davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The citizen., 1918-07-04

tous and variously useful friend. the
sandbag. was not present In any capac-
ity, and therefore we had no parapets
or dugouts. The communication
trenches were all blown In, and every.
thing had TO come to us overland, with
the result that we never were quite
sure when we would get ammunition.
rations or relief forces. The most
awful thing was that the soil all about
us was filed with freshly buried men.
II we undertook 10 cut n trench or
enlarge a funk hole our spades struck
into human flesh and the explosion of
n big shell along our line sent decom-
posed and dlsmembered and sickenlng
mementos Of an earlier fight shower
ing among us. We lived In the muck
and stencil Of GLORIOUS" war. those Of
us who lived.
The German Duaout-snd What They
Found.
Here and there along this line were
the abandoned dugOuts Of the Ger
mans, and we made what use Of them
we could, but that was little. ! had
orders one day to locate a dugout and
prepare IL for use as battalion head
quarters. When I led a squad In TO
clean II up the odor was so overpow-
ering that we had to put on our gas
masks. On entering we first saw two
dead nurses with our CHASTITY fash
lights, one standing with her arm
around a post. just as she had stood
when gas or cOncussion killed her.
Seated at a table In the middle of the
place was the body of an old general
Of the German medical corps, his head
fallen between his hands. The task
Of cleaning up was too dreadful for
us. We just tossed In four or five
fumite bombs and beat II out OF there.
A few hours later we went into the
scared and empty cavern, made the
roof safe with new tlmbers and noti-
fed battalion headquarters that the
place could be occupied.
During this time witnessed scene
which, with some others, shall never
forget. An old chaplain of the Cana
dian forces came to our trench section
seeking the grave Of his son, which
had been marked for him on a rude
map by an officer who had seen the
young mans burial. We managed to
find the spot, and at the old chaplain's
request we exhumed the body. Some
of us suggested to him that he give US
the Identification marks and retire out
of range of the shells which were
bursting all around us. We argued
that II was unwise for him to remain
In danger, but what we really intended
was that he should be saved the horror
of seeing the pitiful thing which our
spades were about to uncover.
81 shall remain" was all he said.
HE was my boy"
1t proved that we had found the
right body. One of our men tried to
clear the features with his handker-
chief, but ended by spreading the
handkerchief over the face. The old
chaplain stood beside the body and
The citizen., 1918-07-04

removed his trench helmet. barring his
gray head to a drizzle of rain that was
falling. Then while we stood by silent
ly his voice rose amid the noise of
bursting shells, repeating the burial
service of the Church of England. l
have never been SO impressed by any
thing In my life as by that scene.
The dead man was young captain.
He had been married to lady of Bal
timore Just before the outbreak of the
war.
The philosophy of the British Tom
mics and the Canadians and the Aus
tralians on the Somme was remark
able reflection of their fine courage
through all that hell. They went about
their work paying no attention to the
flying death about them.
"If Fritz has shell with your name
and number on II" said British Tom
my 20 Inc one day. you're going to
get IT, whether you're In the front line
or seven miles back; II he hasn't.
you're all right"
Fine fighters all. And the Scotch
kilties. lovingly called by the Germans
"the women from hell" have the re-
spect OF all armies. We saw little Of
the poIlus. except few on leave. All
the men are self sacrificing to one
another In that big melting pot from
which 30 few ever emerge whole. The
only things II is legitimate to steal In
the code Of the trenches are rum and
flags (cigarettes). Every other pos
session Is as safe as II Il wore a pat
ent lock.
The citizen., 1918-07-04
The "cook's Tour"


On the night that we went In TO
inspect the positions we were to hold,
our scouts, leading us through the fiat
desert of destruction. got completely
turned round and took US back through
a trench composed Of shell holes con
nected up until we ran into battalion
OF another brigade. The place was
dreadful beyond words. The stencil
OF the dead was sickening. In many
places arms and legs of dead men
stuck out OF the trench walls.
We made "A fresh start after our
blunder. moving In single file and
keeping In touch each with the man
ahead of him. We stumbled along In
the darkness through this awful laby-
rlnth until We ran into some of our
own scouts at . a. IN. and found that
we were halfway across No Mans
Land. several hundred yards beyond
our front line and likely To be utterly
wiped out In twenty seconds should
the Germans sight us. Fine guides we
had on this Cooks tour" AT last we
reached our proper position, and hf-
teen minutes after We got there a
whlz-bang. a low explosive murderer,
buried me completely. They had to
dig me out. A few minutes later a
high explosive shell fell In a trench
section where three Of our men were
stationed. All we could find after II
exploded were one arm and one leg.
which we buried. The trenches were
without trench mats. and the mud was
from six inches 10 three feet deep all
through them. There were no dug
outs, only merely miserable funk
holes" dug where II was possible 10
dig them without uncovering dead
men. We remained In this position
four days. from the nth to the 2lst
OF October, 1915.
There were reasons. OF course, for
the difference between conditions In
Belgium and on the Somme. On the
Somme we were constantly preparing
for a new advance, and we were only
temporarily established ON ground
which We had but recently taken after
long drumming with big guns. The
trenches were merely shell holes con-
nectsd BY bitches. Our old and ubiQui-
The citizen., 1918-07-04

