The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-11-05
The Good of Ghosts.

There is a Colored labor outfit In the
3. O, ) engaged in quarry work near
a base port. A few weeks ago. in the
course Of opening up some new ground.
they discovered an old Roman burying
ground with many skeletons, coins and
relics. The find made quite an I'm
preston ON the minds OF the finders.
and there were many speCuiations as
to whether the shades or the departed
l~eglonalrcS Sthl hover arOund in the vi
entity OF their last resting place, The
general opinion was that Il man ought
to be on his guard Wnen out late at
night.
About that time the sum Of 60 francs
disappeared from the counter OF a near
by Y. NJ c. A. hut. The captain Of
this outfit doesn't know a great deal
about classroom psyCnoiogy, but he has
leAfned Il lot about IT In the field lie
called hts outfit toSetner one night In
the Y hut and told them of the dis
appearance Of the money, Then he out
lined the history and characteristics Of
the old Romans.
Boys he said, there was one thing
a Roman hated worse thar anything
else, and that was a thier. II the ghosts
of those old fellows who were buried
up there on the hill should learn that
somebody In this outfit had so stolen
francs In his pocket, ! don't know just
what would happen, I'm going to put
my hat here on the table and turn out
the lights. The guilty mar will know
what to do"
There was quite a SQUIRTING Of feet
and milling around In ;ne nut and then
all was quiet. When the captain turned
on the lights again and looked In the
hat he found not only the 90 francs, but
300 more, and a few Il confines for
good measure.
During the Germans four years oC-
cupation of one tiny hamlet In the st.
Mihlel salient, the French population
was forced TO work for the German
officers, prepare their meas, wash their
clothes, clean the dirty boots and do
various other tasks that were imposed
upon them, just as it did in the other
towns.
One toiler was an old woman much
bent with years n suffering with
rheumatism. Her daily task was to
care for five rooms, wash and scrub
the floors, change the linen and look
after the officers many petty wants.
She was not allowed out after 100 in
the evening or permitted to visit her
neighbors without first obtaining per-
mission.
During all those four years his old
kept, hidden away In a secret
trunk, a silk waist and tailored skirt
hoping against hope that a brighter day
would dawn for her.
The bright day dawned when the
Americans swept forward on the early
morning OF the 18th Of September, driV-
ing the Germans before them. After
the barrage had passed on and the
streets had been filled with Nanks, she
busted off the trunk, unlocked 1t.
dressed up In her best, carefully smooth
ed out the wrinkles, asked a doughboy
II It was bon, then she went calling on
her neighbora and even PAID Il visit to
the American commander.
Army correspondence, with It's official
cirCumlocutions and endless tndorse-
ments. ~ not always sucn dry and tedi-
Gus reading as the letter concerning
the loss of ii knife, carrying which,
when it reached its seth Endorsement,
n Disguised officer threw into the waste
basket. Occasionally it becomes fairly
human, as witness the following In
dorsement which n MAJOR In the SER
vice OF supplies tackled on to an APP
pliCation for a commission:
81. Sergt. Blank isn't much good, He
knows more about army regulations and
general orders than anybody, which In
dicates a wasted life. He is a good
drill master. which doesn't fit this or
Ganlzation just now, He Is inclined TO
be sober, not approaching that Man,
being reasonable, must get drunk. The
best OF life's. but intoxicatfon.' lie has
spent his youth in pursuits other than
railroading, which indicates an Illogical
intellect. He attends TO mis- business
SO closely that l am always suspicious
Of him,
"2. Anybody that knows how can
perform his present duties. whether the
rank be less, equal to or greater than
his,
-. In addition, Sergt. Blank Is anxl-
GUS to get to the Front with a capital
F), and | recommend nm for the PiOn-