The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-05-03
DRESSMAKER ONCE,
USESBAyoNET NOW
Our National Army Is a Polyglot
Organization.
FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE

~
In the United States Army-Lsrge
Part Of Time Taken Up In saluting
Calling Out the Guard for the
Commanding OFFICER.
Every person who has written ten
words about our National army has
commented on Its ~polyglot complexion,
Its sons Of many nations. its children
Of two hemispheres and other smooth
sounding phrases. Its men also have
been drawn from all walks Of life,
some Of which are conducive to any
thing except fighting. writes Junius Il.
Wood In the Chicago News.
One night a general staff officer was
inspecting the dark trenches In the
American sector northwest OF Toul.
Earlier In the evening there had been
q brush with the enemy, machine guns
still were popping and everybody vas
straining his eyes out over No Mans
Land hoping for some shadowy form
to shoot at. The officer was almost
upon a soldier before the latter turned
and mildly whispered Halt"
Keep a watch here and don't let
anybody get as close as I am before
you halt him." said the officer. "A
Hun might have your rifle before you
know what was happening"
BY this time the soldier was speech
less. The officer started to put him at
his ease, now that the man was prop
erly on the alert.
"Where did you come fromg' asked
the officer.
"San Francisco. SIR" replied the sol
dier.
II know that city well. Where did
you liver the officer queried.
BY this time the man vas at his
ease and launched into a description of
the surroundings of Golden Gate ave
nue. and Kearney street.
sand what was your business
there?" asked the other native son
Ladies dressmaker. sir" replied
the soldier.
II is q big transition from an adept
I'm gently sticking pins so as not to
spoil a fussy lady's fitting to a fero'
cious charger jabbing a bayone'
through a mans body. but It had been
made In q few weeks.
The Question Of Statutes.
A large part Of q soldiers life Is
taken up In saluting. He must salute
every officer he meets. Usually the
officers susceptibility to salutes varies
In inverse goemetrical ratio TO the
length of his commission. A 'bawling
out" prompt and severe may be ex-
pected II he neglects to salute a "shaye
tail" lieutenant. especially II he Is In
the medical corps. They say in the
army that a medical corps officer
may forget his pills, his ~bandages and
his instruments. bat he never forgets
his "three S's"-sword, spurs and sa'
lutss. An older officers arm usually
aches with years Of saluting mt III
10 not looking for them. However, 1
often happens that a soldier who cal
recognize q major a block away hal
such poor eyesight that he does no
zee a lieutenant when he passes hin
on the street.
But all these petty svasions Of dis
NlRAIuC N0hA1n WhCA ln0 SOihiGA a. va
duty. There he Is away from thu
~hurly-burly Of the street and all 1
strict business. Officers are fewer an'
he salutes them all. II he Is on guar,
he clicks his heels together and bring
his rife to attention, holding 1t Their
until the salute is acknowledged. In
cidentally the saluting requirement |
not all on one side. II an officer fail
to return q soldiers salute the latte
has a right to call his attention t
the oversight and regulations requir
that the officer retrace his steps an
give the salute.
A well-meaning soldier, inclined I
be abssnt-minded about saluting. wa
on guard In front Of a rsgimental head
day. particularly anxious to have
trim, military appearance. rave him
personal warning.
'Now don't let anybody get past yo1
without saluting them" said the Off
Ger.
The soldier paced back and forth
saluting occasionally. Suddenly he no
ticed that the colonel had walked pas
him. He had not saluted.
"Here. here. wait a minute" shout
ed the excited soldier.
The surprised colonel turne'
around. His thoughts had been on $
many other things that he had nc
noticed the. sentry, much less the fai
ure to salute. Nervously the "dOugl
boy" clicked his heels togethea
brought the rife to an exact perpendi'
ular IN front Of his nose and complete
his idea OF his duty by dismissing tn
amazed colonel with:
'sNow You may pass, sirl"