The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1917-06-20
WRITES OF
CAMP ACTIVITIES
Interesting Article on Army Life Writ
ten by Hugo Bottger from Fort
Smelling, MINI.
BASE BALL THE LEADING GAME
Singing and Music GaIore-March TO
Tune of "Dixie" in Daytime and
Pull Snipe Hunt at Night
June i6, 1917.

June is, 1917.
Editor Denison Review:
Dear Sir:
an this hour which has been left
free from assignment by the war de-
partment, will say something about
how we prospective officers spend
such time as is not taken up with the
work that has already been described
to you. Although recreation periods
are few and far between, we never
lack for ready means of amusement.
'The most popular sport, as you
might surmise, is baseball. Every day
directly after dinner and supper there
is a series of exciting games in pro-
cess, in front OF the long line of bar
racks. 1t is a sort of improvised base
ball, differing from the regulation
game in that the diamond is much re-
duced, an indoor ball is used, and
there are no gloves or other means of
protection. However, the reduced
scale upon which the game is played
seems only to make the interest in it
more intense. The first eighteen men
who finish their meal are the ones who
play. and the others who are intes-
ested, occupy the "sidelines," adding
such suggestions, with loud voices, as
their general good or bad dispositions
may provoke. Indeed the noise can be
compared only with that heard from
the crowd at an important girdiron
event. Some of the fellows naturally
become quite proficient in the game,
and the self-appointed umpire finds
his responsibility rising to very high
and sometimes dangerous point.
Singing and music from the banjo
and ukulele occupy the attention of the
music lovers. 1t is common thing to
see the men group themselves around
the minstrel and joining in some pop
nlar ragtime. Those who do not know
the words are very good hummers, and
heard from distance one would think
he was taking in minstrel show
at a Denison street carnival. Il sing:
ing and Whistfing are signs Of good
feeling, it must be said that we fel
lows are far from being dissatisfied
with our lot. On our long morning
hikes. over soft, sandy roads. with the
hot sun beating down upon us, we in
march to the tune of such
popular airs as Yankee Doodle"
'DiXie-Land," or "ripporary." AL
though on marches it is not required
men in the column who do not un-
conform to the step with
such music" Even at mess forma-
tiOns and on the way to the mess
halls. the men sometimes forget their
and join in a hilarious song.
Perhaps in this case it is in anticipa-
lion Of the fine things on the tables.
The singing fever is general. Gray
headed professors and lawyers, who
have been too busy to sing for years,
break the crust and help the young
fellows out. The men in the bunk
house are rather proud of the fact
that they can go to sleep every night
to the tune of "Way Down in Iowa"
''Yet another sport, of a much less
general nature is designated as "snipe
This form of sport is in
dulged in by only select group of
fellows. 1t is very technical game,
indeed, for the man who goes out the
first time. 1t seems that only those
who take part in it appreciate it
fully. Dark nights, soft ground with
many pitfalls, such as is found along
the Minnesota river, and a willing, un-
man are indispensable to
successful snipe hunt. +, Where and
low the snipe is caught, of course, re-
mains secret until you take part in
the game. The other night after an
all days rain, snipe-hunt was
looking fellow picked out and the
game staged along the swampy river.
Each man carries candle in his
search for the game" the mysterious
;nipe. The enthusiastic recruit in
lis eXctment over the newness of the
experience. is suddenly tripped by
some pre.arranged trap of tight wire
Dr. slippery plank, and when his
thoughts return he may call himself
the ''snipe" if he so chooses. His erst
while companions have vanished, and
le must find his way through the
strange terrain back to the barracks.
Then to add to his misfortune. he
night be halted by one of the night
guards. The muddy uniform is only
l small part of the humiliation which
comes to the "dupe." This particular
was the occasion for much
for several days. or course
Ill the fellows, whether they knew the
game or not did their share in poster
ing Red" Willis, guy who was posi-
tive that lie knew all there was to
learn in the army"
HUGO w. BOTTGER.
War Aliases Going Fast
The war aliases issued by the Re-