The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1918-06-14
CHAPTER XVIII.
staged Under Fire.

3s&W&& 9U3&S FfF@s
Three days after the incident just re-
lated our company was relieved from
the front line and carried. We stayed
Ia reserve bIliets for about two weeks
when We received the welcome news
that our division would so back OF the
line ito rest billets." We would re-
main 10 these biliets for at least two
months, this In order 10 be restored TO
our full strength by drafts OF recruits
from Blighty.
Everyone was happy and contented
at these tidings; ali you could hear
around the blllets was whlstling and
singing. The day after the receipt OF
the order we liked for Ave days, max
ing an average of about twelve kilos
per day until we arrived at the small
town Of o..
1t took us about three days to get
settled, and from then on our cushy
time started. We would parade from
s.45 10 the morning until IL noon.
Then except for an occasional blllek
or brigade guard we were on our own.
For the first four or Ave afternoons
spent my time In bringing up to date
my neglected correspondence.
Tommy loves to be amused, and be-
Ing Yank, they turned to me for
something new In this line. taught
them how 10 pitch horseshoes. and this
game made a great hit for about ten
days. Then Tommy turned to Amer
/ lea for new diversion. / was up in
the air until happy thought came to
me. Why not write sketch and break
Tommy In as an actor7
/ One evening after flights out" when
you are not supposed to talk, i impart-
ed my scheme In whispers to the sec
ton. They eagerly accepted the idea
OF forming stock company and
could hardly walt until the morning
for further details.
After parade. the next afternoon
was almost mobbed. Everyone in the
section wanted part In the proposed
sketch. When informed them that 1t
would take at least ten days Of hard
work to write the plot, they were bit
terly disappointed. Immediately got
busy, made desk out OF biscuit tins
In the corner Of the billet, and put up
Sign "Empey 4 Wallace Theatrical
Co." About twenty of the section,
upon reading this sign, immediately
applied for the position OF office boy.
accepted the twenty applicants. and
sent them ON scouting parties through
out the deserted French village. These
parties were to search all the attics for
discarded civilian clothes, and any
thing that we could use in the props
Of our proposed company.
About five that night they returned
covered with CRIME and dust, but load
ed down with a miscellaneous assert
ment of everything under the SUM-
They must have thought that I was
going 10 start department store
Judging from the different things they
brought back from their piliage.
After eight days constant writing
completed two-act farce comedy
which | called "rhe Diamond Palace
saloon" Upon the suggestion OF one
Of the boys In the section sent a proof
of the program to printing house IL
London. Then assigned the different
parts aud started rehearsing. DaviC
Relasco would have thrown up hi
hands In despair at the material whiel
l had 10 use. Just imagine trying &
teach Tommy, with a strong coekne,
accent. 10 impersonate a Bowery tougl
or Southern negro,
Adjacent to our billet was an opel
heid. We got busy at one end OF It AM
constructed stage. We secured tn
lumber for the stage by demolishin
an old wooden shack in the rear o
our billet.
The first scene was supposed to reT
= resent street on the Bowery in NeN
IT York, while the scene Of the secon
act was the interior Of the damon
ir Palace saloon, also on the Bowery.
e In the play | took the part of Alb
. Switch. n farmer. who had come froI
Pump&lnville Center. Tenn, to max
u his arst visit 70 New York.
2 In the first scene Abe Switch meet
= the proprietor OF the Diamond PalaC
er saloon. a ramShaekle affair which
:, the owner was financial loss,
The proprietor's name was Tol
y Twlstem. hts bartender being name
Fillem Up.
y After meeting Abe, Tom and Files
:. Up persuaded him TO buy the plae
:. pralsing IL to the skies and tellin
~ wondreus tales OF the money take
over the bar.