davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-19
A NEW TRADITION

AT meeting in one of the large
National Guard camps the other Sun
day evening a brilliant preacher, with
a national reputation for eloquence,
was the speaker He was no longer
loqnent-instead he was uncouth.
His finely turned phrases had given
place to torrent of slang Almost
at times he was on the ragged edge of
profanity.
But he was highly pleased with him
self. Leaving the building in COM
pany with chaplain he said in sub
stance, Il think I am able to appeal to
men"
Then the chap1ain's turn came. He
wanted to know why the speaker had
assumed, because the men wore uni
forms, that they were debascd; why
he had descended from the heights he
trod at home to the level of the gut
ter; why the speaker could not I'M
derstand that the uniform was a mark
of distinction instead Of disgrace +;
and, in fine, why so many speakers
assumed that soldiers necessarily were
bestial.
The speaker attempted an explana-
ton. But the chaplain cut him short
with the statement that if he had been
preaching from his own pulpit he
would not have dreamed of address,
ing these same men in the manner
THAT had characterized the talk just
given.
] At first the speaker would not adj
init that he had erred. He spoke of
the crimes that had always been as
sociated. with the soldiery, he told of
the misdoings that always characteriz-
/ ed the grouping of men. But the
chaplain insisted that the American
soldier was man very different from
the traditional soldier. Because he
was different, said the chaplain, he
would not pillage and assault. Briefly
the American soldier was a man taken
from homes just as good as that from
which the preacher came. 1t was very
early in his military experience for all
the home training to be dissipated.
The talk cf the speaker and the
chaplain was interesting for another
I reason, than fer its purely personal
{ concern. ItNreflected an opinion that
was well established in the minds OF
many: AS soon as man donned a
uniform he necessarily became de-
based. Some of the large cities near
camps and environments, while proud
of their own men, because they knew
them and sending them off with cheer
ing and with weeping, dreaded the ar
rival of those scheduled to train in
the vicinity-but only because they
did not know them.
For weeks after the~troops began TO
arrive and it was seen that they were
just as worthy of trust and esteem as
were the boys that had been drafted
or that had gone with the local Ma
Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-19
HE REMEMBERED

The same company commander
went out one night to find out how
the guard duty was being done. Sud
denly a deep voice rang out calling,
Halt! Who's dere?"
Friend" was the response.
Advance, friend, and be reor-
ganized," was the answer.
Going to the sentry who had chal-
Ienged, the captain-after establish
ing his identity-said What are
your general orders?"
The colored soldier, hesitated a
moment, then he said: "You know,
boss, das funny, but ali knew dem
ver' we'll when ali started out but ali S
JUS clean forgot" Then he paused
long time impressively. Suddenly
he drew himself up to his full height.
Yes, boss, all know. You walk your
post in a military manner and you
take everything in sight"
Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-19
A REAL sKIRMIsH LINE

The old joke about a yard of skir-
mish line took a peculiar turn in one
of the National Guard regiments. A
recruit appeared at the tent of
compann, commander and, presenting
another captains compliments, re-
quested one yard of skirmish line.
The company commander hesitated
moment and then had an inspiration,
for in his tent was pet snake meas
uring about one-half yard Carefully
wrapping it up, he sent it to the prac-
tical joker with his regrets that he
could only supply one-half yard.
The joker, thinking the captain
had devised some new turn to the
camp humor, gleefully opened the
package containing the snake and let
out one unholy yell. His ideas of
humor no longer included victimizing
recruits.
Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-19
THEY SAILED AWAY

During the long tour of guard duty
of one of the Eastern regiments, a
sentinel was stationed on a lone
bridge. 1t was his first time on guard
and soon he found himself seeing
things at night.
An intruder came nonchalantly
along despite the challenge. The
sentry challenged again but no at
tention was paid to his warning ex-
cept that the position of the cigar
cite smoked by the approaching fig
ure showed that his head was held
high in the air Angered by this
defiance, the sentry fired a shot
Telling of it, wide-eyed, when the
corporal of the guard had arrived,
he said: 1.-The man and the cigarette
just sailed over the river" The cor
poral said:
1.-The next time you see a lightning
bug, you will fire no shots or we will
know the reason why"
Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-19

tional Guard troops, the townspeople
doubted their discovery. But now the
behavior of the soldiers has firmly
fixed their place in popular under
standing.
Cities end towns are proud of the
proximity CT TIE camps and canton
mcntS.
The behavior of the American sol
diers at home augurs well for their
restraint abroad.
1t has made new tradition for the
soldiery.
Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-19

