Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-07-19

down our back as we thought of trudg-
ing around the camp on hill which we
pictured sizzling under the hot July sun,
choking with clouds of gritty dust. kick
ed up by the awkward feet of drilling
rockies. and teeming with swarms of
busy flies
But our Imagination had led US into
error AS we puffed up over the last
mountain height onto the plateau we
were greeted by a gentle but refreshing
| breeze that we had not met in the re-
gions below. AS we advanced toward
the drill grounds we did spy a few
awkward feet that we suspected Of be-
ing associated with rockies, but they
caused not the slightest bit of dust. At
first we thought a new kind of dustless
step had been introduced into the drill
but later we discovered that there was
no dust anywhere to step into as the
| ground, after our June deluge, had been
trodden down hard by many passing
| feet and baked like cement by the hot
sun of the past few days AS for flies
| there may have been one or two on
some of the tents but we failed to find
any in circulation. When we inquired
about this strange absence of Old-Time
| Muster Fly we were informed that he
| had been driven out by his enemy.
Camp Sanitation. And right here we
want to say that this newcomer, Camp
! Sanitation. is much more pleasant fell
low to meet than Old Time Muster Fly.
Camp Sanitation pointed out to us with
pride the trim and clean condition of
the grounds, how he had picked up all
bits of paper, banana skins and other
refuse and carefully disposed of all
table waste. He admitted that it was
quite task to keep the grounds clean
but we'll worth the trouble, for by SO
doing he had starved out his enemy,
Muster Fly, who is. not only a pest,
but a real menace to the health of the
soldiers. He added that most of his
work in keeping the grounds clean was
due to the carelessness of visitors who
threw away wrapping paper. banana
peel. etc. seemingly without thought
that they We're causing much work tor
somebody. He said that on Monday
mornings the place looked like a fair
ground just after Ringing Bros circus
had quit the lot.
Sundays there is always a big crowd
of visitors to the camp and all leave
behind them a liberal quantity of
lunch boxes, Sunday papers, etc. Il
do wish people would be more careful
not to scatter paper round So" sighed
he, wiping from his forehead a large
drop of sweat that had spurted out at
the memory of his last Monday morn
ings work. He also Informed us that
he had increased the number of show
er baths from six to II (which aided
greatly in refreshing the soldiers aft
or hard day training.
Delighted at finding a cooling breeze
holding off the sweltering heat, no
dust nor flies, and camp sanitation
keeping such a close watch on the
health of the camp, we started out for
a pleasant stroll. We had not gone far
before we spied a new species of
dwelling. 1t looked to us like a cross
between a board fence and an army
tent. On irquiring we found that this
new species of dwelling had been de-
veloped by the officers on the border
last summer. During their confinement
on the Mexican frontier they nau
found the regulation army tent too
low and stuffy for permanent quarters.
Someone hit on the scheme of in
| creasing the tent space by erecting
board wall four or five feet high, rails
| ing the tent the same height. and fas-
tening the walls of the tent to the top
of the board walls. This extra height
gave plent of room to move about
without hitting the top of the tent. AL
so, when the tent walls were rolled
up a much better circulation OF air
was secured OF course this arrange
ment is good only for a permanent
camp. the tent being pitched in the
customary way when the army is NOV
ing about.
The wholesome smell Of something
cooking for supper halted US next be-
fore the mess tent Of Co. l of East
port where we made the acquaintance
of Cook Knight. He told us Of a very
pleasant visit that the company had
received Monday from Mr.. and Mrs.
Green and family Of Danforth. The
boys were much pleased at having re-
| received from Mr. and Mrs. Green
word of appreciation and praise for
the gentlemanly and considerate man
ner in which the whole company had
conducted themselves while stationed
on guard duty at Danforth.
Cook Knight remarked what a differ
ent attitude on the part of the Danforth
townspeope this compliment denoted
from that manifested on the company's
arrival at that place. At first young
daughters were warned to beware Of
those terrible soldier boys. citizens
eyed them with suspicion and distrust.
| and on every hand they were met with
an air of aversion. But when the Dan
forth people failed to see manifested
the expected ''roughneck' tactics. when
they saw that the boys of Co. I knew
the meaning Of the words, courtesy"
"gentlemanly conduct" "politeness" and
"self-restraint." then the cool atmos-
phere which had formerly surrounded
the townspeople underwent a thaw and
places were speedily found in the
hearts of Danforth citizens for the boys
from PASSPORT. Before their departure
for Camp Keyes. the boys were given
a fine banquet and reception by the Dan
forth people who did all they could to
make the companys departure memoir
| able one
We next forced our acquaintance on
Leroy Rollins, mess sergeant Of Co F
! of Dover We found Sergeant Rollins