The courier-index. (Marianna, Ark.) 1917-current, 1917-11-09
NEGROES ENJOYING
LIFE AT CAMP PIKE
PROUD OF UNCLE SANS UNI
FORM AND DELIGHT TO PA
RADE-HOW THEY TRICkED
RAILROAD CLAIM AGENT.

Little Rock, Nov. 7.-White men
who report at Camp Pike under the
draft may have a better idea of why
they have been called than the negro,
but none come with the display of
patriotism shown by the negro The
negro who reaches Camp Pike flag
less is a lonesome poor soul.
After reaching the camp these
negroes have really no use for their
flags, for they are busy people ex-
ploring the new Promised Land
which they have inherited. Some
negro planted his flag beside the
drive way in front of the receiving
station, and what one negro does
another will initiate. Consequently
the street the receiving station is on
is about as patriotic looking
as one could find anywhere So many
negroes arrived with flags tina. one
side was not sufficient and the
generous darkies took in both sides,
and then on to the streets where the
negro barracks are located. There
are so many negroes arriving now
that three receiving stations are pro-
vided for them, and streets there are
daily blooming more and more with
markers of red, white and blue.
The negro who has been in camp
over night, and possesses a uniform,
with overcoat flowing to his heels
and collar turned up, takes keen de-
light in parading before the less for
tunate brother who awaits his call
before the receiving lieutenant. No
salutation is given the strutting neg
70, just peacocking by, followed by
eyes of envy. Tomorrow he does the
same thing, for there is always a
line of new arrivals before the re-
ceiving station
The negroes arrive with little bag
gage. They don't need it, or did
not have any to bring. Occasionally
one has handbag of pressed and
vanished paper, but more often if
he has anything at all it is a tin
cup which bulges out of his pocket
or a cheap market basket given him
by home folks before he started out
One negro carried a little package
like woman's shopping bag.
Asked what it was, he proudly re-
piled:
''Razza set"
SO you come to fight with a
razor?" asked the lieutenant
"Zactly what | comes fer" replied
the negro, but | amt got no razza
Just a razza set"
1t is safe to say that one fourth
of the negroes are over the draft
age. The negro is lucky to know
where he was born, much less when.
Few southern states required birth
certificates until recent years. so
these negroes have nothing to rely
upon other than their fancy A
forty year old negro will give his
age at twenty fo'' and honestly be-
lieve it. 1t is extremely difficult to
tell the difference in the age of neg
roes between the age of thirty and
fifty years, but most of the Camp
Pike officers have dealt with negroes
all their lives, and if anyone knows
them they should These officers
would secure the release of those
who are. so apparently over the draft
age, but how can it be done with
a grizzled headed veteran in ebony
standing up and swearing that he is
just twenty three? If he knew he
was fifty this negro would not admit
1t when he sees the spick and span
uniform worn by other negroes He
would trade passport to eternal
sunshine rather than miss that uni.
form.
Home ties are strong with the
negro, and there have been several
assertions through Inconsistencies.
One case was negro with tuft of
gray hair on his chin. Close esti-
majors guessed this negro's age to
be nearer sixty than thirty, but he
claimed to be just twenty TO-" He
deserted and was later captured and
returned
''Nigger," whatd you run away
for?" queried the receiving officer,
with an effort to conceal his mirth
at the humility of the returned pen
itent