The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-05
NOTES FROM 354TH INF.
Some Ramblings and Rumblings
Within and Without the Regiment.

Colored Sgt. (not color sgt) to white
officer on U. P. to K. eff a man
gets married after he's drafted does
the government give his wife this
heahs $500 a month OF whatever it's
Jes' the same as if he'd been tied up
all along?'
Officer-"Of course, why not?"
Sgt--"Jes' wonderin' sub. Mandy
shuah can't do washin' huff to sup
port herself without, and wes kinda
figurin' on hitchin' up 1 was jes'
wonderin' sub, jes' wohderfn'!"
Scene-Union station in Kansas
City.
Place-Gate II: Tableau, unlimited
number of patient perspiring soldiers
waiting for the promised special train
back to Funston. They had been
waiting for that train since 7 so a. M
and it was now not long till chow time.
The station clock was embarrassed by
the weary glances of so many soldiers
From out of the swimming atmos-
phere bits of conversation f1oated
why don't they open the gate and
let US take the 10:40 regular train, if
they can't get up a special?"
Dunno. gatesman says no soldiers
will be allowed on it,
What the --, get your grip off
my toes"
Say, we're due in camp right, now
Wonder If We'll get court martiafed ?"
Nav, look at all those officers wait
ing. They're in the same fix; anyway
I heard that if you took a train sched-
| uled to arrive in time that you're o. k
We were here awaitin'."
Come on, open the gate" (voice
rom beyond the gate.)
This isn't the Soldier Special"
We'll, we'll make it one. That
trains goin' where we wanta go. You
sold us tickets to go there, and by
cracky, we're a goin' thar"
Don't scare the gateman, he looks
weak and worried now"
"a fat civilian voice. ct wish about
half this crowd would go back and sit
down"
"a brisk military voice) Good
enough, pull out yourself and sit down
and you'll have your wish"
(F'at voice AGAIN. Boys, wonder if
they'll have room enough for me out
there when the next draft hits me"
We'll make room if some of US
have to go home ourselves to do it,
Voice in distance) Soldiers special
4 p t gates 8 and s..
Soldier special nothT, They're just
tryin' to get US away from this gate"
but in fifteen minutes every uniform
had left the depot and a long Khaki
filled train pulled out thru the yards.
4 The meningitis quarantine is now a
thing of the past, but it was good
while it lasted. We learned who put
the Jaw in awful 1t was the medi-
cal department with their throat
douche three times a day Ten car
riers We're found and Sergeant Dolan
was their color bearer. He mmedi-
ately took out full $4,000 insurance
policy-and said, eff the government
only realized it, they're going to >lose
money by drafting mel
1t was a question of military cour-
tesy. Lieutenant Root to Corporal
year furlough. I want to see how
you'll address mel" Corporal Drewes
got the most part right-a little biz
wrong, SO Lieutenant Root says: Now
watch me. I'll be Corporal Drewes
and you be Lieutenant Root" The
magical transformation then took
place. Corporal Drewes nee (Root)
strides forward in a military manner
to Lieutenant Root nee tDrewes).
There is a fearful silence Something
must be broken--it is-the silence.
! Lieutenant Root Drewes): "What'H
you have?"
Corporal Drewes (Root): Sir,
Corporal Drewes would like a two
year furlough-"
Lieutenant Root (Drewes): Huh.
did you get the first sergeant's per-
mission to speak to me?
Corporal Drewes tRoot): mo, Sir
Lieutenant Root -(Drewes): We'll,
you're all wrong. then. ten days K. p.
for youi''
And ever since the real Corporal
Drewes has been expecting the real
Lieutenant Root to put the sentence
into execution