Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1917-10-25

you Tor some time, out nave Deen
kept so busy with camp routine
and field drill that we have hard
| " had time to breathe any more
than was necessary in order to
exist, physically.
Soldier life is quite strenuous
and to US fellows who haven't
done much Of this kind Of work,
the eight hour tramps and drill
ing exercises have almost been
beyond endurance. However,
all the Baxter boys are getting
along nicely and in a few mon his
these $4,000 recruits will be much
better men than they were prior
to this experience. 1t is deplUr-
able to know that so many
Americans are not fit physically
to take this work. We as a ma
ton must learn the art of self
preservation and must realize
that in the keen business compe-
tition we have to be whole men
| in body as well as intellect.
Today, the second contingent
that came up from Cherokee
county received the third inocu-
lation against typhoid fever.
Some of the boys got quite sick
from the effects of the inocula-
ton, but personally it didn't al
feet me much at any time.
We are being well cared for, in
fact better than soldiers ordinari-
" are treated. We have plenty
of bedding, they are issuing lots
of clothing and the eats are fairly
good. You will know that our
rations are not short when / tell
you that my waistIine hasn't de-
creased very much up to the
present time.
Personally, like this work be
cause there is a lot of system and
discipline. A good many boys
find it difficult to adjust them
selves to the rules and regula-
tions, but here there is no come
back and the orders given by the
officers become military law, so,
of course, one would transgress
one of these only once in a life
time. We have a fine group OF
officers in Co. d, 353 Inf. of the
Kansas regiment. They are all
gentlemen and try to protect
their men as far as pos sible.
The Y. M. C. A. is doing a
great work here for the boys.
There are IA Y. NJ. buildings in
the camp. They furnish free
writing material, put on boxing
and wrestling matches, have mu-
steal entertainments, some of the
strongest speakers in the state,
and on Sunday conduct Bible
classes and have religious SER
vices both in the morning and
evening. The Y. NJ. i; a great
institution and knows how to
handle men in a camp Of this
kind.
| often think OF how pleasant
the Baxter High School students
were to me and can't tell YOU how
much | appreciated that col
genial attitude. No matter
where | may teach again, my ex-
perience there will always be a
pleasant memory, because not a
brighter or more responsive group
of pupils can be found anywhere
Hope that each one with whom
| came in contact will be a loyal
citizen of his country and above
all will be loyal and faithful to
that which is true, good and
wholesome.
There are classes here in
French and of course some of us
will make use of the opportunity,
so thai if we go to France, VS.
will be able to read the bill Of
fare and otherwise make our
wants known. Those who know
French will be quite in demand
and will have an advantage in
getting more convenient places
to fill than on the front. Here,
as anywhere else, preparation for
work counts and the man who
has learned to adapt himself
quickly will be in demand.
Let me insist that every boy
and girl will learn all they can,
because after the war there will
be a period of reconstruction
when science will advance by
leaps and bounds and men will
want the best there for their
physical growth.
Hope all is well with you.
Write to me if you have time and
let this be a letter to the pupils
of the Baxter High School.
With kindest regards,
Your friend,
J. w. Twente.