The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-09-15

udlLeIS III MS OWL ndnQS and went
anyway-his punishment-a week in
the guard house-he didn't seem to
mind a bit at was worth it." he
laughed.
Boys at camp were busy yesterday
and the day before. washing up clothes
They have tables made of boxes on
which they spread trousers or shirts
and by means of a large scrub brush,
sCour them until one would thing they
would be full Of holes. After a good
deal Of scanning held up to the light,
they rinse the garment and hang it up
to dry. Did you ever see a soldier
wiring his washing? He has no idea
of the right way but presses out the
water. squeezing hard, one either
laughs or longs to do it for him. 1t
makes me think of two boys mother
once brought up; she taught them to
do housework-sis did not make all
the beds nor wash all the dishes, nor
do all the cooking, the boys came in
for a full share in the HOUSEHOLD activ-
tiles. They were even taught to wash
and iron and to sew on buttons and
patch. In spite Of the taunts of play
fellows, these boys were kept at their
"disgraceful' tasks until they were
quite efficient home keepers, for rea-
soned the mother, one never knows,
the day may come when you need the
knowledge. And the day did come,
when the boys grew to manhood they
accepted post far from civilization
and women. On their return home one
year for a visit they said: Mother,
we can never thank you enough for
teaching use homework. Had it not
been for you we would have been mis-
erably uncomfortable and ill-fed." Not
that the boy wants to be housewife
but you never can tell, the knowledge
may come IN handy even to a man.
Did you ever see the low fiat tent of
the soldier boy? 1t is only meant for
sleeping because there is hardly room
to sit up. Some Of them hold but two
cots and the two who sleep within are
usually great pals. We overheard two
of them talking the other night in the
guard house, which is not house as
one might think, but piece of open
ground fenced In The largest boy,
nicknamed the wop" with broad, good
natured face, sat in half reclining
position in the 10 wtent talking to his
puddle" The tent was Uttered with
magazines and the blankets were
wound into solid wads for backrests-
dusty feet were stretched out and the
cot mattress or pad was crumpled and
6isorderly-the small shelter looked
very much as one expects to find
boys domain and especially where the
mother or sister cannot come. 1.-THE
wop" looked over at his roommate and
signed. wonder where we'll be this
time next year." he said. Gee, don't
know" said the boy who looked not
more than eighteen. Hope get
chanc at one Dutchie, anyway" Say,
won't we make him feel sick" return.
ed "The wop."
The Y. NJ. c. A. building at the
camp grounds yesterday was the scene
of lot of letter writing. Boys bent
over the tables whenever relieved
from duty and what lot OF thought
and courage and fine spirit and love
went into those bits OF paper to be
sent to folks out Of town. A good many
OF the boys did not get to go home
to say goodbye-it was perhaps Just
as well-goodbyes are unsatisfactory
at best.
The boys said yesterday that the
goats and the dogs and cats so beloy.
ed as mascots were to go along.
why, OF course" said one, I'VE are
going to have Pullman cars and while
they may not go Pullman, they'll 60
some way, sure thing"
The Red Cross women out at the
Fairgrounds looked like some special
kind of an angel with wings on the
head instead of the shoulders IS angel
pictures have 1t, they made a small
but fair sample of the kind of minis.
teyipg divinity our boys will see III