The sun., 1918-08-25
Mrs. Wheelock Has
Led $4,000 Men to
Join the Navy by
Her Own Personal
Appeal

George Alexander Wheelock, chief yeo-
man and champion recruiter Of the world.
The bestowal of this rank is Mrs. Vince
locks reward for the 1900 young men
she has brought into the service in the
past eighteen months through her oratory.
"How do 1 do itf I make 'em laugh.
That is, at first. Then I take them into
nv confidence. Next 1 tell them what
fine thing it is to belong to the navy.
After that they just walk up and sign
their Names" explains Mrs. Wheelock,
handsome and erect in her white uniform.
Il begin, Now, boys, it's only fair you
should know something about me and how
l happen to be here And then 1 tell
them about my early ambition TO be
great opera singer and how sang in the
choir of the Methodist church at home
and how wonderful the neighbors said 1
would be on the stage.
Il tell them how the boys used to laugh
at my long spindling legs and brick red
hair. 1 tell how 1 used to be sent out
with the Willing Circle of the Kings
Daughters to sing for the convicts of the
prison near by and for the inmates of the
county insane asylum.
Nearly Caused Riot in Jail.
81 relate the story of the Sunday after
noon when at the age of IA / sang in all
guilelessness, the hymn, why Do You
larry, Dear Brotheri Why Do You
Waltz which nearly caused riot in the
Jail. On my way out the warden stopped
me and said, You certainly made hit with
the boys. You ought to be in vaudeville.
You don't belong to this bunch you're
with to-day
(Which episode caused the Willing
Circle of the Kings Daughters to treat
me with marked GOODNESS thereafter"
Mrs. Wheelock's audience is now in a
good humor and she sees it is time to get
down to business. Her dynamic per-
sonality, 100 per cent. patriotism and
what Kipling has called "the common
touch,' has pinned her hearers attention
firmly. At meeting the other day
neither dog fight across the street nor
a fire block away lost her a single unit
of the crowd.
While she has been talking about the
church choir of her home town she has
sized up the men before her. Now she
singles one out for attention.
You young man with the blue tie and
nice teeth, why aren't you in uniform?
I've got fiat feet, lady"
walk up here, young man. l can get
you waiver for your fiat feet The only
thing l can't cope with is flat head"
The youth approaches grinning and the
crowd laughs its approval and gathers
around closer.
Now what about you over there? l
mean You with the blue coat and broad
shoulders. Why are you being a
slackerf"
How can 1 fght' I've got five chill
dren."
Gust five additional reasons why you
should uphold the honor Of your coun-
try. Uncle Sam will take care of your
family. Come on, get your uniform"
The father Of five joins the boy with
flat feet
what about you, young mani"
'0h, I'm married.
"0h. you're married. Well, listen to
me. If You are the sort of man who
leans on that flimsy excuse, a hundred TO
one your wife will be glad TO get rid Of
you"
Special Word for Children.
And so it goes until Chief Woman
Wheelock's recruiting wagon is full Be
fore she departs Mrs. Wheelock addresses
the inevitable group Of children who are
in the foreground of every street meeting.
Children, do you love your country?'
she asks.
"Oh, YES. ma'am.'
Then I'll tell you what you can do
to help Uncle Sam get sailors and sol