Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-03-13

! an American, in multi. and had little
American flag in the lapel of my coat.
l had no king, and my country had
seen fit not TO need me. but still that
pointing finger made me feel small and
i'll ar ease. l got off the bus to try
TO dissipate this feeling by mixing
! with the throng of the sidewalks.
! Presently / came TO a recruiting Of
fee. Inside sitting at desk was
lonely Tommy Atkins. decided to in
/ terview him in regard to joining the
British army. ! opened the door. He
looked up and greeted me with Il s'y,
myte, want to tyke on?"
looked at him and answered, well,
whatever that is, I'll take a chance
at It,"
Without the aid OF an interpreter l
found out that Tommy wanted to know
/ if cared to join the British army. He
asked me : did you ever hear of the
Royal FusiIiers?' Well. In London.
you know, Yanks are supposed TO know
everything, so l was not going TO APP
pear ignorant and answered, Sure"
| After listening for one half-hOur to
Tommy's tale of their exploits on the
firing line. l decided to join. Tommy
| took me to the recruiting headquarters,
where | met a typical English captain.
! He asked my nationality. ] immedi-
ately pulled out my American passport
and showed it 70 him. 1t was signed
! by Lansing. After looking at the
passport, he informed me that he was
sorry but could not enlist me, as il
would be q breach of neutrality. /
| insisted that | was not neutral, be-
cause to me it seemed that real
American could not be neutral when
| big things were in progress, but the
! captain would not enlist me.
With disgust in my heart l went out
! in the street ] had gone about a
block when a recruiting sergeant who
had followed me out of the office
tapped me on the shoulder with his
swagger stick and said: "S'y, l can
get you in the army. We have a lief
! tenant down at the other office who
can do anything. He has just come
out Of the o. T. {. (Officers' Training
{
| trality is" | decided to take chance,
and accepted his invitation for an in
PRODUCTION TO the lieutenant. entered
| the office and went up TO him. opened
up my passport and said:
Before going further ! wish to state
that am an American, not too proud
to fight. and want to join your army"
He looked at me in a nonchalant
manner, and answered "That's all
right; we take anything over here"
! looked at him kind of lard and re-
piled. $50 I notice" butrS went over
his head.
He got out an enlistment blank. and
placing his finger on blank line said,
"Sign here" D,
| answered "pet on your tintype."
81 beg your Iaf'don?"
Then explaiied to him that would
not sign ii without first reading 1t.
read it over and signed for duration of
war. Some of the recruits were lucky.
They signed for seven years onlyi
Then he asked me my birthplace.
! answered, ogden, Utah"
He said, "Oh, yes, just outside Of
| New York;"
With smile, replied, well, it's up
the state little"
Then 1 was taken before the doctor
and passed as physically fit, and was
issued q uniform. When l reported
back 10 the lieutenant, he suggested
that, being an American, l go on re-
cruiting service and try to shame some
of the slackers into Joining the army"
"All you have to do" he said, sis to
go out o. the street, and when you see
young fellow in multi who looks