The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-03-15
with THE COLORS."
Series No. I.
BY Gus Durdan, Des Moines, Iowa
Sons Diary.
SERIES NO. FOUR.


Nov. ~, 1917-4:3O a. NIT il
time for reveille, and the buglers are
on the job. 1t is strange how these
boys are always right on time. They
should, or at least l wish they would
miss reveille, SO that would not have
to get up before the sun. .-...
/ hate to confess my ignorance, al
though everyone is ignorant on some
point, but really as stand shivering
here in the cold morning air, think
Of how warm I had always thought
this section of our country. Before
coming here / had visions of good
plunge in the sea. But alas, it can't
be done unless one is tired Of this life,
and seeks a watery grave as means
Of saving burial expenses. My bath
ing suit is still folded in my suit case,
and just this morning, when by chance
/ disturbed it's slumber, it was loud
in its indignation Of being fooled to
sucha wintry cline. a.
The whistle is blowing for mess
and my starving stomach says, above
all things, feed it. So must forget
the pangs of cold and join the bread
line. When a person is on barely liv-.
ing rations, the loss of one meal Sc
verely tells on the system. The break
fast this morning was very appetiz-
ing and will not be called out for
hike.
The first sergeant informed me that
the first lieutenant of the receiving
barracks wished to have a talk with
me NV comrades Joined me, and to-
gether we went over to the icy foun>
tain and shaved, washed our faces,
brushed our clothing and hair. AS
one fellow expressed it, we looked like
hothouse plants among thickets. We
came to serve our country as best we
could. and that which we were most
capable of doing, that we were most
anxious to offer.
At length the sergeant called me.
don't know why, as am the youngest
of the quartet, and am certainly not
any better qualified educationally than
my comrades, nor do ! possess any
more personal magnetism. But since
first we enlisted at St. Paul l have
been spokesman for our' party So
This morning was called upon not
only to talk for myself, but also to, as
is sometimes said, pull for the others:
It may have been the boldness OF
NV attack, so to speak; it may have
been the tear swollen rings under my
ewes. for. / am sure there must nave
been trace Of last nights cry, or 1t
may have been my personality; but
whatever it was, it had the desired
effect and landed me into company.
800 p. m.-My days work is done:
I am reminded of that sweetest OF all
lyrics. s'The End Of a Perfect Day.
And for all that the song says, nave
truly come to the end of a perfect day,
not forgetting my vesper prayer.
like the company, is my answer 70
every one.
What a contrast, a clerk in COM
pany is to private in the RECEIVING
barracks. can hardly real
ize it. My mind IS con
plomeration of prayers, out OF whlcn
can come no interesting chronical OF
the events Of the day just past. NY
naw quarters are honey. The food IS
the best that the camp affords. When
4 think Of the depressing ozone OF the
receiving !, camp tents and hte poor
quality and small quantity OF food
that the men were made to exist on,
I cannot but wonder how bore, and
nv comrades are still bearing, those
privations so stoically.
On all sides we were assalled OIL
vermin Of the most loathsome KIND.
Now nv bed is as clean as any IN the
waldorf Astoria house. MY ne"
comnanion is exceedingly nice to me.
Between us there is a link forged by
an acquaintance that cultivated last
summer The new link is firmly r'v,
eted. and until death separates us VIII
remain a part Of my chain OF friend
ships. extending from the bolsterous
Atlantic to the calm waters OF the "a
cific. t. T.
The buglers are blowing taps ana
must 20 to bed at the appointed hour'
but tonight there will be no tears,
3. 100 a. M, Nov. 28th.-Were ! not
looking at the canvas tents OF the
camp. / would think that was a.
home. NV position is truly CIVILIAN
one in the army. No reveille' no Re,
treat and no fatigue. am rei,eveu
a;of all suspense Of listening Tor Dugle
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