The Robesonian., 1918-07-29
CHAPTER XVIII.
STAGED Under Fire.

in reserve billets for about two weeks |
when we received the welcome news
that our division would go back Of the !
line "to rest billets.' We would re-
main in these billets for at least two
months, this in order to be restored to
our full strength by drafts of recruits
from Blighty.
Everyone was happy and cOntented
at these tidings; all you could hear
around the billets was whistling and
singing. The day after the receipt OF
the order we hiked for five days, max
ing an average of about twelve kilcs
per day until we arrived at the small
town of o..
It took us about three days to get
settled, and from then on our cushy
time started. We would parade from
S:45 in the morning until II noon.
Then except for an occasional billet
or brigade guard we were on our own.
For the first four or five afternoons l
spent my time tn bringing up to date
my neglected correspondence.
Tommy loves to be amused, and be-
ing a Yank, they turned to me for
something new in this line. I taught
them how to pitch horseshoes, and this
game made a great hit for about ten
days. Then Tommy turned to Amer
lea for a new diversion. 1 was up in
the air until happy thought came to
me. Why not write sketch and break
Tommy in as an actor?
One evening after flights out" when
you are not supposed to talk, l impart-
ed my scheme in whispers to the Sec
ton. They eagerly accepted the idea
of forming a stock. company and
could hardly wait until the morning
for further details.
After parade, the next afternoon I
was almost mobbed. Everyone in the
section wanted a part in the proposed
sketch. When 1 informed them that it
would >take at least ten days of hard
work to write the plot, they were bit
terly disappointed. Immediately got
busy, made desk out Of biscuit tins
in the corner of the billet, and put up
| a sign "Empey & Wallace Theatrical
Co." About twenty of the section,
upon reading this sign, Immediately
|, applied for the position of Office boy.
| accepted the twenty applicants, and
sent them on scouting parties through
out the deserted French village. These
| parties were to search all the attics for
| discarded civilian clothes, and any
thing that we could use in the props
of our proposed company.
| About five that night they returned
covered with CRIME and dust, but load.
ed down with a miscellaneous assort
| ment of everything under the sun
They must have thought that I was
| going to start a department store
judging from the different things they
brought back from their pillage.
After eight days constant writing
completed two-act farce comedy
which I called "The Diamond Palace
Saloon" Upon the suggestion of one
of the boys in the section sent a proof
of the program to a printing house il
London. Then 1 assigned the differen
parts and started rehearsing. Davit
Belasco would have thrown up hi!
hands in despair at the material which
l had to use. Just imagine trying tt
teach Tommy, with strong cockne,
accent, to impersonate Bowery tougl
or Southern negro.
AdjaceRtto to our billet was an opel
field. We got busy at one end of it an,
constructed stage. We secured th
lumber for the stage by demolishin,
an old wooden shack in the rear O
our billet.
Inc hrst scene was supposed to reI
resent street on the Bowery in New
York, while the scene Of the secon
act was the interior of the Diamon
Palace saloon, also on the Bowery.
In the play took the part of Alb
Switch, farmer, who had come fror
Pumpkinville Center, Tenn, to max
his first visit to New York.
In the first scene Abe Switch meet
the proprietor of the Diamond Palac
saloon, ramshackle affair which t
the owner was a financial loss.
The proprietors name was Tor
Twistem, his bartender being name
Fillem Up.
! After meeting Abe, Tom and Filler
, UP persuaded him to buy the plac,
pra1sfng 1t to the skies and tellin
, wondrous tales Of the money take
+ over the bar.
; While they are talking, an old Je,
T named Ikey Cohenstein comes alon,
. and Abe engages him for cashier. Ate
+ engaging Ikey they meet an oil
! Southern negro called Sambo, an
! upon the suggestion Of key he is e,
gagged as porter. Then the three {
them, arm In arm. leave to take DOS
session Of this wonderful palace whic
> ADe has just paid $1,000 for. Ecu,
! tain.)
!: In the second act the curtain rise
: on the interior Of the Diamond Palac
;. saloon. and the audience gets its firs
: shock. The saloon looks like a pi,
:. pen, two tramps lying drunk on til
- | n0Or. and Tho ho 4.