The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-29

make quite a squeak when they go
off. You have quite a bit of thunder
in Kansas and every time you hear it
you can imagine what the guns and
shells sound like over here. Yester-
day we had a big field maneuver,
much like the peace days in the
United States with the red and blue
armies. Had quite congregation of
men among whom were French gen.
erals and General Pershing. This was
the first time 1 had ever seen the dis
tinguished gentleman and was very
much impressed. While working in
the field, the "old boy" stopped and
shook hands and even passed me a
cigar. Can you imagine a big gen.
eral and this humble sergeant passing
compliments ia this manner? Wee,
wee COui oui), a 16-inch shell couldn't
have Jared me off my pins any
quicker. Had a good notion to pickle
and preserve the cigar, but thought
II might get lost in the shuttle and
cheat me out of a good smoke. 1t
was what you would call a campaign
cigar, but not the kind served at cleo
ton time. Tres lou, tres lou. You
have heard of the story. when a fell
Ter needs a friend" Well. this was
one time when 1 wished 1 had one
with camera.
The last week has not been so
awfully hard. as we had a holiday
Thursday. We had a field day the
entire day. Had running and jump
ing contests with cash prizes in the
morning and a baseball game in the
afternoon. They were as a whole a
success, but still they lacked the en-
thusiasm that they could have had If
there had been some of our American
fair sex present. Anything of this
sort, however, is good thing for the
soldier. as it relieves his mind from
his duties and allows him to feel a
little care free. Have had two morn
ings, last Thursday and today that my
sleep wasn't broken by that Internal
bugle. Seems as tho every time hear
first call in the morning 1 swear that
It will be the mans doom if he blows
It when I am back in civilian life
again.
The Yankee Spirit
Have learned with interest the in
tensity of the German drive which is
going on at present Am only sorry
ing it. Would give anything to Be in
the thick of it. If they would only
put an American force in front of
them, 1 have no fear but what the
Germans would find they have struck
O knot going thru the soft pine. The
more see of Americas fighting force,
the more 1 feel proud of the country
they hail from. If Germany thinks
she is hitting fruit when she hits the
American line. all right. but 1 fear she
Is biting into some pretty bitter stuff
which is going to leave bad taste in
her mouth to remember. She has
pulled some pretty raw stuff which
only tends to put a determination in
the American and l feel confident the
American doesn't forget very quickly.
As far as 1 am concerned, and l know
q good many more like me, 1 will give
them a little of the stuff Stonewall
Jackson was made of in a twentieth
century way. 1 am only proud of the
fact that you people are Americanized
to the full extent of backing me in
anything l do. l, feel very proud of
you In giving Walter and me to an
army of a country which has never
Known defeat. Should there ever be
such a thing as a lost member of your
household, bear it in mind and let
those who inquire know that a cow
ard was never known to be of your
blood. Being lost in a battle of this
war is not to be mourned over, but it
is an honor which people of former or
future generations cannot boast over.
II we are able TO go thru this living
hell. either live or die, all we ask of
you is to be brave, and if necessary.
be a good loser.