PUBLISHERS
JOHN STEWART BRYAN, Chairman
IL C. Adler, Chattanooga Times.
G. II. Alien. Montgomery Advertiser
r, r. Anderson Macon Telegraph.
j. S. Baker, Tacoma Tribune.
w. w. Ball, Columbia State.
John Stewart Bryan, Richmond News
Leader
Harry Chandler. Los Angeles Times
Anon c. Carter. Fort Worth Star Te!e~
gram.
Elmer u, Clarke. Little Rock Arkansas
Democrat
Gardner cowlcs, Des Moines Register.
II. A. Crothers, San Francisco Bulletin.
Charles s. Diehl, San Antonio Light.
g. X Gaylord, Oklahoma City oklaho-
F. p. Glass. Birmingham News
Bruce Haldeman Louisville Courier
Journal
Clark Howell. Atlanta Constitution
James Kerney Trenton Times
: Victor i. Lawson. The Chicago Daily
Charles f. Marsh. Waco Morning News
Frank r MacLennan, Topeka State Jour
nal.
4, L. Mnor. Battle Creek Enquirer News
ID. D. Moore, New Orleans Times Picayune
Fleming Newboid. Washington Evening
Star.
Cough J. Palmer Houston Post.
Bowdre Phinzy, Augusta Herald
Don G. Seitz, New York World.
Rudolph C. siegling. Charleston News and
Courier.
H. d. Slater, FL Paso Herald
w. F. Sullivan. Charlotte Observer
A James M. Thomson, New Orleans Item
Published under the auspices OF the Ma
tional War Work Council OF the Y. NJ. C. A
of the United States with the cooperation
of the papers above named.
Distributed free to the soldiers in the
National Camps and Cantonments.
Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-19
MEDICOs PUZZLED

There is another story of a fat
soldier. He was suffering from ap-
pendicitis-or thought he was-and
presented himself to a surgeon at
sick call. The surgeon had become
very tired of seeing men who were
trying to eyade drills, and, calling
over to his Major, he said. in loud
tones: Fat man thinks he's got ap-
pendicitis. Shall we operate or
blast?" The soldier suddenly was
cured, or reported that he was, and
did his drill uncomplainingly
Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-19
A HERO IN SILHOUETTE

A great arsenal was threatened.
ing. One explosion followed another.
Beneath the feet of those on the
arsenal grounds was enough explosive
to destroy city.
On guard at the arsenal were raw
troops. They were young men who
had voluntarily enlisted for service in
the National Guard. Only a negli-
gible percentage could boast any mill
tary experience.
Yet they rose to the demands of
that midnight alarm. They formed
FIRE lines and prepared for the work
of prevention and rescue.
Thousands of civilians, men and
women employed in the arsenal build
ings, hurried from their places to the
grounds, ard into the city streets
They saw flames leaping high above
the tallest buildings. They saw a
quick fash. here. another there. They
heard heralds of impending doom, the
explosion that came with greater fire.
quency.
The raw troops went on unconcern-
eddy, The danger was just as great
for them, greater in fact. The one
thing to do was to save the magazines.
If those great storehouses went up,
ruin would be complete.
Cool and collected the Commandant
of the arsenal viewed the firehghters
as they worked. He was well dis
ciplined man. Every suggestion he
made was the result Of quick but
careful survey. So completely in pos
session of himself was this army
trained man that he was overhead to
remark, I'VE had planned to tear
down that ruined building. If we can
confne the flames the fire will prove
a blessing instead of a disaster. 1t
will actually save money to the gov
ernment."
Looking up at the building he spoke
Of, the Commandant saw a sheet of
fame. Silhouetted against it was the
figure of soldier.
It was National Guard private.
Will is bare hands the soldier was
picking burning brands from the roof
of the magazine; and he was kicking
away cinders. Also he was directing
by gesture-for his voice could not be
heard-the streams of water so that
the walls would not become over
heated.
Beneath him lurked death-not
alone for him, but for his comrades
and for thousands of others, perhaps.
The magazine was saved Disaster
WIS averted.
Some of the young mans comrades
were eve-witnesses of his bravery
Few outside the regiment know the
story. But the Commandant of the
arsenal has told the authorities in
Washington and it may be that this
young hero will wear one of the
worlds most coveted military medals.
Vet he never saw battle line.
Those of the soldiery who are left
to serve in this country may believe
that the tasks to be done here are not
worthwhile. They may resent the
fact that they are not chosen to be
on TIE battlefront. Let the lesson of
this hero, now only in silhouette but
soon to be completely identified, teach
that our tasks and duties are what we
make them and that there is oppor-
tunity for real and worthwhile ssrv-
ice no matter where we are.
Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-19
SEE CANYAsMAsTER

