Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1917-05-17

Ralph Harlan is one of the Trego
county boys who recently enlisted in
the United States navy and is now on
duty somewhere in Atlantic waters.
he recently wrote letter to Profess
sor Niesley of Trego County High
Schoo. and we take pleasure in pub
fishing ii herewith
Pm try 10 write little to you as
L have few minutes spare time. i
am on United States third best bat
tleship, as you probably know, q. S.
s. Arkansas, but l may be transfer
red TO revenue feet along with the
recruits i haven't been from home
and dear old L. c. H S. quite three
weeks but it seems at least a year.
l have been through so much, travel
Ell and met so many people. I'm
afraid / can't write very interest
law. / can't describe the ship. say
where we are or what we are doing,
but I'll write what L can.
LAT Kansas City i took the oath,
passed the physical examination, and
was shipped TO the Great Lakes
my adventures began. I've GRO SD
the Mississippi river; I've seen Lake
Michigan; I've walked through the
metropolis of Chicago; I've ridden on
special train through the "Blue
Ridge mountains of Virginia.: I've
sailed on Chesapeake bay; I've drilled
on naval drilling grounds within
half mile from the battlefield of
yorktown where CORVALLIS surren-
dered to Washington, and I've seen
the monument erected in honor of
the event. I've been out learning to
row and most everything for new
sailor but alasi I've Shined brass
work; scrubbed decks, stood ships
watch for a four hour stretch; been
homesick, blue and often I've wished
I'd finished my senior year in T. c.
III. s, but vinegar goes along with
the sweets everywhere and i m not
sorry that I'm here nor that l came
when / did.
Il am at Uncle Sans service and
am willing TO take what comes. We
don't know where we will 60 or what
we will do but if il comes to going
over TO Germany I'm ready.
SIX essler, Kerth ard l split up,
watch made US feel rather bad. Fred
was at the STATEN yet when l left;
George left for Key West. 1 don't
know to what ship. We may never
hear from one another again, at least
not for long time, but we have To
make friends wherever we go and L
have found some pretty good ones
already. Since our country's call
better class is eDlisting. There are
high school boys and even few boys
from college. Boys from all over the
United States. / believe I've met
men from at least forty of the differ
ent states.
The navy is good place, of course
home is better, and I'd be there now
if it wasn't for the war. I'm glad
the bill for universal service, and the
draft bill has passed. The slackers
can't help from helping some.
hope old 7. G. H. S. is still as patri-
otto, or even more SO, than when /
lert can remember everything
just as left them up there, but it
seems years l remember how at the
senior junior banquet we stood in
circle and sang the high school an
them. IN never forget how l felt
at the time nor how l felt at the
parting at the train or worse yet,
when / said good bye 20 my mother.
Those memories bring me much sad
ness and yet their thoughts will keep
me from evil temptations and when
this war has passed and / again have
my freedom and return to Trego a
happy and somewhat experienced
man.
(Here follows a half page, personal
only to Prof Niesley which he asks
to say that his words express his
deepest gratitude and realization of
the obligations to his teacher for
four years.
Il haven't received a letter from
home. Have sure been homeSick but
am getting over it as / get acquaint-
ed. A letter takes ten days to ar
o yes, 1 see fleets of patrol hydro
planes. Saw four flying today.
Ralph Harlan, q. S. Ar
kansas, care Postmaster, N.
N. City, N. Y.