The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-01-13
ny VIRGINIA EVANS sEwALL.

bN ANS otb W <hsSsfs
 Here is a gleam from the adventure
 lover there," of the fervor and pa
 triotism of an American lad in navy
 blue who enlisted in the navy Just
 because we 'are at war" Dreaming
 of pirates, the Spanish Main and all
 that, he had his full, for he was tor
 pedoed twice, but is back on the job
 for more. What the boy told is chron-
 icled by Virginia Evans Sewall, the
 younger daughter of the late Admiral
 Robley D. Evans, Fighting Bob.'
 He was pointed out to me as the man who has been torpedoed twice. l looked for a man who would, probably, appear grim Or "haggard,' or some of those things which we unconsciously expect in connection with such experiences as this boy was in nowise different from hundreds of other who were crowding the army and navy Young Mems Chris tian association that Sunday evening.
 l called him over to the desk where, with other volunteers, I was trying to help during the crowded times of the early summer He came, willingly, with a cheerful grin on his rather ugly, round face, hastily swallowing a last and very large mouthful of Cracker Jack. His white uniform was quite dirty, his hat far back on his cropped head, and, crowning joy, a brooch and rosebud were in his neckerchief. For he had been spending 8 glorious afternoon at Easton's beach and, like all apprentice seamen, had done everything In his power to be "non-r gulation' in his ap- pearance.
 Perhaps I am foolish, but 1t is these boys, children almost, with their cheery faces and nice, straight eyes, just human boys, and yet with an undescribable something that only the service can give, who bring a lump into my throat. He stood before me with rather snag- gle-toothed grin.
 Did youse call me, Ma'am?' ''Is it true?" I asked, that you've been torpedoed twice?''
 Yes, Ma'am, twicet."
 Will you tell me all about it"
 He looked rather blank for second and then said:
 i Well, Maam, I wuz on one ship an she wuz torpedoed, an then I wuz on an, other ship an she was torpedoed, an that's all there is to it..
 Taking long berath and looking mucl relieved to have rid his mind of this eff l fort. he turned to go, but I said: 1 No, come back here and tell me al 1 about it from the beginning, where yo, 1 HNeu anu WHY you went lO Sed ana eV' 1 erything about it.
 With a simplicity and directness tha l were very attractive he began: l Well. Ma'am, I was Twin to Glovers l vile, N'Yark. I wuz born in N'Yarl where dey makes desc gloves, ye know l and I wuz leather woiker maxim goo, 4 pay I wuz too, an frien of mine, h comes back, he'd been away, an he say 1 to me, he says, Gee it's exetin' in tn war zone,' he says. So I beats it ava
 from Gloversville to Philadelphia-didn' tell me mother nothin' about it, an vine Il I gifts to Philadelphia I gifts job on boat, she was named de S. S. Glitterine !, Sounds more like a tooth wash tha
 ship" l murmured, and perfectly seri
 ously he assured me:
 "No, Ma a'am, dat wuz 8 ship, an W
 went away on her an Geei but we wen , to some funny places an in he end C 1 Febowary we left place dey calls Arcf angel and Wuz going to Christiania, ar one night while I wuz washin' de suppe
 dishes-I wuz de thoid steward-der
 come awful bump-see lady! just lie