davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Benson signal., 1918-04-13

reason. Tommy is a great cigarette
smoker. He smokes under all condi-
tions, except when unconscious or
when he is reconnoitering in No Mans
Land at night. Then, for obvious rea-
sons, he does not care to have light
ed cigarette in his mouth.
Stretcher bearers carry fags for
wounded Tommies. When a stretcher
bearer arrives alongside Of Tommy
who has been hit the following CONVEX
sation usually takes place: Stretcher
bearer-"Want fag? Where are you
hit?" Tommy looks up and answers,
eyes. In the leg"
After dismissal from parade, we re-
turned to our billets and I had to get
busy Immediately with the dinner is
sue. Dinner consisted of stew made
from fresh beef, a. couple of spuds,
bully beef, Maconochie rations and wa
ter-plenty of water. There is great
competition among the men to spear
with their forks the two lonely pota-
toes.
The Benson signal., 1918-04-13
DDYSEY[NDN(
[AIRY TALL I1
HAPPY PUPPIES.
~ MARY GRAHAN. BONNER

At last the Irish setter puppies had
their eyes opened; lovely blue eyes. they
had and their heads were so smooth
and soft. Their ears were long and
their hair was of a wonderful red
brown shade long and also very soft.
They looked very much like their
mother only much, much smaller.
They were tiny and they cared more
about sleep than anything else in the
world. r.
Adventures might be alt right later
on, but for the present sleep was the
most glorious thing. They would fall
over each other and any way they fell
they would go sound asleep. Such
strange positions as they got into when
they slept, but as long as it did not
bother them the mother let them alone
''My beautiful puppies" she said to
herself as she looked at them. When
they nestled very close to her she look
ed out of the window of the tool room
in the barn where their home was for
the present and thought:
II wish could always keep my pup
pies safe in here and away from the
world and dangers"
Then she would look out of the win
dow again and once more down at her
puppies and she would think of the dog
shows where they would win prizes,
for they were perfect, very perfect and
they were her own puppies!
But they seemed so safe and sleepy
now and she hated to think ahead Of
all the troubles that might come to
them. They might be sold to people
who didn't love and understand ami
mails, but she didn't think Of that long,
for she knew her mistress would be
very, very careful-she loved the pup
pies too.
After time the puppies were almost
grown up and in a little while after
there was great excitement. The pup
pies did not understand it, but the
mother did She had been to many
a dog show and how many prizes she
had won! She could never count them
for she really couldn't be bothered with
adding and such things-she wanted
to watch her beautiful grown-up pup
pies! For she could hardly believe
that they were no longer babies.
"We're going to the show" she whis-
pered to them, "that is what all the
excitement means. We're going to win
ribbons and prizes, my beautiful ones,
and our mistress will be so happy and
glad"
The next day they went-the whole
family of puppies and the mother.
The judges were looking at all the
dogs. "This Irish setter family beats
them ALL" they said. And each grown
up puppy and the mother won prizes.
They received the best ribbons of all
and how delighted their mistress was,
to be sure.
SNOW" said their mother, 'you will
not leave me, for you will come to
other shows at other times. I have
The Benson signal., 1918-04-13