In the Middle West there is a sol-
der so fat that all his friends wonder
how he ever passed the surgeon, but
he prides himself on the fact he is
as hard as nails and says that no
medical board could ever find fault
with him. Several weeks ago he sent
cotton uniform to the laundry. 1t
came back with the curt comment:
I'VE do not launder tents"
Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-19
$4,000 NURSES NOW ENROLLED

Fifteen thousand nurses have al
ready been enrolled by the American
Red Cross, many of whom have vol
unteered for war service, according
to statement made public at Red
Cross headquarters. About 1900
have already been sent to Europe.
1t is estimated that the present reg
istered force is sufficient to care for
an army of a million and a half, and
approximately thousand nurses are
being added monthly.
Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-19

Following are some stories that are
told by soldiers about actual expert
ences in the field:
WEARY
A company commander, in charge
of negro troops, became deeply SYM
pathetic for them after four hours Of
intensive drilling Standing in front
of his men he made this statement:
Il don't want to be too hard on you.
| will excuse from this afternoons
drill any men who do not want to go
out, but this will not happen every
afternoon I am doing it because j
don't want to drive you too hard at
the start. Let those who don't want
to go out step forward one pace.
Instantly every man except one
stepped forward.
The captain looked at his troops
and thought that among them there
was one at least who had the max
ings of an exceptional soldier. Look
ing at the lone man, he said John
son, how does it happen you don't
step forward?"
The answer was drawled back:
Boss, abs JUS too tired"
Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-19
PATRIOTIC HAWAII

Hawaii has furnished a remarkable
example of patriotism. She has con-
tributed more than twice her quota
of volunteers for the army and navy
and asks that credit for them be
waived so that more of her 26,337
eligibles for selective service may be
taken into the National Army.
Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-19
BIKES FOR CouRIERs

Uncle Sam has bought 10000
bicycles to be used by army messen-
gers and couriers. Each wheel is
to be equipped with an attachment in
which the khaki-clad rider may carry
a rife. The machines are designed
to carry 200 pounds of rider and SO
pounds of equipment
Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-19
SEND 1T HOME

Trench and Camp contains the
news, gossip, chatter and humor of
the camp in which you are living. Do
you know anything else that would
be more acceptable to the members
of your family? Sea- this paper
home.
Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-19

for which he was ordered to do
kitchen police duty. Writing home
to his mother he remarked casually
that he was now doing kitchen police.
His fond parent wrote back: my
son, do not let your sudden climb to
authority make you forget that you
were once private yourself.
Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-19
.I.EsT WE FORGETn

A young man in one of the West
-ern regiments committed some
minor infraction of the regulations
Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-19
The Listening Post

in
pubica-
Pulitzer
Building, New
Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-19

fcOuYet wmh e d no Lk
Hehem t9anyhmg he b
Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-19
Trench and Camp

Published weekly at the Rational canton
ments for the soldiers of the United States.
Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-19

ADVISORY BOARD or COOPERATING
PUBLISHERS
Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-19

National headquarters,
Room 504, Pulitzer Building,
New York City
Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-19

