The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-11-12
That's What Y. n. c. A Man
Says Of His Work, but See
How He Does Il.
STILL "DEuvERsTHE GOODS"
Former Salesman, Now canteen Work.
Chocolate, Cigarettes and Candy
Through First Line
Trenches.
BY A. H. GURNEY.

=
doing anything but holding down hi
job. He was salesman for twent
years, back in Utica, N. Y, before h
went into this war game, and he a
ways delivered the goods" That
what he's doing now.
He delivers the goods under
Y. M. G.. A. sign that is denied an
pierced by shrapnel. Sometimes h
delivers the goods" by carrying hi
stock up and down the crooked lin
of the trenches, themselves. Tn
shells may whistle over his head. bu
Tom Barber is perfectly matter-of-fact
as he doles out sweet chocolate, and
Paris papers, and friendly grins t.
the men who are so glad to see him
He's just holding down his job.
The Y. M. @. A. hut that is his jot
is right up near the line Of action
The soldiers in 1t wear their gas
masks always at alert. Gas alarms
are frequent, and shells explode night
ly in the ruins of the village. Within
an hours walk are the trenches that
stretch across France.
There are many graves, both French
and German, along the road that leads
to the hut. Some of the crosses are
already gray and weather-beaten. By
day you may not pass along the road,
for the enemy might see, and then
there would only be another grave to
dig.
| Village in Ruins.
| For four years the village has been
in ruins, only one family remaining.
of it's former population. The church
spire, once a landmark for miles, fell
long ago, and the rain pours in upon
the altar. Rats infest the half-de-
stroyed houses.
Over Tom Barbers door is notice
forbidding entrance by it in the day
time. Across the road in the shadow
Of sentry box, an armed soldier
sands to see that the sign is obeyed.
If you want to get into the hut be-
tween sunup and sunset you walk
through an orchard, go in a small
back door, and feel your way along
a tiny, black corridor. Suddenly there
is a turn to the right, and you come
into the sunshine of Tom Barber's
canteen.
It's as cozy as the home kitchen,
and as tidy as if a New England
housewife had it in charge. Next to
the door is counter shut in by a
frame just large enough for soldier
to stick his head and shoulders
through comfortably. Next to the
counter are rows of shelves, divided
into compartments, and reaching to
the rafters. Here Tom Barber dis
plays his wares, which range from
canned peaches to the latest maya
zines that he has been able to get,
weeks old, most of them.
On the side of the room where the |
light is best, are empty packing boxes,
which serve as chairs, where the boys
sit, while they eat their cakes Of
and read the latest news
from home. Upstairs is little room,
dim Of light, but austerely clean,
where the men gather for Sunday
services-when there's a preacher to
De had-and for whatever entertain
nent Tom Barber has been able to
yet for them. It's q part of his Job
o keep the soldiers entertained, he
kinks.
"DeIivers the Goods"
Tom Barber has striker, Joe, by
lame, a big outstanding chap, fine
pecimen of the draft army, from New
York. Sometimes Joe is the whole
how in the. canteen. For every few
lays Tom Barber takes his musette
tout canvas bag, fills both with choco-
ate, cigarettes, biscuits, soap, smok-
ng tobacco, and bundle Of papers
rom Paris, and sets off for the
rencheS.
He walks for an hour across the ]
elds, through the woods, and then I
e comes to the trenches. {
"Hello, Dad !" call the men when t
hey see him coming, and they jump {
0 help him with his supplies. Who is
Ding to appraise the worth of an '
range or Of a cake of chocolate when 8
. comes In the middle Of long day S
4 the trenches? Tom Barber grins I
t the men, and deals out his stores {
8 casually as if he were back in T
tica, N. Y. After all, this is only
is Job. He turns away regretfully
hen the things are all gone.
''Good-by. Dad!" call the men after {
i'm. "When you comm again? Make
soon, Dadw
"Sure I" answers Tom Barber COM =
3rtably.
And then-because he has "deliv-
red the goods"-he gets out of the
'enches, goes through the wood,
cross the field, crosses the road that
is not well to. travel in the day 4
me, comes safely at last to the or 3
hard. enters the tiny black corridor, {
nd hurries through to his work in the (
anteen.