The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-05-26
THE RELIGIOUS RAMBLER
By WILLIAM 7. ELLIS

line troops were obliged to subsisi
for three days on their iron rations
What they suffered from thirst and
sleeplessness and sheer aXhausto
may be understood only by those
who have undergone the experience
Their desire for cigarettes and choc-
olate is more keen, often, than their
craving for food. Uncle Sam. how
ever, takes no cognizance of this
SO if the men are to be Gerved with
smokes and sweets it must be by
some unofficial agency.
Here is where the Y. M. c. A.
secretary may come to his own.
found that one athletic director,
from a town some miles in the rear,
had made his way to the front
trenches, with pack on his back
containing the coveted supplies. AZ
such moment there is more reli-
gion in package of tobacco or
chocolate than in any tracts ever
written. This man had climbed the
hills and had gone into the trenches
quite as matter of fact. Then,
when his supplies were exhausted,
seeing the need for more stretcher
bearers, he had quietly Joined the
ambulance corps, and was helping
to bear out the wounded and the
bodies. For in the heat of an ac-
tion there is a deal goes on that
never gets into the records.
When the Y.M.C.A. Came to Town.
The advanced post of this regi-
ment that is carrying on the pres
ent action is in little village within
sound of the guns, and within reach
of the shells. 1t is like countless
other French villages, sprawling
along the one main road, with ma
nure piles in front of the doors,
instead of flower gardens. 1t has
practically no stores, for rural
France depends largely upon timer
ating. shopkeepers. So the soldiers
cannot buy the supplies which the
regimental commissariat does not
supply. The men are billeted mostly
in barns, with the officers in the
houses of the villagers.
There is nowhere to go and moth
ing to do. The excitement of the
big guns and their incessant roar
ceased long ago to interest these
men; nor do they find diversion in
the coming and going of troops.
There is not even a bit of writing
paper to be had, and no tobacco or
sweets. Pay checks, received two
or three months late, cannot be
cashed and even the officers cannot
cable home money to their families. |
There is no building in which the
men may gather for recreation or
shelter; and not table at which
a letter could be written, even if the
men had the stationery.
Intensity these conditions by the
fact that the village is nlled with
tired men who have come out of ac-
tive service in the trenches, and need |
consideration and recreation. if ever
men do. Most of all, they want .
chance to write home; for the Am
erican army is still living its real
life back in the states; and if the
nation ever allows these ties to be
loosened or broken it will have sui
fereb the greatest calamity OF the
war.
Upon this scene came a dingy
Ford automobile, containing the SUI
pervising Y. NJ. c. A. secretary OF
he district, a Pittsburg lawyer who
was serving on a visiting Y M. {.
A. commission, and so was in uni
form - everybody in the fighting
zone has to wear a uniform-a war
correspondent and the chauffeur,
who was the lawyers young son.
These three in the "Y" uniform were
1t once surrounded by men, eager
o know whether their advent por-
ended the establishment of a hut.
officers joined with the men in
pleading for the opening of Y.
VI. c. A. | saw this demonstra-
ion, and it was really Clamorous,
demand. All unwit-
ingly, it was the best of tributes to ,
he association.
Making the Lawyer Sweat.
Mr.. kinnear, the visiting Pitts /;
urger, was too good an American ,
nd Christian to let the situation so I
" default. Since the secretary had
terally no man TO send TO open this I
ut. he would abandon his own pro- {
ram and undertake the work him
eli. The officers gladly offered to t
rovide a building, and early the c
ext morning Mr.. Kinnear and his /
on appeared with truckload of t
upplieS. from the Y. NJ. {. \. ware
ouse in the rear. fThey brought: il
igarettes and tobacco and candy v
nd cakes and dates enough to p
lock the average store for weeks. {
Then that Pittsburg lawyer-capi- B
dist entered upon the experience OF o
is life. The soldiers simply swarm f
4 upon his improvised canteer, Il
,arcely waiting for the boxes TO be ii
pened. Father and son, and a
1uple OF priyates detailed to help, n
lnded out cigarettes and choco- il
ties and other desirables as fast as al
ley could move. stopping to cash d
iecks on the side. Poor Mr.. Kin Il
-..-....I I'll. , e...~Il-.. sIs- q,