Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-09-19
UNCLE SAM

"But you do know everything.
don't you, Grandpa
Thus appealed to, Grandpa put down
his newspaper. That's pretty large
contract to fill." he replied, "and I
wouldn't like to say that | could ill
it; but guess It's safe to say that !
know most OF the things little folks
inquire about. What is It now"
I'VE want to know who Uncle
Sam is7' replied BERTHE. speaking for
himself and John.
"Why, Uncle Sam is the United
States Grandpa answered.
"Oh, yes, of course, we know that"
said BERTHE, but who started it? We
don't either OF us know, but | said
was sure YOU could tell US, and John
said he reckoned you couldn't. You
can, cant you, Grandpa7"
Grandpa laughed "Ill have to make
21ot after that. Fortunately do
know the story. Come over here. both
vi you. one on either side OF me; per- i
up there on the arm OF my ChaiI ---
there's plenty OF room That's r,5lt.
All comfy now"
"All right, Grandpa" the boys re-
piled were ready"
"Well. then, the term Uncle Sam
first came into use during the war Of
1872. That war, as your history books
tell you, was fought between England
and America. before the two countries
had come to thoroughly understand
each other, as they do now. 1t was
waged principally on the Atlantic sea.
board, from the Great Lakes TO the
Gulf OF Mexico, and It lasted about
three years.
In those days, just as at the pres.
INT time. the Commissary Department
vas one OF the most important divi.
sions OF the military operations Can
either Of you boys tell me what they
do in this department?
Il know said John quickly. 1ts
the department that looks after the
eats"
Grandpa smiled. well, the eats,
as you call them, are part of it: but
the Commissary Department usually
stands for the organized system BY
which armies. or military posts, are
supplied with the daily necessaries
and 1t not only includes the articles
themselves. such as food. clothing
equipment, etc, but embraces the pro
curing OF these things and the trans
porting and distribution of them, as
well. The Commissary Department
will contract with certain individuals
or firms. for immense quantities OF
certain articles; and, in the war OF
1872, one OF the contractors who fur
nished large quantities of supplies to
the United States was man named
Ebert Anderson OF New York. Some
OF his supplies Mr.. Anderson concen
traed at Troy. N. Y, a town on the
Hudson River. The inspector AT this
point was Samuel Wilson. A kindly
genial man, greatly loved by his work
men. and usually called by them
Uncle Sam
Nov, all the boxes and casks. after
being inspected, were marked thus
II. A.--U. ST. so as to designate which
contractor had supplied them; ant
the marking fell to the lot OF ONT
fellow who enjoyed good joke, when
ever opportunity offered So. wher
one Of the other workmen asked the
meaning Of the initials. he replied
iokingly, that they stood for Elber
Anderson, the contractor, and Uncl,
Sam. the inspector
cts funny he didn't know that T.
g. stood for HE United States" sale
BERTHE.
"You must remember" said Grand
pa, that, in 1872, II was but com
paratively short time since these sam'
United States had been known n
The Colonies and there were lots o
people to whom the new name still
seemed strange.
AT any rate. the joke was passe,
among the workmen and thorough!
enjoyed by them all, including Uncl
Samuel Wilson himself, who was Of
ten rallied upon the increasing sxten