The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-10-05
Women Hero Worshipers "PIumb
FIabbergast" Our Dough-
boys in Paris.
MIGHTY POOR MATINEE IDOLS
But Can They Fight7 Oh, Boy, You
Can't Stop Them-Ask the
Major, He knoWs-AIso
About the Marines.
BY RICHARD HENRY LITTLE,

Chicago Newspaper Man. Now in 7. M.
c. A. Service on Atlantic3
New YOrk.-American soldiers are
grand fighters but very pdor matinee
idols. When women spring from their
seats in the sidewalk cafes in Paris
and thrust flowers in their hands,
they look as ashamed as dog caught
stealing eggs.
The most awful suffering saw in
Paris was the case of big husky from
an infantry outfit. A lady of great
distinction had stopped her machine
in the middle of the street while the
soldier was crossing, and, leaning out,
had enthusiastically tied bright pink
ribbon around his neck. Amidst much
rejoicing from the assembled French
spectators the lady went her way and
the big soldier looked as If he was just
about to choke to death, although it
was a very thin ribbon and loosely
tied. saw him an hour later and he
stin wore the ribbon and had turned
death1y pale and was evidently in
terrible pain.
The Captains Orders.
sIisten," said the infantry husky in
q hOarse whisper, "the captain said
we was to receive any compliments
given us by the French with a smile
and show 'em we appreciated 1t and
not hurt their feelings by ditching it,
but If / have to wear this pink ribbon
around me neck for another hour I'll
60 nuts and bite myself in the leg. For
the love Of Mike do something"
removed the ribbon from the suf-
fering soldiers neck and after while
he grew calm and quite rational and
he told me some stories Of the front
regarding the first assault Of the Amer
leans against Chateau Thierry.
ssThey can't hold as guys" he said,
.swhen we git started we jest keep
goin'. All anybody says is jest kill
'em, kill 'ern, and o boy, you ought
to see our lads go to It!
sThere at Chatty Teery the officers
werel making an awful holler about
the boys running too fast and ducking
right through the barrage and not
paying attention to nothing except
spearin' Boches. Our colonel came
over before we started and he was
much particular-like in pointing out a
bunch Of rocks where be wanted our
battalion to halt.
AThe major said all right, that he
would stop his four companies right
on the line of them rocks, and then
we started. We got 1t right In the
nose, from every Dutch gun in front
of us, but the boys Jest yelled and
laughed and away they went Say
they didn't pay no more attention to
the major when we came to them
rocks than II he hadn't been there at
| all.
| II went back to give him mes.
| sage from my captain and he was
standing by the rocks and up came
the colonel and the colonel gave the
major blinking hell for not stopping
| the battalion where he said, and the
major was madden n hornet, and he
! double damned the colonel right back
again and he said: How the cruel
fed damnation could I stop then
i crazy, wild-eyed sons Of perdition? =
that hog-faced crown prince and hi.
whole damnety damn Dutch arm.
couldn't stop 'em, what the b. coult
do?n
And Those Marines.
/ asked him If the marines wer'
/ good fighters
/ "Good fighters? the soldier said
/ "asay, every time / see a marine
want to go up and give him kiss
'sIf they ever get started again the.
will never stop till they get to Ber
j lin. Now, you listen to me, know
Say, do you know what I saw then
marines do?
.sThey had taken three trenches an
/ was stopping in the third to fill thei
pockets with grenades and bombs be
I fore tackling the next trench tina
was chuck full of Boches. The Dutel