A FEW days after the bombing
~ raid, which ended so disastrously
~-A for us, our battalion was relieved
from duty on the front line. and the
tip We got was that We were to 20
down to the big show then taking
place on the Somme Our relief was
a division OF Australians. You see,
the sector which we had held In Bel
GUM was n sort OF preparatory school
for the regular fighting over In France.
II wasn't long before we got into
what you might call the big league
contest, but In the meanwhile we had
a little rest from battling Fritz and
which seem To me To be worth telling
about. Those OF you who are exclu-
sively fond OF the stirring detail of
war. such as shooting and being shot
at and bombing and bayoneting. need
only skip little of this We had an
entirely satisfactory amount OF smoke
and excitement later.
As soon as our relief battalion had
got In we moved back to Poperinghe
for a couple Of days rest. We were a
pretty contented and jovial lot. our
platoon especially. We were all glad TO
get away from the strain Of holding
front trench. and there were other ad-
vantages. For instance. the altera-
tlons Of our muster due To casualties
had not come through battalion head
quarters. and therefore we had In our
platoon sixty-three rum rations night
and morning and only sixteen men.
The citizen., 1918-07-04
No. 4
SHIFTED TO
THE SOMME
Bp Sergeant Alexander NcClintock.
d. G. NJ. 67th Overseas Bait.
Canadian Gren. Guards

Copyright. 1917. by the Bell Syndicate. Inc.
Sergeant McChntock Is an American
boy OF Lexington, Nv. pho has seen
service IN France. icds decorated for
bravery. ROUNDED, inpdiided home and
nop Is returning TO accept a commits
sion. THIS Is the fourth article IN the
series. In the frst article he told Of
his training up to the point tchere he
reuched the front line trenches. In the
second he outlined the elaborate prepo-
rations for a bomb raid. and IN the
third the disastrous raid pds de-
scrtbed.
The citizen., 1918-07-04

The fifth article Of this remarkable
personal narrative will appear soon.
Il Is entitled:
Ne. S-Woundsd In Action.
The citizen., 1918-07-04

Its demolition was complete. That
was an example OF the condition of the
whole country over which our forces
had blasted their way for ten miles
since the previy July. There were
NOT avan landmarks loft
The citizen., 1918-07-04
slmpllned Medicine.

We got drafts OF recruits before we
went To the Somme, and some OF our
wounded men were sent back TO Eng
land, where we had left our safety
first battalion" That was really the
Fifty-first battalion of the Fourth divi-
sion OF the Canadian forces, composed
OF the physically rejected. men recov-
ering from wounds and men injured
In training. The Tommles, however.
called It the safety first" or "MaJor
Gilday's Light infantry" Major Gil
day was our battalion surgeon. He
was immensely popular, and he
achieved a great name for himself. He
made one realize what a great per
sonal force a doctor can be and what
an unnecessary elaboration there Is In
the civil practice OF medicine.
Under Major Gilday's administration
no man In our battalion was sick II he
could walk. and II he couldn't walk
there was reasonable suspicion that
he was drunk. The major simplified
medicine down 10 an exact science of
two forms OF treatment and two rem
edies-"number nines' and whale oil.
Number mines" were pale oval pills,
which. II they had been eggs. would
have run about eight to an omelet for
SIX persons. They had an internal
effect which could only be defined as
dynamic. After our men had become
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1918-11-23
NEW TEACHERS ELECTED AT
SPECIAL BOARD MEETING

