Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-08-03
.HUMOR AND PATHOS.
M|NGLE IN STORIES.
TOLD DRAFT BOARD
NEGRO HAS ENOUGH WAR AT
HOME AND WANTS TO TAKE
FIRST SHIP TO FRANCE-WiFE
WILLING THAT HE SHOULD GO.

Many interesting stories are being
revealed at the high school, where
men eligible to service in the new fed
eral army are being examined by a
corps of five doctors and members of
the local exemption board. The exam
nations began yesterday and will con-
tinue until tomorrow night, unless
the medics are unable to complete
the huge task that confronts them.
'The Free Trader-JOurnal has com
piled some the these interesting ac
counts, in which, hum0r and pathos
are mixed in abundant quantities:
Wants to Avense Grimes.
When former resident of Alsace-
Lorraine and a Frenchman We're
called for examination by the local
examination board here yesterday af-
ternOOn, he wept as he related the
story of the tragic deaths that befell
members of his family due to the ter
rible oppression and cruelty OF the
German army
The man left France shortly before
the outbreak of the war. His father
was called into service and killed,
fighting somewhere in France
When the Germans started their drive
over France his mother fed to Mar
seilles, leaving their little farm and
everything they owned to be tramp
led over by the German soldiers.
His sisters husband was killed at
the battle of Nauvan and she taken
prisoner Later when the Germans
evacuate1 the city his sister was TAX
en- along as a prisoner of the German
army His mother is in dire circum
stances and will probably die before
the war Is over.
This man is going back tosfight-
fight under the flag of the U. S. A
for liberty, freedom and justice.
Wants Other War Than Wife's.
IF it's between livin with this yere
woman and fghtin them Germans
for Gods sake, boss, send me tC
France on the first boat-and boss,
don't want no round trip ticket, nc
stree. not me- thus exclaimed ne
gro yesterday afternoon when called
for examination by the board.
The colored gentlemen was shy In
coming up for examination and At
!, torney Strawn, noticing his predica
) ment, called upon him to come before
the medics.
, When the physicians started exam
, lining him the negro said Boss,
don't know a thing wrong with me
and If there Is, for Gods sake don
} find 1t out, cause if it's between livin
} with that woman of mine and tightih
] All wants Ia go to France on the frs
r ship"
t The negro passed examination al
right, and will more than likely b
, trained for war service.
I Later in the day Dr. Hathaway me
G Rastus and wife on the stree
1 and asking the negro's wife what sh
0 thought of her husband going to wal
0 she said "Oh. that's all right, /
been cooking up here at camp an
y a feedin' this man; guess | can car
$ for myself when he's gone
r Takes Out Fighting Papers.
u An alien. declarant, prospe
( tive soldier, was the course of Ale,
u ander Broset. of Marseilles, a natiN
. of Belgium. who passed physical e
animation for the draft army.
n Summoned for examination alon
u with 172 other youths yesterday, Bro
/ ct was highly enthused with the idt
'e of serving the land which had offert
him unlimited possibilities.
p" Before given any credentials II
u medical examination, the Belgium G
- claimed. "By yimmine. I go fight
u He was told by Senator Gardner tn
" he could not be accepted, event f
. medical examination unless he d
clared his intentions OF becoming
u citizen He then said, Where can
= do that" He was told to go to t
" office of the circuit clerk, John Wit
!" man He was accompanied to the
'o flee by one Of the members of Co
VI pany G where he took out his III
TIC papers declaring his intentions of
coming a citizen Of the United Stat
w Returning to the board he pass
u his examination and will be rea
NC when the time comes for his ASST
," ment to one of the cantonment cam
's' Broset insisted that United Sta
JIG was fighting for his native land a
-oi that he wanted to help 1t win.
-. City Lads More Willing.
of That city lads are more anxious