Following are some stories that are
told by soldiers about actual expert
ances in the field:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-27
Dollars VS.. Health and Safety

Tenement House Commissioner Muir
phys opposition to the Lawson bill govern
ing the conversion Of old private dwell
ings into three-family tenements should
carry great weight with the legislators.
Health Commissioner Emerson's testimony
that under the conditions il would set up
thousands of families would become base
ment jewellers, thereby encouraging the
tuberculosis menace, registers another Sc
rious argument against il. To this must
be added the fact that the Fire Commits
sioner is said to object to it on the ground
that the type of alteration permitted would
constitute a serious fire hazard.
These objections come from public Off
cials charged with the duty of protecting
the life and health of citizens. They are
Gisinterested. No person can allege against
these officials any motive of personal gain,
such as is manifest in the attitude of many
supporters of this legislation. Viewing
the issue solely in the light Of their Off
cial functions, they declare that the bill
breaks down the standards Of safety and
sanitation built up by the existing tene-
ment house law, and that to put it on the
statute books would be lamentable step
backward.
Under ordinary conditions such opposi-
ton TO a measure would be conclusive, and
the Legislature would kill it Unfortu-
nately, conditions at Albany, so far as this
bill is concerned, are not ordinary. There
is behind it a combination of political and
financial interests, eminently respectable,
but none the less mistaken and dangerous,
The Tribune believes, when it undertakes
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-27
Hail, Sarah!

With the front page and all the pages
decorated by the most eyesplitting news
there is one small item which we confess
to hunting for every morning while the
coffee waits. That is the health of that
distinguished French envoy to America,
Nine. Sarah Bernhard. We propose to
stand on Fifth Avenue all day, if neces-
sarv. to see Joffre Marshal of France, go
by; and shall probably shed few tears,
too. But he is a young upstart by the
side Of Nine. Sarah, seventy-odd, wooden
legged. resolute and victorious, the immor-
tai goddess of us all.
She would return to her France before
she dies. And no good American, with a
wistful eye backward or forward to his
happest hours, will fail to understand
Also. she would see her France victorious.
And if any American can keep from say
ing that she must and shall, God helping
us. he doesn't deserve goddess or half
god or a smidge Of immortal youth or
ioy again.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-27

to make such measure a law. The glst
of the arguments in favor of the bill IL
that the tenement law prevents the pro1t-
able conversion of these houses, no longer
rentable as private dwellings, into tene-
ments; and that such tenements are de-
sirable to decrease congestion Of popula-
tion--that is, TO lessen the construction OF
rev large tenement houses. Now, the plain
fact is that there is more profit IN erect
ing new four and six story tenements OF
small flats than in putting up three-fam-
lily houses, so that is what builders prefer
to do. Tenants, moreover, seem TO pre-
fer the smaller flats in new houses which
comply with the tenement law. These re-
laxations of the law are sought. therefore,
to enable owners or mortgage holders to
compete proftably with the new houses
in plain English, they want to squeeze
more dollars out of the old properties by
giving to their tenants something which
city officials say is not so safe or so healthy
as the new larger tenement houses; and
which assuredly is not so good for the city,
as these reconstructed houses would not
pay so much taxes as new large build
ings and would cost the city as much for
police, fire, sewer, health and street clean
ing service.
The issue, then, on the testimony of
Commissioners Murphy, Emerson and
Adamson, becomes the old one of dollars
versus the interests of the citizens. If the
lawmakers are willing to decide this issue
in favor of property owners seeking to
fatten their pocketbooks, they will pass
this bill. If the lawmakers prefer to con-
tinue the protection of the citizens which
the existing law gives, they will throw
Senator Lawson's bill into the wastebasket,
where it belongs.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-27
Use Lawns for Pastures