chuckle from my mate brought me to
my senses, and I feebly asked, "For
heavens sake, what was that?"
He answered. "Only a rat taking a
promenade along the sandbags." I
felt very sheepish.
About every twenty minutes the SEN
try in the next traverse would fire u
star shell from his flare pistol. The
''plop'' would give me a start Of fright.
I never got used to this noise during
my service in the trenches.
would watch the arc described by
the star shell, and then stare into No
Mans Land waiting for it to burst. In
it's lurid light the barbed wire and
stakes would be silhouetted against it's
light like a latticed window. Then
darkness.
Once, out in front of our wire, I
heard noise and saw dark forms
moving. My rifle was lying across the
sandbagged parapet. / reached for it,
and was taking aim to fire, when my
mate grasped my arm, and whispered,
"Don't fire." He challenged in low
voice. The reply came back instantly
from the dark forms:
"Shut your blinkin' mouth, you
bloomin' idiot; do you want us to click
it from the Boches?"
Later we learned that the word, "No
challenging or firing, wiring party out
in 'front.'" had been given to the sentry
on our right, but he had failed to pass
it down the trench. An officer had over
heard our challenge and the reply, and
Immediately put the offending sentry
under arrest. The sentry clicked
twenty-one days on the wheel, that is,
he received twenty-one days field pun
ishment No. 1, \or "crucif1xion," as
Tommy terms it.
This consists of being spread-eagled
on the wheel of timber two hours a
day for twenty-one days, regardless of
the weather. During this period, your
rations consist of bully beef, biscuits
and water.
A few months later I met this sentry
and he confded to me that since being
"crucified," he had never failed to pass
the word down the trench when so Or
dered. In view of the Offense, the
above punishment was very light, In
that failing to pass the word down
trench may mean the loss Of many
lives, and the spelling of some impor-
tant enterprise in No Mans Land.
The Benson signal., 1918-04-13
II was NOT long after this thar was

It was not long after this that was
one of the 400 lying"
I soon hit the hay and was 1ast
asleep, even my friends the "cooties"
failed to disturb me.
The next morning at about six
o'clock L was awakened by the lance
corporal of our section, informing me
that I had been detailed as mess or
derly, and to report to the cook and
give him a hand. I helped him make
the fire, carry water from an old well,
and fry the bacon. Lids of dixies are
used to cook the bacon in. After
breakfast was cooked, / carried a dixie
of hot tea and the lid full of bacon to
our section, and told the corporal that
breakfast was ready. He looked at me
in contempt, and then shouted, Break
fast up, come and get it!" 1 immedi-
ately got wise to the trench parlance,
and never again Informed that "Break-
fast was served"
1t didn't take long for the Tommies
to answer this call. Half dressed,
they lined up with their canteens and
I dished out the tea. Each Tommy
carried in his hand a thick slice Of
bread which had been issued with the
rations the, night before. Then I had
the pleasure of seeing them dig into
the bacon with their dirty fingers. The
allowance was one slice per man. The
late ones received very small slices.
AS each Tommy got his share he i'm
mediately disappeared into the billet.
Pretty soon about fifteen of them made
rush to the cookhouse, each carrying
a huge slice of bread. These slices
they dipped into the bacon grease
which was stewing over the fire. The
last man invariably lost out. I was
the last man.
After breakfast our section carried
their equipment into a field adjoining
the billet and got busy removing the
trench mud therefrOm, because at 8 :45
a. M, they had to fall in for inspection
and parade, and woe betide the man
who was unShaven, or had mud on his
uniform. Cleanliness is next to godli-
ness in the British army, and Old Pep
per must have been personally &C.
Quainted with st. Peter.
Our drill consisted of close-order
formation, which lasted until noon.
During this time we had two ten-min-
ute breaks for rest, and no sooner the
word, Fall out for ten minutes" was
given than each Tommy got out a fag
and lighted it.
Fags are issued every Sunday morn.
ing, and you generally get between
twenty and forty. The brand gen.
orally issued is the "Woodbine." Some
times we are lucky and get "Gold-
fakes" "Players" or "Red Hussars."
Occasionally an issue of ''Life Rays"
comes along. Then the older Tommies
Immediately get busy on the recruits
and trade these for "Woodbines" or
"Goldfakes." A recruit only has to
be stuck once in this manner, and then
he ceases to be a recruit. There is a
The Benson signal., 1918-04-13

The Puppies Were About Grown Up.
tried to keep you beautiful and we'll
and so has my mistress. Now she is
so pleased that you won prizes that she
will not think of giving you away"
And though the puppies were almost
grown-up they nestled close to their
mother as though they were very young
and said, "We're happy that there are
dog shows, mother, if it means we will
not leave you." And they barked their
joy!
Crowds stopped to look at them and
they copied their mother and stood
and looked as she did. And when their
mother heard the people say how fine
she was they noticed she wagged her
tail, so they did the very same thing
when people admired them!
When some of the dogs snarled and
were cross the Irish settlers looked at
their mother as if to say,
"People won't want to look at them
if they're cross"
But their mother answered, "YOu
can't always blame them, my dears, for
every dog hasn't the kind mistress that
we have! And if a dog is cross, very,
very often it is the fault of the master
or MISTRESS" SO the puppies who were
almost grown-up barked more joyeusly
than ever when their mistress came
back to theml
The Benson signal., 1918-04-13
Furnish Your Own Incentive.

