Mexico weekly ledger., 1918-08-08
Combnauoa salad
Wann~rse D-~a-r
LIFE IN THE CAVALRY
IN SANDY OLD TEXAS

111 -
Trooper Ray Martin. Of tins city.
vho IS now stationed with Troop a"
Of the sI4th Cavalry at Camp Owen
Beirus, Fl Bliss. Texas, writes the
following interesting letter Of lie in
the South 70 his mother, Ms J. A.
Martin, OF this city:
Ny bunke, Just passing the tent,
called IN, ~Oh. # Mother could see you
n0w!' And he's about right on that
score; for here / sit in the army regu-
laton BFD's with my toes digging in
the shifting sand in an effort 10 sup
port the messkit resting on ny knees
cooked up Ike a squatting Indian. Our
messEts serve a manifold purpose
just now l am using It for 3 writing
desk and this morning il did duty as
q shaving mug, Although / have not
forgotten how to shave. it seems /
have almost forgotten what a skirt"
looks ike, as well as the color OF
grass. For one is as scarce as the 9TH
er in this neck Of the world. To the
east, west. north and south there l.
nothing bat sand, and then some more
sand And when q baby hurricane de-
cides to start a playful game Of hide
go-seek, its yours truly for shelter
with eyes, ear and mouth shut tight:
though, as you perhaps know, keeping
my mouth shut has always been q dif-
fcult feat.
Good Horses and Good Scenery.
Through the doorway Of my tent |
can see the mountains in the far west
bathed IN a glory Of red by the setting
sun The clouds, like pillows Of fleecy
lambs wool, just seem to tempt the
peaks to rise higher up and touch the
heavens. their elearness marred only
By an embracing shaft Of sandstone
in the distance, uniting sky and earth.
1t is q sight to tempt the brush Of any
painter.
From my first impression Of this
corner Of the United States, | an con-
WINGED that the Lone Star State is a
more fitting habitat for lizards, horn
ed toads and rattIesnakes than it is
for human beings. But | an hardening
up under all the exercise and perhaps
when ! come back ! may qualify to
take Packey Netherlands place as
Premier Slugger in the Lightweight
Division.
Our horses are beauties. They are
former National Guard mounts but
have lost none Of their original pep
and vim. Since learning to ride a trot
without my feet in the s~tirrups, |
have reason 70 be thankful that this is
q sandy country, for ! have yet to
learn how TO keep my horse on an even
keel But at that, would like it as
well as climbing box cars If the old
bunch we're only here with me.
May Be an Officer Soon.
As / wrote you before, / am pro-
crossing with my studies in the school
for non-eOmmissioned officers and
perhaps you may soon be able to pre-
fix my address with at least the title
Of Corporal RS the first rung on the
ladder, but even Rome had to have a
beginning.
As Camp Owen Beirne is still in the
embryo stage, not much has been ac-
c~omplished for either the soldiers
convenience or entertainment. Letter.
writing and letter-reeeiving are u
chief diversions, while a package Of
goodies create a sensation that would
equal news Of the Kaiser's death. A
score Of satisfied tummies can testify
10 Mrs. Southwick's and Miss Turner's
ability as bakers and I am surely
grateful to them for all the bother
they went 10. But l know il they
could have seen how very welcome
their offerings were, they would con-
slider It all well worth while.
There is one thing we all look for
ward TO with greater eagerness than a
fUrlough. That is getting letters.
WILL BE IN 1T soon
Corporal Carter C. Vaughn, former
city editor Of the Mexico Evening
Ledger, is now in a Rest Camp some
where in France, waiting for the call
TO the front and active service against
the hun invader. He writes that he
does not know where he is on the map,
and that If he did he couldn't tell II.
His letter, in part, follows:
Now that ! have time to write that
letter I've been promising myself to
write for months, and lots Of things Of
interest TO say, ] discover that after
all the things which are considered Of
military Importance are eliminated,
there is nothing more to say except
that | am here and ! couldn't tell you
where here" Is " ] knew, which do
not.
at has been a great trip and the
wonderful sight ] have seen more than
pays for the inconvenience that some
call hardships. The first thing that
struck me when we landed in England
was an Englishman who was trying
TO go down the left side Of the gang
plank while ! was ~ondeavoring 10 come
up the right. ] wasn't in England long
enough to get used 10 those little
cars and engines they call trains. The
freight ears are about the size Of a