Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-12-10
HERE AND THERE.

No. you can't get your boy off from
the army and you may as well not
bother about 1t. The secretary of war
not long ago gave out some bunk to
the effect that individual soldiers who
are needed by their employers in bus
inesses which, since the war began,
have been classed as essential, might
be discharged instanter upon the ap-
plication of such employers; but that
was for public consumption mainly.
There have been orders and orders on
the subject, one order conuadicting
another. until nobody seems to know
which order takes precedence. But
none of the orders really mean any
thing. The commanding officers take
the position that the release Of indi-
vidual soldiers calls for too much
paper work." that each and every SOL
der can make out as good a case
why he should be discharged as any
other soldier. and to discharge one
soldier on a separate showing would
mean that all the others would have
to be discharged on separate show
ngs with the result that the labor
and trouble connected with demobili-
zation would be multiplied Indefinite
ly. Go to the captain and nc canno'
shake you off he will send you to the
major and go to the major and he will
tell you that the authority Is still
higher up. Go to the secretary Of
war, and If he tells you anything at
all, it will be to go back to the cap
tain, and there you are. The whole
conscript army Is "stalling' now.
There is more or less pretense OF
work in the stockades and among the
light duty" squads" but 1t does not
amount to much. All the boys want
out and they are not thinking of any
thing else. Some have been lucky
enough to get discharged one way or
another: but they have been the ex-
ceptions. The only thing for those
interested to do is TO wait.
Here and There was q witness to
quite u pretty little incident on
Southern train No. 80 between Green
vile and Blacksburg last Friday
loaded with soldiers who had just
been discharged from the development
battalions at Camp Wheeler, near Ma
con, Ca, the day before. They in
cluded officers and privates, and gen.
orally were really fine looking set OF
men, notwithstanding their real or
supposed physical deficiencies. Some
of them were tired and sleepy; but
these included only small per cent
of the whole, most Of them being very
much awake and alive to their sur
roundings. Toward the rear end Of
one OF the long coaches, there was an
especially bright bunch OF what look
ed like college graduates, or at least
young men above the average OF or
dinary standards. Internationally they
were breaking out in rollicking popu-
lar songs, the merit Of which seemed
TO be attested by the close attention
that the people In the car, civilians
as well as soldiers, tried to give above
the rattle and roar OF the train.
Among the new passengers who
boarded the train at Spartanburg was
a bunch OF Converse girls. bound .or
home because of the premature clos
ing of the college on account OF au.
The soldiers looked at the pretty
girls. yes; and the pretty girls looked
at the soldiers, yes. The train, IN
Guiding the Pullmans at the rear. was
crowded, two and three to the seat,
with many standing in the aisles, and
there was not much prospect OF ac-
commodation for the girls, except
through the courtesy Of the soldiers,
but the girls were soon seated along
both sides Of the aisle up about the
centre Of the car. This was accom-
plished without the help OF the rear
end chorus, already referred to, but 1t
should be understood that the boys
back there had not had a show. 1t
was not long until some Of the girls
and some Of the soldiers were get
ting quite friendly-no. not long.
But that Is a matter OF course and It
has nothing to do with this story.
The little diversion over and the train
again rafting and roaring on its way
like a cyclone, the rear-end chorus re-
sumed its amusement with II can't
get up" followed by Hail, hail. the
gangs all here!" The first song ap-
peared to start little commotion
among the Converse girls, and the
beginning of the next left no doubt
of that appearance. Whether spon-
taneously or by individual suggestion,
Here and There cannot say: but any
how, the next thing he noticed was
a half a dozen or more girls holding
what looked like a conference in the
aisle. and presently they commenced
with Three cheers for Converse.
followed by Germany Can't Come
Back" to the tune of the "Old Gray
Mare" There was handclapping and
applause from soldiers and civilians
In all parts Of the car, after which
the soldier chorus answered with
Beautiful Kay Pee" parody on
Beautiful Katy" The girls sang.
she's Got Pep Every Step and the
soldiers returned with Where do We