Do not wait for others to supply the
incentive you need for doing your best.
There are young people who fancy
they cannot even get up in the morn
ing without being called, and they car
ry the same attitude into all the work
of the day. See that you ask as much
of yourself as anyone else can possi-
bly, ask of you. Have the highest
standard of achievement. Do not
wait for something outside to spur you
on to reach it. Let your own rea1iza-
tion of what you might be and what
you ought to accomplish, furnish the
incentive.-Girl's Companion.
The Benson signal., 1918-04-13
CHAPTER vi.
"Back of the Line"

Our tour in the front-line trench
lasted four days, and then we were
relieved by the - brigade.
Going down the communication
trench we were in a merry mood, al
though we were cold and wet, and
every bone in our bodies ached. 1t
makes a lot Of difference whether you
are "going in" or ''going out"
AT the end Of the communication
trench, limbers were waiting on the
road for us. I thought we were going
to ride back to rest billets, but soon
found out that the only time an in
fantryman rides is when he is
wounded and is bound for the base or
Blighty. These limbers carried our
reserve ammunition and ratiOns. Our
march to rest billets was thoroughly
enjoyed by me. It seemed as if I
were on furlough, and was leaving be-
hind everything that was disagree
able and horrible. Every recruit feels
this way after being relieved from the
trenches.
We marched eight kilOs and then
halted in front of a French estaminet.
The captain gave the order to turn
out on each side of the road and wait
his return. Pretty soon he came back
and told B company to occupy billets
III, 118 and 119. Billet III was an
old stable which had previously been
occupied by COWS. About four feet in
front of the entrance was huge ma
nure pile, and the odor from it was
anything but pleasant. Using my
flashlight I stumbled through the door.
Just before entering I observed a
white sign reading: Sitting so, lying
2O,' but, at the time, it's significance
did not strike me. Next morning
asked the sergeant major what it
meant. He nonchalantly answered:
"That's some Of the work of the R.
A. NJ G. lRoyal Army Medical CORPSE.
It simply means that in case Of an at
tack, this billet will accommodate
fifty wounded who are able to sit up
and take notice, or twenty stretcher
cases."
The Benson signal., 1918-04-13
Boys Serious War Work.

Here is letter to the United States
department of agriculture from Sc
rious Oklahoma boy of ten who is do
ing his level best to help Americas
food supply. He is doing it as a men,
Der Of the Boys Pig and Corn clubs.
Because his example should be an in
spiration to other workers, young and
spirit of his philosophy the letter is
printed here in full.
"Well, shall tell you about my pig.
1t is looking pretty dressy since have
been feeding it digester tankage. 1t
looks like it were fixing for a trip. 1t
carries it's tail curled, and walks as
proud as if it were expecting to see
town. Now I shall not disappoint
him. / shall carry him to Stigler to
our contest the 18th. tell him don't
know whether he will get to ride on
the trains or not, but for him to eat
all give him and 1 will do my best to
get a ride on the train for him. He
carries his fat nicely and walks up to
his meals like little boy and eats all
he can. 1 feed him cOrn oats and
tame weeds, and the wastage from my
fathers table since my digester tank
age gave out. He seems to think it
is good. The funniest thing is to see
him eat and look at me and grunt as
if to say Early, you are so good to
me-everything furnished. All have
to do is to walk up and eat He does
not realize that soon someone else
shall eat him. Of course it must be
funny to me and l am loath to think
of that grand trip 1 am fixing up for
the poor pig. He is doing his best.
"NOw if he wins me no prize l shall
never be sorry about feeding him, for
he shall help be a comfort for my
mother and little brother'at home; be-
sides 1 enjoy his being here. While !
am q member of the Pig club 1 tell
him he must not let me get beat, for
this is my first effort to do anything
in the club work. But it is true if /
do get beat 1 shall only keep trying.
Ny two older brothers won valuable
prizes last year in the corn and cotton
CLUBS. L snail Keep trying. L feel
sure can win something some day. I
have one acre in corn this year, one
acre in kafir corn and am preparing
my exhibits, also my seed kafir corn
and corn for another year and shall
send in my report and essay when the
time comes.
"The chinch bugs got in my kafir
corn, and the drought came on my
corn, but mother says must be pa
tient. She says those that have no
misfortune die of young age. have
always found my mother true and I
shall be patient until 1 get through. I
am ten years old and can always find
work to do.
"EARL
Garland, Okla"
The Benson signal., 1918-04-13
BOY, GIRL, JOIN A
CLUB-RAISE A Pig