A special meeting of the Board of
Education of ~Pleasantville was held
Tuesday night in the High School
building with Pres. Stiles in the chair
and members Weaver, Thompson and
Penhallow present.
The president and secretary were
authorized to draw a note for $4,000
for 8 months for the current expense
account in anticipation OF revenue
from taxes.
The matter of settlement with Mrs.
Marcia Leeds in connection with the
j~anitorship of the Leeds Ave. building
wtS discussed and referred back to the
Rsard's attorney. L. d. Champion, and
tine secretary. with authority to act
| for the Board.
II Miss Ethel M. Smith was elected
Teacher in the High School for the
Nhalance of the school year, and Miss
gStella Jordan was elected as teacher
4 in No. 2 school for the balance of the
year. Mrs. F Starr was employed as
teacher in the lower grades of the
Leeds Avenue building for the balance
of the school yea
Mr.. d. w. Macmillan was granted
the use of a room in the Woodland
Ave. building one evening a week for
an evening class with Italians, as last
year, under the supervision of Supt.
Sullivan.
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1918-11-23
WILLIAM cADDON SUcCUMBS
TO HEART FAILURE ATTACr

After struggling through a severe
attack of the influenza, followed by
pneumonia, from both of which he had
apparently about recovered, William
Caddon, sol of Mrs. Margaret Caddon,
of 300 n. Main street, succumbed to
heart failure Saturday evening. The
remains were taken to Philadelphia,
where interment was made on Tues
day. Representatives from Troop No.
l, P~leasantville Boy Scouts, of which
he vas a member, attended the funer-
al. Mrs. Caddon herself was still con-
fined to bed with the disease and un-
able to accompany the remains of her
boy upon their last journey.
William was one of the brightest
pupils in the eighth grade of our pub
lie schools. He was a warm-hearted,
f%un-loving boy, loyal in his friendship
and square in all dealings. His loss
is deeply felt in Schools Nos. l and 2,
both by pupils and teachers, also in
Salem NJ. E. Church and Sunday
School, where he was a member of
the class of Mrs. Herman Risley.
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1918-11-23
LOCAL w. C. T. U. APPRECIATES
MRS. STATIONS SERVICES

A regular monthly meeting of the
w. C. T. U. was held at the home of
Mrs. Frendlich on First St, on Thurs
day afternoon, Nov. IA.
After a business meeting, at which
Mrs. Walter OFT was elected Superin-
tendent of the l.. T. L., Mrs. Harry
Lake and Mrs. Maria Higbee were ap-
pointed assistants to the Superintend-
ent, Mrs. Gilkey was elected Superin-
tendent of the Social work, and Mrs.
Bennett was elected to take the place
of the retiring Secretary, Mrs. STRAIT
ton, a social session was held, giving
a reception to Mrs. Stratton to show
the appreciation for the services she
has rendered. A w. C. T. U. pin and
a bouquet of flowers were presented
to her by the president, after which
all enjoyed a treat prepared by the
ladies'. Expression of appreciation
for Mrs. STATIONS services were voic-
ed, and though all much regret that
she has left us yet we are glad to
know that she has gone to a larger
field, where her usefulness will be
felt more.
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1918-11-23
HIGH SCHOOL BULLETIN SERIES, No. 4
PeasantuiHe, NJ
The Honor Point System.

Last weeks Bulletin called attention
to the Honor Point System which has
been adopted this year in Pleasantvllle
High. Its purpose is to encourage the
student in making the best possible
record in each branch that he is pur-
suing.
An Introductory word of explanation
may be helpful. Each subject is mark
ed on the basis of one hundred, the
passing mark being seventy. Any
grade below seventy means failure for
the first quarters work.
For each subject graded 1913, the
student receives ONE honor point;
$3.50 TWO points; 90-100 THREE
points, The majority of students car
ry only four academic studies. There
fore the maximum number of points
on four subjects would be TWELVE.
If for n reason a student is permit
ted to carry an extra subject, this is
indicated by a figure five in %parenthe-
sis (5).
Because of lack of space, it is posi-
BILE to publish only the group of stu
dents in each class obtaining more
than six points.
The following list shows the rank of
the student for the first quarter of the
term:
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1918-11-23
YOUNG SOUTH END RESIDENT
CALLED TO NAVAL SERVICE

Among our boys recently called into
service, was Ernest Wellburn Sooy,
son of DR.. and Mrs. J. M. Sooy, of the
South End. Young Sooy left Nov. 18th
for Wissahickon Barracks to join the
Naval Coast Reserves, in which he en-
listed in April, 1917. While awaiting
his call he was employed for several
months at the Cooper Hospital,in Cam
den, and later, on construction work
at Amatol. Sooy is a brother of En-
sign Erwin Gladstone Sooy, of the reg
ular Navy, and also of Prof. Wendell
Sooy, who has been teaching for sew
eral months at an Officers Training
Camp in New York State. We wish
him happiness and success in this new
opportunity for service.
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1918-11-23
ST. JOHNS M. P. CHURCH.
Rev. W. |. Shoemaker, Pastor.

