The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-04-27
Children's War Garden Army

ChndrenS war Garden Army
Winifred Black, the writer and
editor, who is giving her services
to the war garden army originated
by the department OF the interior,
writes:
"Oyer in London they are going
up on the roof these days to listen
to the thunder Of the guns across
the channel far away in France.
in Paris the school children are
budding together in the Easements
Of the schoolhouses waiting for the
shells to drop, and while they wait
they sing the MarSeillaise.
"Oyer here our children are lis
tcning, too, and singing-but they
do not wait. They work
Tramp, tramp, tramp, Hark !!
1t is the echo Of thousands and
hundreds of thousands OF sturdy
Young feet, all marching to Join
the great army OF school gardens.
From all parts OF the country there
are coming eager, enthusiastic, iull
of determined hope and glowing
loyalty. Rich and poor they come
boys and girls, from the grammar
grades, The United States war gar
den army already numbers up INTO
the hundred thousands, and II the
enlistment goes on as 1t has begun
1t will not be long until o,UOVVuU
children are III the ranks.
The club women nave taken up
the work, and the mothers con
gresseS and great gatherings OF
women are taking solemn pledge
to dring sugarless tea and eat bread
without butter until each one Oh
them IS personally responsible lo'
one soldier IN the United states war
garden army, and also responsible
ior getting garden space lor that
particular soldier,
In New YORK ana boston anu
PmIadelPhia' IN the cro"ueu us
tncts, the settlement workers are
helping the children to make niue
gardens IN OLD boxes on Inc llie
escapes, and there IS great riVaIty III
the tenements as to who IS gong
to get out the iirst crop Oh onions
Public SPIRITED women are lof ming
committees IN all the larger cities
ahC II IS lhe business ol edCll lhS"i-
Der OF that committee to note every
vacant lot within certain distance
and call up the owner OF the prop
erty, morning, noon and night IN
season an dout OF season until me
distracted property holder would
lend the root OF hls o"n mouse
tor war garden III ofuer 10 get
little peace.
The service pms have not Deeh
sent out from Washington yet but
when they are that army Is gong
to treble overnight. What boy or
girl can resist belonging to the great
army and wearing PIN which tells
every passerby that under that pm
there beats patriotic heartf ne
children thought 1t was Just gong
to be tun at first, but now they
realize that this United States war
garden army is just as serious and
just as important part OF our
great fight as any branch OF the
government.
They are learning the saluate'
too, military fashion - shoulders
back, head up, eyes right, palm out
ward. saw little fellow IN
ragged coat draw himself like
major general the other day and
salute an officer IN KHAKI VINO
swung past.
Mechanically, the officers hand
swept to his brow IN the answering
salute, and then he paused, smiled
and turned back.
What branch OF the service are
you IN, son" said the officer.
The little raglmutiin threw up
his grimy hand and saluted again
United States War Garden Army
he said. The service pins amt here
yet, but / belong to the army Just
the same.
Some hungry little boy over
there in Belgium IS gong TO nave