Will you raise a pig for SOL
diers-you, boys and girls on the
farms; and you, boys and girls
in the suburbs who have space
available? The United States
department of agriculture is
seeking to enroll 100000 boys
and girls in pig clubs this year
-"junior soldiers of the COM
missary." If $4,000 members of
pig clubs produced 100000
pounds of dressed pork last
year, how much pork will 2OO,-
900 members turn in to the ma
tional larder in 1918? Every
boy or girl who can do so should
raise one or more pigs for Uncle
Sam and thus furnish the meat
supply for a soldier. Ask your
county agricultural agent about
this opportunity or write to the
director of extension at your
state agricultural college.
The Benson signal., 1918-04-13
Back on the front line, after a
stay in rest biIIets, Empey gets a
shock when a German bullet cuts
down his first friend of the
trenches. He tells the story in
the next instaIlment.
(TO BE CONTINUEDl
Make Liaht of Heavy Loads

The streets of Jerusalem within the
walls are as narrow and crowded that
it is impossible to drive a wagon
through them, and many Of them are
built of series Of steps upon the hill
side, so that it is task to lead camels
or donkeys through them after sunrise
Therefore most of the carrying and
portering is done by men. They carry
the most surprising loads. l am told
that they will step along briskly with
6O0 pounds on their backs, with stc:t
ropes holding the bundles to their fore.
heads.-Exchange
The Benson signal., 1918-04-13

TAIL -
Garland, Okla"
The Benson signal., 1918-04-13

failed When the war is won and an
accounting is made, as is bound to
come, no less can be said Of such chill
dren of this country than "they did
their share"
The Benson signal., 1918-04-13

sinking of the Lutana with Of
goes British After
London,
where he first hears big
and O
training Empeys
TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1918-03-23
ll.beris,oeIuua Sss s,ssIisss

Ws bic .@OfFf9s 3situus- Gnbs
sJorluor aus stopsnbasen bsri5tei,
moht ber gsnfer Eeridisritaitsr bon
.politiitn@, gtnf gbriitiau 3oliieiu.
esy CUTE GiibIuns nit tdiboIifden
sfreiIen bat, i'm .RorDif6en Mohsn'
blnit fir iaihoIiIde gbriftsn- ipl'
ssnbe @smsrtuns. Alies bepis bar
auf bin, bnb .eine poriibsre.b,nO,
aufbebung bss Garnntisseiebes &C.
plant Iei. GpbnIb bic 4uibsbune
ptrpiriIi9t isi. perbe bic iuabri8cin'
iits UoIgs isin, bnB Der papf, nm
isins pOlls 6dnblunesfreibeit su be-
lpnbren, vfom ptrlnifen iper6s. "a
mare bns ipnbrf&.inlihiie, Dob ts
elmer GinIobung bes aloIters Gin.
lit6sln foiesn uno bcrlduiig bori
glufmtbdIt ntbmtn iperbs. Gil
gauli6tsiten bisiss aloitsrs ieitn &c.
tdumig nub ss bate bsreits friibt'
pdpits b.berberst. Disies stIoIiei
signs ii9 BEL fsinsr sentrnlen Gag,
snif6sn ben WdHitn porsiisIih gum
RiiisIpuntt fiir foriseiests poliiiib'
TGiisisit.
TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1918-03-23
Z. 8 a StteI.

