El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-10-18

YANKS TRAIN
crest Camps in England
Are Fascinating Places,
But Not Much Rest.


situation does not matter. It is in
England; that is the important fact.
Take a map and select some high,
windy spot whence you can get
view over miles OF English country.
hill and dale and woodland, and it
Will do for the American camp The
high, windy spot must be within
walking distance of an old English
town. which has an intimate place in
our early history and owns as many
legends as would make book OF ro-
nance and enchantment-
Many Americans visited the town
in the old days. They were then in
a hurry, and did not mind what they
paid 10 get in and out again quickly
They used to do" the town; and the
townspeople. perceiving their lavish
ness and being simple folk. perhaps,
fell into a habit of doing" them. The
town grew accustomed 10 being pol
or so. while the Americans were de-
lighted at sticking another name IN
their guide books.
A Rest Camp There.
Their successors actually occupy a
rest" camp. II is true that they do
not sit down for very long. for they
are on business and rather pressing
business. But every provision is
made for their comfort, which they
have made themselves So it comes
about that. stumbling on the camp
by chance. a man who has known the
high. windy spot in the days OF peace
is at first a little dazed by the
Transformation wrought by war The
streets of huts remind him Of the
towns that grow up in night in a
colony. There is a shock between
them and hallowed history and tradi-
ton; as though some Smithville or
Browns City had nested in the ruins
Of Pompeii, and were raising its crest
in defiance Of the heavy hand Of
Time. Then. his eye lighting on open
spaces and certain mysterious nets,
he recognizes the indefeasible signs
Of the race The squatters have
brought their sports with them as
well as their provisions Here they
box. and over there they chase a ball
With the nets they fish for physical
health and fitness.
Most soIepn of the Allies.
OF the thousands Of men in the
prime OF their youth who march along
the memorial roads. not one seems
burdened with nerves or an ache.
the kind Of chest that throws out
tunic. But behind the lean. brown
faces turks a notable seriousness.
The British soldier smiles when he
is most in earnest. but these men.
on the contrary, carry the gravity OF
war in their keen eyes and set lips.
They are the most solemn OF the
allies.
At play. they let loose the Wild
humor OF Mark Twain. compared with
which all British fun is prim and
even grim. The same man who talks
to you OF common things with the
decorum OF a finishing school for
young women Is changed into a yell
ing. gesticulating wild mai the mo-
ment he sets foot on the baseball
ground.
Study the Country.
Set down here on this most Eng
lish soil. and staying but a little
while. they study the country. Men
ton the local legends and you dis
cover that they have formed opin-
ions on them They possess quite a
nice sense OF where history ends and
romance begins One OF them. dis
cussing the subject with me. ex-
pressed definite views on the burial
place CT a renowned hero. This man
was a chauffeur. The whirlwind
pace he drove at may have given him
leisure for speculation All 1 could
do was listen and hold on; so the
theory cannot get into print It was
not so fascinating in any case. as
the spectacle Of the man himself.
taken from a remote American state.
conveyed over a Few thousand miles
OF land and sea. and planted on this
sacred ground 10 teach an English
man his own antiquities. Not AFRO
gantly. by any means. but with a
winning air OF suggestion.
It is. however, notorious that Amer
lea can claim a larger variety of hu-
mnnity than most countries. One cas-
ual acquaintance in this camp came
from Georgia. and another, who
claimed New England as his home,
told how a small census had been
taken Of a dozen soldiers selected at
random, by whom eight states were
represented. II was the man from
New England who let me into the
secret OF what shocks the American
soldier in England. Unless he hap
pens to be fassiliar with the haunts
Of the "idle rich" in big towns, he is
struck either dumb or into Tan
guage" by the sight OF women smok-
ing cigarets.