The Washington herald., 1918-02-11
ACO)M{gIR JlEzlE Jl@Ran
y :. ARssss ssx EssEy = XS

manner. and answered, THAT'S all
right, we take anything over here"
looked at him kind Of hard and
replied. $50 notice." but 1t went
over his head.
He got out an enlistment blank,
and placing his finger on a blank line
said. Sign here"
I answered. mot on your tintype."
II beg your pardon?"
Then / explained to him that
would not sign It without first read
ing 1t. read It over and signed for
durationsof war. Some of the recruits
were lucky. They signed for seven
years only.
Then he asked me my birthplace. I
answered, Ogden, Utah"
He said. "Oh, yes, Just outside Of
New York;"
With a smile. replied. "well, It's
up the State little"
Then I was taken before the doctor
and passed as physically fit. and was
issued a uniform. When / reported
back to the lieutenant. he suggested
that. being an American, I go on
recruiting service and try to shame
some Of the slackers into Joining the
army.
"All you have to do" he said, 'Ts
to 60 out on the street, and when you
see young fellow In mufti who looks
physically fit. just stop him and give
him this kind of a talk: Aren't you
ashamed of yourself, a Britisher.
physically fit, and in mutt when your
King and country need you? Don't
you know that your country is at war
and that the place for every young
Briton Is on the firing line? Here 1
am, an American. In khaki, who
came 1000 miles to fight for your
King and country. and you. as yet,
have not enlisted. Why don't you
join? Now is the time"
This argument ought to get many
recruits, Empey, so go out and see
what you can do"
He then gave me a small rosette OF
red, white, and blue ribbon. with
three little streamers hanging down.
This was the recruiting insignia and
was to be worn on the left side Of the
cap.
Armed with a swagger stick and my
patriotic rosette I went out into
Tottenham Court road in quest Of
cannon fodder.
Two or three poorly dressed civil
ians passed me, and although they
appeared physically fit, said to my
self, "They don't want to join the
army; perhaps they have some one
dependent on them for support" SO
1 did not accost them.
Coming down the street I saw a
young dandy, top hat and all. with a
fashionably dressed girl walking be-
side him. ! muttered, "You are my
meat" and when he came abreast of
me stepped directly in his path and
stopped him with my swagger stick.
saying:
'You would look fine in khaki. why
not change that top hat for steel
helmet? Aren't you ashamed Of
yourself, a husky young chap like
you in mufti when men are needed
in the trenches? Here I am, an
American, came 1000 miles from Og-
den, Utah. Just outside Of New York.
to fight for your King and country.
Don't be a Stacker. buck up and get
into uniform: come over to the re-
cruiting office and I'll have you en-
listed"
He yawned and answered, IT don't
care II you came 1000 miles. no one
asked you to-" and he walked on.
The girl gave me a sneering look; l
was speechless.
I recruited for three weeks and
nearly got one recruit.
This perhaps was not the greatest
stunt In the world. but 1t got back
at the officer who had told me, Yes,
we take anything over here" / had
been spending a good lot OF my re-
cruiting time in the saloon bar of the
Wheat Sheaf" pub (there was a very
attractive blond barmaid, who helped
kill time-I was not as serious in
those days as I was a little later
when I reached the front)-well, 1t
was the sixth day and my recruiting
report was blank. / was getting low
in the pocket-barmaids haven't much
use for any one who cannot buy
drinks-so I looked around for re-
cruiting material. You know a man
on recruiting service gets a bob"
or shilling for every recruit he en-
tices into joining the army, the re-
cruit is supposed to get this. but he
would not be a recruit II he were
wise to this fact, would he?
Down at the end OF the bar was a
young fellow in mufu who was very
patriotic-he had about four "Old
Six" ales aboard. He asked me II he
could Join. showed me his left hand.
two fingers were missing, but l said
that did not matter as I'VE take any
thing over here" The left hand is
the rifle hand as the piece is carried
at the slope on the left shoulder.
Nearly everything in England is by
the left" even general traffic keeps
to the port side.
I took the applicant over to head
quarters where he was hurriedly ex-
amined. Recruiting surgeons were
busy in those days and did not have
much time for thorough physical ex-
aminations. My recruit was passed
as "ft' by the doctor and turned
over to a corporal to make note Of
his scars. I was mystified. Suddenly
the corporal burst out with. "Blime
me, two Of his fingers are gone;"
turning to me he said, You certainly
have your nerve with you, not 'alf
you amt, to bring this beggar in"
The doctor came over and exploded,
what do you mean by bringing in
man in this condition."
Looking out Of the corner of my
eye I noticed that the officer who
had recruited me had Joined the
group, and could not help answering,
well. SIR, was told that you took
anything over here"
1 think they called 1t Yankee i'm
pudence," anyhow it ended my re-
cruiting.
CHAPTER II.
Blighty to Rest BiIlets.
The next morning, the captain sent
for me and informed me: "Empey,
as a recruiting sergeant you are a