Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-05-02
TELLS DAILY LIFE OF
COMPANY IN CAMP
High Private in Company M
Writes Breezy Letter from
La Grande
By Maxwell E. Ran

taps Company NJ is as busy an organiza
tion of military men as It is probably
possible TO find anywhere or "some. |
where in the United States'' at the
present time.
However, lest ! IN the least way tam.
per with the censorship Of military ex-
pedieney, ! must eaHfiHe activities TO /
the social order Of things.
One of the boys was saving vester-
day that Salem will hardly recognize
her loyal sons by autumn if the present
nut-brown compilations grow any dark
eT. Some lads have really taken on a !
mulatt0-like hue that would make Sa-
lem beauty parlor specialists gasp in
horror at first sight 1t is a healthful
color which has the added advantage
of concealing the dirt, since, La Grande
being railroad town, soil is paramount
on everything.
The great door of hospitality which
La Grande has opened with such free
dom to Company M is ever the talk and
of the soldiers. From the
great demonstration on our arrival to
the dozens of pies which found their
way to the camp last Sunday, the spir-
it of friendship and cordiality has
been splendid. Hardly a day goes by
without some popular manifestation of
interest in the entertainment or well
fare of the men, Lectures, entertain
ments, dances, sight seeing tours of the
city as we'll as first aid teasers in the
line of cake or pie have been on the
menu of the days that pass by.
Company Reciprocates
In its way Company NJ ree;nroeates
as in the great flag raising celebration
in the o. w. R. & N. yards last Sunday
as well as in the stock parade of the
ibig cattlemen s convention which was
held here in La Grande last Tuesday
and Wednesday. Lieutenant Dana Al
len remarked by way of encouragement
TO ease the daily grind that he had re-
ceived many flattering words of praise
at the fine appearance Of the two pla-
toons Company M had in the parades.
"Say, let S so down to the y" is
the most frequent byword of the men
who are here. The reason is no longer
| in doubt when one knows what the ex-
tension of the courtesies of the La
| Grande Y. M. G. A. means to the boys
Of the company, Here in its handsome
brick building the "Y" houses as con
genial an equipment Of amusement and
ease giving possibilities as it is posi-
BILE to get under single roof. The
spacious corridors have many easy
chairs inviting to be pulled up to the
CHEEKY open fire place for quiet
thoug ghtful reverie, the long cores
lpondence tables with fine writing ma
terials make letter writing a real pleas
lure, the extended magazine list offers
the best of reading, the talking ma
chine and piano are ever calling fol-
the hand to guide their music to living
song, checkers and chess bid for youl
iattention if your mental facilities are
still alert after the strenuous days, ant
even the sparkling mountain Watel
which gurgles through the several foun
itains furnishes snap that exhilerates
The crowning joy the association ha
to offer, however, is the shower bath
of varying degrees of Temperature
which eradicate the grit and perspira
ton of tired bodies each afternoon anC
night. After an honest day of toll t,
stand in the needle shower baths is al
. most ga little bit of heaven" it feel
SO good. Twice each week the swim
ming pool is open and to hear the ma.
Imermaids shout as they disport them
> selves in the water brings the memol
lies of the other joysome days in tn
} salem Y tank.
| Supplies Appreciated
If the genial folk who attended tn
Cherrian dances in honor of the con
Y pany could see the way the athleti
: supplies purchased swith part of tn
: benefit fund are appreciated, the
| would. indeed think the pleasure 9
= stepping in the Salem armory wa
' worth while Every spare moment fine
$ the football, baseball glove and M
+ and boxing gloves in use and no ma
! is ever too tired to participate i'll
D. look on such pleasures. Several game
have already been played which bic
fair to be only starter if the war d
nartment so DEGREES that Company
J remain here indefinitely. Altho the /
. cent Y. M. C. Accompany M basketba
y game did result in a close defeat IL
y the soldier lads, it nevertheless fur
y lished some thrilling moments for Il
: spectators as the games score hung
$ the balance. The repertory of Willa1
e ette university Salem high school vel
n was adapted to the occasion and II
u Tia Grandites were treated to some re
= roofing.
n Inasmuch as old Willamette has son
l. 40 men actively serving on the must
a roll of the company, the facilities
c. the local public library mean much
lie the students who still love to brow
e. around with the great minds and thin
vt ers, The privileges Of membership a
- extended to all members of the cor
a panv, the uniform being an ade.qua
reference. Whenever a fellow desires
er nniet hour he invariably is to be foul
h. here in the companionship of boo
is where | am writing at present Altl
at Somewhat smaller i'll size than the )
7e Iemlibrary, this institution has an 8,
- -E,1irahIe number of books and we WI
TO delight in such find many a feast her
=. It, HAS No Official Mascot
Tin to date Company NJ has. no OF.
oiol mascot for the present eampaig
stray dogs have affiliated themselv
20 Win the kitchen police (the X. P.s
n II The camp terminology has it), but tht
presence has been more IN quest OIL :
- ands rather than of friendship i
- tales of hunting to be had not 50 MAJ
miles away may prompt some lovers
tba chase to land bear cub some til
I'll 'iAS -. than thaf fhn rnnna1