuba. "well, when you get your
orders you gotta perform 'em, or else pay
for 'em yourself"
replied to him, ats better to pay for
them than do what German soldiers do under
orders"
Sure, il is" he replied. But wished
bullet could put me out Of my misery lots o.
times Yes, it was misery, misery, awful
misery" He kept repeating misery.
Ct. .. e.,a,... ~, ,....,. Vi.