Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1918-03-08
CHAPTER !.
From Mufti to Khaki.

1t was in an Office in Jersey City.
1 was sitting at my desk talking to
a lieutenant of the Jersey National
Guard. On the wall was a big war
map decorated with variously colored
little flags showing the position of the
opposing armies on the western front
In France. In front of me on the desk
lay New York paper with big flaring
headlines:
LUsITANIA SUNK! AMERICAN
LIVES LOST!
The windows were open and feel
Ing Of spring pervaded the air.
Through the open windows came the
strains of hurdy-gurdy playing in the
street, Didn't Raise My Boy to Be
a Soldier"
"Lusitania Sunk! American Lives
Lost Pr Didn't Raise MY Boy to
Be a Soldier" To us these did not
seem to jibe.
The lieutenant in silence opened one
OF the lower drawers of his desk and
took from it an American flag which
ne solemnly draped over the war map
on the wall. Then, turning to me with
a grim face, said:
How about it, sergeant? You had
better get out the muster roll of the
Mounted Scouts, as I think they will
De needed in the course of few days."
We busted ourselves till late in the
evening writing out emergency tele-
grams for the men to report when the
call should come from Washington.
Then we went home.
l crossed over to New York. and as
went up Fulton street to take the
subway to Brooklyn, the lights in the
tall buildings of New York seemed to
De burning brighter than usual. as if
tney, too, had read "Lusitania Sunk I
American Lives Lost!" They seemed
to be glowing with anger and righteous
Indignation, and their rays wigwagged
the message, Repay"
Months passed, the kilograms living
mandy, but covered with dust. Then.
one momentous morning the lieutenant
with sigh Of disgust removed the
nag from the war map and returned
to his desk. I Immediately followed
this action by throwing the kilograms
into the wastebasket. Then we looked
at each other in silence. He was
squ1rming In his chair and I felt de-
pressed and uneasy.
Inc telephone rang and answered
IL. 1t was business call for me ro.
Questing my services for an out-of-
town assignment. Business was not
very good, so this was very welcome
AFTER listening to the proposition T
seemed to be swayed by a peculiarly
strong force within me, and answered
am sorry that cannot accent vonr
oner, but l am leaving for England
next week." and hung up the receivor
Inc lieutenant swung around in his
CHAIR, and stared at me in blank aston.
isnment. A sinking sensation came
over me, but I defantly answered b;s
look with, "Well, it's so. I'm going y
And I went. e'
The trip across was uneventfm T
landed at Tilbury England. then pot
Into string of matchbox cars end
proceeded to London, arriving there
about 10 p m. took room in q hotel
near st. Pancras station for five and
six-fire extra" The room was MINIS
the fire, but the "extra" seemed ~
Keep me warm. That night there was
a Zeppelin raid, but 1 didn't see much
OF 1t, because the slit in the curtains
was too small and l had no desire to
make 1t larger. Next morning the tel.
ephone bell rang, and someone asked
Are you there?" was hardly. Anv.
way, l learned that the Zeps had 70.
turned to their fatherland, so I went
out into the street expecting to see
scenes Of awful devastation and cow.
ering populace, but everything was
normal. People were calmly proceed.
Ing to their work. Crossing the
street. accosted Bobbie with:
Can you direct me to the place o1
damagew
he asked me, "What damage?"
IN surprise, I answered, "Why, the
damage caused by the Zeps."