Services Sunday as follows:
9 a. M, Class Meeting; Geo. Mathis,
leader.
1870 a. m, Preaching by the Pas
tor; subject, Take Heed"
2.30 p. M, Sunday School; Charles
T. Collins, Superintendent.
The Mems Bible Class will be taught
by Judge Allen Endicott.
100 p. m, c. E. Meeting. Special
singing. The pastor will preach from
the topic, Count Your Mercies." A
Thanksgiving meeting. Come and en-.
joy this meeting.
Wednesday. Thanksgiving Supper.
Friday evening, Glass Meeting; John
Somers, leader.
Nov. %, Thanksgiving morning.
Prayer service at 8 a. M. Everybody
is invited to come and give thanks to
God.
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1918-11-23

REV. H. e. JONES INSTALLED
AT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Extensive preparations have been
made for the Installation exercises of
the Rev. Henry E. Jones, d. D., to the
p%astorate of the First Presbyterian
Church of P~leasantyille, which take
place at 7.30 o'clock this Friday eve
ming, Nov. 22nd. The program is as
follows:
Voluntary.
Invocation by the Moderator of Pres
bytery, Rev. DR.. Ceilings, of Bridge
ton, with chanting of the Lords Pray
er by Choir and Congregation.
Violin Solo, Mr.. Carl Gaskill.
Hymn.
Scripture Reading.
Solo. Mrs. Carl Gaskill.
Prayer.
Hymn.
Sermon, Rev. Henry Merle Mellen,
D. D.
Duet, Mrs. Carl Gaskill and Mr..
Ralph Riggans.
Statement of the purpose of the
meeting, etc, by the Moderator.
Formal induction of Pastor-elect in.
to the pastorate.
Charge to the Pastor, Rev. Newton
w. Caldwell.
Solo, Mr.. Ralph Riggans.
Charge to the People, Rev. John Nc
MILAN.
Prayer.
Hymn.
Benediction.
The public is cordially invited to be
present upon this occasion.
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1918-11-23
WESLEY M. e. CHURCH.
Rev. Dewitt C. Cobb. Pastor.

Services Sunday as follows:
$50 A. M, Glass.
1890 A. NJ, sermon by the pastor.
$50 P. NJ, Sunday School. Glasses
for the youngest to the oldest.
GAS P. NJ, Epworth League.
100 P. NJ, inspiring and uplifting
song service. Fourth in series of pre-
ludes on 1.-The Second Coming of
Christ" topic who Will Be Left, and
What of Their Condition." Sermon.
Wednesday, 7.45 P. NJ, prayer meet
ing, conducted by the pastor; the Ep-
worth League choir will have charge
of the singing.
Friday, 7.45 P. NJ, Holiness Glass.
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1918-11-23
COME, YE THANKFUL PEOPLE, COME !

In response to the President of the United States, the
Governor of this State, the Mayor of our City, and the nat
ural feeling of every heart, the people of Pleasantville will
assemble in Wesley M. E. Church next Thursday evening,
745 o'clock, for a Union Thanksgiving service.
Rev. w. L. Morton, President of the Ministerial Union,
will preside, and the sermon will be preached by Rev. Henry
E. Jones, D. D., the recently installed pastor of the Presby-
terrain church.
Not in any year since the day Abraham Lincoln made
the Thanksgiving Day of the good old Pilgrim Fathers a
national Thanksgiving Festival, has there been as great a
cause for Thanksgiving to Almighty God, as this year. Let
the thankful people of Pleasantvile lay aside every weight
that would hinder them from being lght-footed in going to
the House of God next Thursday evening.
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1918-11-23
LIBRARY RECEIVES NEW
BULLETINS ON CONCRETE

Pamphlets on the uses of concrete
issued by the Portland Cement Asso-
citation, Chicago, have been added to
the collection of references on build
ing at the Pleasantyille Public Ii
brary.
These pamphlets were written by
competent engineers experienced in
concrete work and contain practical
information which will be of assist
ance to those engaged in concrete con-
struction and others who are contem-
plating the use of cement in making
permanent, economical and freproof
improvements about their homes.
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1918-11-23
FAREWELL GATHERING FOR
REV. AND MRS. STRATToN

