The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1918-12-14

ouepch their fevered thirst. AS for
food, that was pretty often out OF the
question. When we wanted food we
had to fight for it."
Reverend Blackwell has had the
thrilling experiences of a soldier as
we'll as the somewhat tanner expert
ences of chaplain. He first enlisted
as an orderly sergeant, and, after the
battle of Shiloh, received an honorable
discharge on account of Ill health.
Upon His recovery he re-enlisted as a
chaplain.
One of the stories he delights tell
Ing is how he escaped being shot as
spy. He was on the train when he met
two young Virginians "whO had never
smelt gunpOwder" and Boosting how
they would "dO the Yankees up" Il
remarked" said Reverend Blackwell,
that though our enemies, they had
made us respect their fighting even at
the lannon's mouth" When the train
stOpped at Atlanta, two detectives i'm
mediately arrested the young soldier.
He knew what was in store for him
he would be tarred and feathered and
hung without judge or jury. Fortunate
", Judah F. Benjamin, then secretary
of state to the COnfederacy, was pass
ing through Atlanta. The suspected
Young soldier was we'll known to the
secretary, who vOuched for his loyalty
and begged him to excuse the disagree
able mistake. The soldier was imme-
diately released.
"When | went back on the train
everybody wanted to hear about my
exciting experience. Tired of telling
and retelling the story, stood up in
one of the cars and told the passen-
gers all about it,"
Praises Red Cross.
Reverend Blackwell is ninety-slx
wears old and has been in charge of
Trinity chapel in New Orleans since
| 1884. He takes a keen interest In the
work of the Red Cross and in all war
activities. He regards membership In
the Red Cross sacred privilege.
But to 60 on with the story of war
without the Red Cross. Reverend
Blackwell can tell only little part Of
the horrors of such warfare. One Of
the things that the soldiers suffered
most from was mOnOtOny-yes, and
the "blues." The soldier of today does
not know what that word means with
the Red Cross and canteen workers
and the Y. NJ. G. A. to entertain him
when he is we'll and to care for him
when he is i'll or wounded. Read the
following extract from the diary Of N.
M. Baker, a chaplain of the One Hun
dred and Sixteenth Illinois regiment,
to get an idea Of the camp life In the
days of eighteen sixty-sOmething.
"Bang, bang, bang! The constant
firing for so long a time becomes mo-
notonOus, one longs for something new,
something that will cause excitement
and shake off the ennui induced by
this hot weather. Excitement at last
"a woman In camp, Mrs. Hoge of the
sanitary commission.
Reminded Of Mothers.
sit is amusing to see as she passes
how the boys leave OFF their rude
pranks and settle down as demure as
kittens. She stops and talks kindly
to every group and the boys all fee
better after it. They are as polite anC
proper in their conduct toward eact
other for full five minutes after she Is
gone as if they had suddenly beer
transported to civilization and to thu
drawing room. Oh, what refining ant
restraining influence even this WON
an can exert. She Is an old lad!
and not handsome, but to use the ex
preston of the boys, She has soul al
large as a wagon wheel and somehow
reminds them all of their mothers"
Here is another typical day in CAM
described in the same diary:
"Rained today. Oh, how tedious
rainy day is in camp! We eat break
fast, then lie down, then get up, ca
dinner, and lie down again, etc. etc
Nothing to read, nobody to talk to
nothing to do but to dream Of hom
and loved ones"
Even these few stories cannot hal
describe war without the Red Gross
What about the food the soldiers had
What about the conditions in the hos
J pitfalls? These questions can be an
! swered from the diary Of another Civ
war veteran, Frank L. Richardson,
well-known New Orleans attorney, VIII
) entered the war when lad of seven
} teen, and unfortunately spent most 0
! the time between those years of 1861
1865 in army hospitals.
? mo one can appreciate the work @
J the Red Cross as we'll as we Civil wa
! veterans" says Mr.. Richardson
'1That is why am proud to have m
own daughter go to France and do he
part"
His daughter, Miss Caroline Ricl
!. ardson, for many years identified wit
the English department at Newcom
/ college here, will leave for Franc
! with the NewcOmb canteen unit.
4 The "trouble" department, as tn
+ Home Service Bureau of the America
1 Red Cross In Italy is called, is recei'
! ing allotment checks at the rate {
!. $4,000 month.
! 4R%&k<k&a&lkIkShtk
! ! The
/ ! Red Gross Man