Gilpin observer., 1918-07-04
DRESSMAkER ONCE,
uSEsBAY0NETN0 NOW
Our National Army Is a PoIygIot
Organization.
FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE
Anecdotes illustrating How Sons Of
Many Nations Take to Soldiers Life
In the United States Army-Larss
Part Of Time Taken Up In saluting
Calling Out the Guard for the
Commanding Officer.


Every person who has written ten
words about our National army has
commented on its pOlyglot complexion,
its sons Of many nations. its children
Of two hemispheres and other smooth
sounding phrases. Its men also have
been drawn from all walks Of life,
some Of which are conducive to any
thing except fighting, writes Junius B.
Wood In the Chicago News.
One night a general staff officer was
inspecting the dark trenches in the
American sector northwest Of Toul.
Earlier In the evening there had been
. brush with the enemy. machine guns
still were popping and everybody was
straining his eyes out over No Mans
Land hoping for some shadowy form
to shoot at. The officer was almost
upon soldier before the latter turned
and mildly whispered Haiti"
Keep watch here and don't let
anybody get as close as l am before
you halt him." said the officer. "a
Hun might have your rife before you
know what was happening"
BY this time the soldier was speech
less. The officer started to put him at
his ease, noY that the man was prop
erly on the alert.
"where did you come from7" asked
the officer.
"San Francisco. SIR" replied the SOL
der.
II know that city well. Where did
you live?" the officer queried.
By this time the man was at his
ease and launched into a description Of
the surroundings Of Golden Gate ave
nue. and Kearney street.
"And what was your business
therer asked the other native son.
Ladies' dressmaker. SIR" replied
the soldier.
1t is a big transition from an adept
in gently sticking pins so as not to
spoil fussy lady's fitting to fero-
ciOus charger jabbing bayonet
through mans body. but 1t had been
made In 4 few weeks.
The. Question Of salutes,
A large part Of q soldiers life is
taken up in saluting. He must salute
every officer he meets. Usually the
officers susceptibility to salutes varies
In inverse goemetrical ratio to the
length Of his commission. A "bawling
out" prompt and severe may be ex-
pected II he neglects to salute SHAVE
tail" lieutenant. especially II he is in
the medical corps. They say In the
army that a medical corps officer
may forget his pills. his bandages and
his instruments. but he never forgets
his "three Ss"-sword. spurs and sa-
lutes. An older officers arm usually
aches with years Of saluting and he
II not looking for them. However. 1t
often happens that soldier who can
recognize major a block away has
such poor eyesight that he does not
see lieutenant when he passes him
on the street.
But all these petty evasions Of dis
cipline vanish when the soldier is on
duty. There he Is away from the
hurly-burly Of the street and all Is
strict business. Officers are fewer and
he saiutes them all. II he Is on guard
he clicks his heels together and brings
his rifle to attention. holding It there
until the salute Is acknowledged. In
cidentally the saluting requirement 10
not all on one side. II an officer fails
70 return a soldiers salute the latter
has a right to call his attention to
the oversight and regulations require
that the officer retrace his steps and
give the salute.
A well-meaning soldier. inclined to
be absent-minded about saluting, was
on guard In front Of a regimental head
quarters one day. The officer Of the
day. particularly anxious to have a
trim. military appearance. gave him a
personal warning.
without saluting them" said the off,
Ger.
| The soldier paced back and forth.
saluting occasionally. Suddenly he no.
ticed that the colonel had walked past
him. He had not saluted.
Here. here. wait a minute" shout
ed the excited soldier.
The surprised colonel turned
around. His thoughts had been on SO
many other things that, he had not
! noticed the sentry. much less the fall
ure to salute. NervOusly the dough
boy" clicked his heels together,
/ brought the rife to an exact perpendic-
ular In front Of his nose and completed
his idea Of his duty by dismissing the
amazed colonel with:
snow you may pass. siri"
Calling Out the Guard.
One day high ranking command
ing officer was inspecting q division
training area. The sharpness Of his
eyes was byword IN the army and
the officers at one billeting cantonment
were determined to have everything
up to the mark. though satisfied his