9lm Siioabbanee oes Sfergebirges,
IN Der gadbe Der ppaIbiffen @renSe,
liegt nidt melt npm sSIiibhen 9lupa
ein fIeiues 9orf. @irterieits bonn
@alo begreiBt 6ebrlteil fid anoerieits
iDeite Biefet itnb Qfergriin6e babor
ais, unb bur9 Sieie aiebt ii6 in man
nigfa6er @inbiulget Die 2o1loItrabe
9as 9orf lit rett eiirfanL bertn Die
na6ite Decentralization Der Rorb.
ipeitbabn Iiegt fait 5lpei Gegfhinben
fern baboI Reben Der itrnIten Sir.
DE ftebt bos bei9eibene gfarrbois
iinter Sipet 2tnben. Cleric befdriben
III oaS Seim 6es 2ebrers. @s Iiegt
nGber mn @nIbe, 6idt an Der Strabe.
Syoiepb Silgner 1T nidt Der einoiae,
Der in benz neineu S6uIbdirie auf iei.
mem ridtigen gs1ase ftebt. Geine
sSrau iit IN ibrer 9lrt nidjt nrin6er
tiihtig aI8 er. Gie IdBt rtirger6s lin.
oroniua miffonimen irt9 iii eii,e ,-ebr
iporiame Sa,,sfrml bic 6as erobe
aiinititiif beritebt, tros ffymaIer Gin.
nnbnteft 5itDeiIen iognr Elm tpenia
Siiriis, inuiier aber @ebngIitfeit IN
rbren &nistpeien 5ii baben.
7, Gortfsbuns folgt.)
TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1918-03-23

iyronf Gteiparb all Mad uHb
MorD Shear, Got GA in 3. s. Drleps
llnferobtbeiIung in 9pdlano "a.
(Steuer 50r.)
gbaparp Netnbarbt an Glner v.
Sun. Cots 10. % unb 26 IN Der
g,allep @ropt's llnterabtbeiIung IN
Mrlirston Seigbts 81. (Gteiier 50e.)
Sobn so. 1rdep an Daniel s.
'Dib, 25 BEL 120 SUB an Der Weit=
fsite Der Gran Mpenue ouf price Sill
81. (Gteuer $2.)
Sobn 8. 5ite ON Sburninn Smith.
30.25 SUE on Der Giibieite Der Dill
Ier slpeniie, ebenfo z Sub nebenan
81. (Gieusr $3.50)
Sburman Smith on Sobn s. siee.
46 Bel 140 SUB on Der Siibieite Der
Scnes Strabe, 46 SUB 6itlih Der
Charles Sfr. 81. (Steler $2.50.)
s. Berg, Seripalter, an Wattbeip
80. glIler, 40 bei 100 SUB on Der
gsorbipeitede Der 9ierteu unb plum
Strob. $11,5o0. (Stsuer $11.50.) )
Marp 9. gorpin per Sberiff an
bie 2iberal 9. unb 9. gompanp, %
bel 135 snB an Der ROrbieite Der
WliIton Strnbe, befonnt aIs No. 1913
Wailton Girabe $27O0. (Gteiier 49,
9ie 2ibernI &. iitb .. 80. on
MilIinm q. Collins, basielbe Gisens
tbum 81. (Steuer 49,
'gDiIIiam s.. par1mann an Rate
s.. Slatt, SbeiI Der 5ltlidxn Sdiftt
Der aut go. 6 in Blot ~" nm 9upio
9seter's gia6Iah 81. (Steiier 50c.)
Sefmie -g. Saptoe on Morp q.
Corp, oi. fiibIi6en u SUB ber>apf
go. IL in Der glberon Ganb Co.'S
llnterabtbeiIuna 'ebenio bic Got Ro.
16 in berielben llnterdbtbeiIuns 81.
(Steuer $6.)
Gbiparo 9runboff on 2.nn Bloom,
1854 bel 1861 SUB on Der Sit.
ieiie Der 9arona 9lpe., 1901 Sup
n0rbIid Der Northern gtpenus 81.
(steuer $6.60.)
Daniel g. Scsbroot an bic Stabi
Cincinnati, ben binteren 9beil ber
apt go. 8 IN 8i1iam 2atpion's line
terobtbeiIuns biIbenb II Sub on Der
Sitfeite Der Pint 9tlep iinb q Jub
an Der Spooner aasp. ebenfo % SUB
on Der pint gtusp. ALI SUB n0roIid,
Der 2ipingiion StraBe, ebenfo 90 bel
42a SUB ON Der Horboitede Der 2is
pinsiton StraBe unb pint anes
S1450. (Gteuer $L50.)
Sarob plotfin an Rattan qIots
tin 25 BEL 15S JuB an Der Dftieite
Der Central sIperiae 81. (Steiisr 50t.)
Dapib aIein an akrefa Mat,
gofD. 25 bel $3.50 SUB on Der Oft.
ffiie Der anorr gDe., $50 5ib fiib'
lid Der gidsl alDe. 81. (Steuer $3.)
TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1918-03-23
@rnnoeiseHt9n .Sppotpefsn.
Reue Sbpot6.tem