There was a farewell gathering held
in honor of Rev. and Mrs. S. r. STRAIT
ton, on Monday night at the home of
Mr.. and Mrs. d. M. Ingersoll. The
of the evening was composed
of recitations by Mrs. Leon Collins
and Miss Grace Adams. several vocal
and instrumental solos by Miss Jessie
Sharp, Miss Ivory Beck and Mr.. Soud-
ers. Mr.. George H. Adams gave a
talk, in which he expressed the ap-
probation of the work the STATIONS
have done here and the regrets that
the company felt on their leaving.
Those present We're: Mr.. and Mrs.
George Hill, Mr.. and Mrs. Geo. H.
Adams, Mr.. and Mrs. Alvin P. Risley,
Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph B. Thomas, Mr..
and Mrs. L.. r. Smith, Mr.. and Mrs.
A. Bossler, Mr.. and Mrs. Reuben
Adams, Mr.. and Mrs. d. M. Ingersoll,
Mrs. Frank Johnson, Miss Foster, Miss
Grace Adams, Miss Jessie Sharp, Miss
Elsie Adams, Miss Agnes Adams, Mr..
Pardon Adams, Mr.. milford Sharp,
Mr.. Souder, Mrs. Harry Collins, Mrs.
Leon Collins, Miss Ruth Ruhl, Miss
Rae Lake, Mrs. Gray, Miss Kathleen
Gray, Miss Elizabeth Gray, Miss Fran
ces Thomas, Miss Elizabeth Thomas,
Miss Blanche Lake, Miss Ivory Beck,
Mrs. Beck, Mr.. Will Parsels, Mrs. H.
l.. Lake, Mr.. Charles Hill, MI. Linford
Hill, Mrs. Lake, Mrs. Charles T.
Adams, Mrs. Medholt, Minerva Haven,
Cecilia Streickert, Edna Kroger, Mrs.
Kroger, Mrs. Joseph Conover, Mr.. Ed
ward Kroger, Mrs. James Yates, Myr-
tie Conover, Edward Conover, Morgan
%Ingcrsoll and others.
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1918-11-23
PLEASANT SURPRISE PARTY
GIVEN ESLER HELMS

Esler Helms was very pleasantly
surprised on Monday evening, when a
party of his school friends walked in
upon him at his home on Brighton
emu The young people enjoyed
the evening thoroughly in playing
games and dancing, after which de-
licious refreshments were served.
Those present were: Eleanor Conover,
Gladys Streicker, Dorothy Thomas,
Edna Markee, Kathryn Reilly, Georg-
lama Bennett, Frances Ambruster,
Anna Helms, Mildred Helms, Harry
Boice, Conan VanLew, Arnold Nc
Loughlin, Richard Albertson, Emery
Martin, Somers Steelman and Esler
Helms
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1918-11-23
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Rev. Henry E. Jones. D. D., Minister.
Services Sunday as follows:

Services Sunday as follows:
1870 a. M. Subject of sermon "The
Ephesis Church." (Second in the ser
les from THE Revelation".)
2.30 p. M, Sabbath School; Harry
Lake, Supt.
6.45 p. m, Christian Endeavor. Mrs.
Preston B.. Adams will lead; subject,
Count Your Mercies'-1 Chron. 90:
1914. Special music; special invita-
ton to a. friends. Every member of
the Church should be present.
7.30 p. M, Subject of sermon:
Where is the Soul Between Death
and the Resurrection" (Second in
the series-Beyond the Grave, What?)
Next Wednesday. 7.30 p. M, Prayer
Service.
You are cordially invited to these
services.
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1918-11-23
DEER SEEN ON GROUNDS
OF BETHLEHEM LOADING CO.

1t is very evidence that ~Pleasantville
gunners did not devastate the woods
around Mays Landing of deer. accord
ing to a statement made by Night
Pumpman Saul North, who works out
at Camp IS of the Bethlehem Loading
Co. plant. Mr.. North says you should
have seen the nice big bucks that
came out close to the booth about 7.30
o'clock, when the men were coming to
work. He surely would like to have
had a gun. Two came out and crossed
the tracks. He says they surely had
some speed when they started out.
The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1918-11-23
FORMER PLEASANTViLLIAN
NOW CALIFORNIA RANCHER.

Mrs. John B. Scull recently received
an interesting letter from her nephew,
Mr.. John C. Risley, of California. Mr..
Risley was a former ~Pleasantville boy
and is now a successful rancher in
Ell Cajon, about twenty miles from
San Diego. He writes e~ntertainingly
of life on a ranch, where he grows
peaches, apricots and oranges; also
chickens, "the feathered variety" Eggs
there are seventy-two cents per dozen,
a few cents less than most Fasteners
are paying.