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: great deal has appeared 20 -,
press lately advising that lawns be plouS',.
Up for the purpose of planting potatoes
seems that much better use could be m'',
of the time and especially Of the tar',
good turf is not easily established ana vs..
once acquired will yield high annual
return to the lucky owner either IN nay ~.
pasturage From it general iarm'' a
vests his most paying crop, ana "n.' -,
worn out he reluctantly plougns " -
with the hope Of bumper crop to maze
his loss. go. ~
1t would be better By far 70 u,s 49,
splendid turf that is already there anu anu NJ
il took several years TO grow, 70 ie'. -. q.
and sheep, which next year VIII oe M ny. yos
pensive than ever. Therefore, unies' 4,
are prevented by municipal restr'es'V,ui;; ,s 70
the veal calf which the farmer Is ss. .s,sr,
the butcher because he is short Of Pc 20 .,
and let your lawn turn him INTO o. ~, %
better vet, a young lamb and gro" Ut, IN
maturity; for there is much me@s " "a a.
eating immature animals II the i''1
mana 10 s'O" '"e'" r S. PIERREPONi'
Far Hills. N. J., April "a, 1917
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-27
The German WAY

An American woman serving the Allies
in France tells in another column on this
page of the German retreat from NOyon.
Her letter contains fresh items; in general
it is only confirmatory of German actions
and policy in the occupied portion of
France as described in dispatch after dis
patch from the devastated area. 1t gives
a vivid, human picture Of what is already
history.
How loath Americans have been to be-
lieve such facts many patient months can
testify. There has been a wealth of first
hand evidence available from the earliest
days in Belgium. Yet even such direct
proof, even our own Lusitania tragedy, the
facts of which were unquestionable, failed
to convince many, and we think it is rather
to sheer circumstance, to psychological
coincidence, that the present realization of
the truth is to be laid. There has been
fatal consistency in German actions which,
followed through the years of the war, is
unmistakable. It is like the case of
murderer convicted of series Of crimes
not only through the direct evidence of eye
witnesses, but as we'll because of a certain
uniformly terrible manner of killing his
victims. "The German way" whether we
are speaking of Belgian deportations or
hospital ships or what else, has come to
mean to us, as it had long before to Eu-
rope, a definite kind of calculated fright
fulness, a certain methodical wantonness,
which will not be forgotten by generations
and generations of civilized men.
We read with wrath and pity Of these
last brutal wrongs with which Germany
sought to terrorize nation she could not
defeat with arms. Two years ago, six
months ago, many Americans would have
dismissed them as unbelievable. To-day
we recognize them as Enthusiastically true.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-27
The Sword of Lafayette
INSCRIBED 70 Raymond Poiroor.. President Of the
French Republic

INSCRIBED 70 Raymond Poincdre. President Of th'
French Republic
1t was the time Of our despair,
When lion-hearted Washington
That man of patience and of prayer
Looked sadly at each rising sun.
In all the freedom breeding air,
OF hope and rescue there was none.
When lo.-as down from Heaven let
There came the sword of Lafayette
Our harbors-how they danced with light!
Our tireless bells-how they did ring
Again we girded up to fight
Not England, but her Prussisn king.
For here was succor, and the might
Of one great souls imagining
What wonder il our eyes be wet
To see the sword of Lafayettel
Upon the walls where Justice keeps
The swords she doth most gladly save,
Not one of all so deeply sleeps
Within the scabbard's honored grave
But, listening for her call, it leaps,
To live again among the brave.
Thank Heaven our naked blade is set
Beside the sword Of Lafayette!
Not his, not ours, the brutal strife.
The vulgar greed Of soil or dross;
The feet that follow drum and fife
Shall tread to nobler gain or ioss
II is for the holiness of life
The Spirit calls US 10 the Cross.
Forget us, God, II we forget
The sacred sword of Lafayette.
ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON.
1oosvnsht. 1911. hy Robert unasrscd J,hnsosA
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-27
Agricultural Courses for Women

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: For the benefit OF Another Ready"
and any other woman interested in farming,
may we have space TO say that the National
Service School No. 6 of the Women's Section
OF the Navy League is conducting an agri-
cultural course at Farmingdale. Long Island,
under the auspices of the New York State
Agricultural School, and that there will be at
least two encampment courses OF twenty days
each, which will include lectures, demonstra-
tions and actual gardening The first course
begins June Ia.
WOMEN'S SECTION OF THE NAVY
LEAGUE, SERVICE SCHOOL NO. 6.
No. 90 East Forty second Street, New York,
April IS, 1917.