Carrie 6. Wrigbt on qeopIes %.
unb 6. u. 60. $2500.
Santue 6. Sbompion on aop ".
Worran $3.50.
Sturn @rebentemper on Winton
Mate y. unb g. So. $1,000.
gbarles Q. si1iedt S.. om Giti5ens
3. u. go. Q $500.
Milliam Or. Collins an 2iberal 6.
niib y. so. $1,000.
Ratban GpaItsr an GasIe G. unb
6. u. $2375.
2eua gIoom on SiiIs O. unb g.
60. $3.50.
Ge.iIgte Sppotbefen
Jrant adffbrenrer on aeaor y.
unb 6. Go. $3.50.
eIi5abetb aor5enborn on eagle g.
unb 8. u. 500.
emma .. gaiLep on GDa1riton ".
i,xb =. 60. $3.50.
9enrp ftleemeier on %. marb y.
nnb o go. $500.
gtmmtba anabe on @eruianin SO.
2 6. tlub .. 60. $500.
Gptena 8. Sorbes on Mhaini
Sptpnf9ip %. uno 6. Go $3.50.
Carolina 6erab an bo. $3.50.
WlidoeI GrTbam ON Torris Ri4.
mon $500.
ebparb gronboff an gosmopoIt.
ton gauf &c Spgs. 60. $500.
TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1918-03-23
Afte 2serfen in ,ieuerSaGnns
(gaod @iIbsIm 81 HaIsr)

Gn gde @tier Strobe,
Du ftebt ein feu@tes Saus.
SD trunt in ieinem 8nrroom
90 man4en Gdoppeu aus.
gs fdrieb NIT bider areibe
Der Gbbie frGftig on.
s56 baS In Cuff un6 2eibe
9ort manhen srunt setban.
Sd tpollt' on4 betite tneipea
aflba in filler glodt,
9a bat man mir be Sbiire
Rspt beftig uilfgemaft-
llnb ftarfs s5GuIf. padten
Wti6 berbe am Genid,
limb it Tag oitf Der Gtrabe
Jm ndffttn 2ligerbfid.
Gin falter minbftpb fegte
Dir grab ms aneeii1t,
Ger Sit ffud In oie @oiIe.
Sd boIie ibn nitr ni8t-
glun iis' auf Bbtr sbcmmer
sydJ numb unb lebensulii6
llnb feitfjs boiler Janner:
4Gtfit bu nod bort Rrebttl
fSnnitfGEa 5osuadll
TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1918-03-23
GOrtissans fofst.)
SO arnu Il n q.

o@loilben sic, 6aB Der fGii6terne
Senor fiir mein @obltbdtigfeitsteit
6uingen Diro?. ... Sd bGbe gebort,
man bringt i'm 10 ibtper mif oas SO.
bum binaufl" - .0as aIleroi1es |
Gber i'd tparne Gie: &er,n,ter brirt.
ssu Gle Jpn Gar ni6t nabxl@