Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-12-06


front line trench. II WIS bright and
sunny and We we're buhbI!ng over with
rood hnmor. There we're two reasons
Tor Ibis; FiTf-our battalion wns 10
DO relieved ~ nine that night and We
were going back Tor a two weeks
rest Secone-it was spring. We could
smeii Il 10 the air. Even the wind
blowing from the German trenches 10
Oar direction hsd sweet and
''springy" smell.
About thirty yards bown comrnuni-
cation trench 90 The left was an or
chard. The trees were SCARED from
bullets and fragments q shell but
even these battered trunks could not
resist the feel Of spring. because here
and there on the tglgs and branches
could be seen bursting buds. Fitting
around were numerous birds. chipping.
end sometimes wraugling among them
r,lses.
70 me II SEEMED odd that birds could
acrustoa themselves to war. Ocea-
nl0nnily a German shell. or perhaps
one Of ours. would 90 screaming over
the orchard. The birds did not seem
&C. nsnd the noise-Jnst carried on
with their nestbuIidlng.
In our company was an American
nnmed Alexander Stewart. Naturally
he and were very chummy.
Stewart and were the chief
samusement promoters" 10 the com
pany, the 1ommies constantly looking
% ~ for some new diversion.
In tho English army a Tommy seems
% have the ldea that an Americans
chief vocation ia tbs United States l.
20 invcnt. and 20 keep on inyenting.
or course. Stewart and | did not IN
any way Try to dla@ipate this idea; 81
fact We encouraged u. and took great
pride Ia being looked up 20 In this
way: but. bciieyc me. Il kept us hust'
ling to keep the Tommies amused.
II wns Fcfting too warm for soccer
football. and We knew rs soon as we
got into rest hlliets that the issue
would be put right up 70 us: "iiow
are yon going 20 amuse us while be-
hind the liaes7"
We were Americans. and rea-blood-
Cd aprlDs was "a the mir. ana our
thoughts turned 20 what every Amerl-
ean 10y - thinking Of upon the arrival
OF spring baseball.
turned my ewes 10 the muddy para
dos (rear vail ~ the seerch) ard fxed
my gaze co a fragment Of German
shell embedded 10 the mud. Pretty
soon thls fragment seemed TO change
into baseball player, with mask. pro-
feetor aud calchrr's mlst. He was
crouchlng behind The home plate and
signaling 20 the pitcher. just then
Stewart snid; "say. Emp. ! wonder
n Ne could teach the Tommies how TO
play hna~hnilT"
Immediately turned IN hts direction.
lie was also staring ~ that fragment
of Shelf.
answered: "Dld you ever try 70
teach a Chinaman how 10 speak
lie got Il right away and a detected I
hook spread over his eoanicnance. and /
be let out a louEdrawn sigh.
A Tommy sitting ca my right hutted /
IN with. sBld you Hye bySebaii. Yaak 1
why. I saw 4 rsihe Ia London, and Il (
Is nhsur,ily easy 70 plye. but l eawn'i
sye fawncy HIT
with a hook ot dlsrust Stewart
'urnet % ne ard said - guess you're
rltht. fsap. II would be easier 10 teach
lte f7.laauan Ffeaeh.~
Tat nixhs Nc ~ere relieved aud
y ~ tshi14 fbe lines.
TIE Bexf sfieruoan. sitter parade. /
~ 3ere sftts9 ID 80 orchard drlnking
sez Ats1i q nQa'h before. Stewart
~ 4 t1s sszFkf ~ Teusia.es how 70
ffe zsrss2.ots Tr4fe vas great
lsrsry Nsnrr tte tsreft1t squads.
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