Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-01-16
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y. MAIL TIME AT CAMP. j.
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|. Columbia, Dec. 31.-Editor Keo-
wee Courier: This is the second time
have attempted, since l came to
Camp Jackson on the 10th Of Sep
tember, to write to the beloved old
paper that used to read so much.
So If you can spare the space I will
try to give YOU some idea Of email
time" with us here at the camp.
"NIail Time
out at Camp Jackson Is an occasion
when all the men, by one impulse,
are drawn to the postman and listen
with eager ears for the calling Of
their names. In each face there is a
story as the stack OF mail dwindles
and the hopes Of each rises or sinks.
Then the last letter Is in the box
and the mail man turns away from
his task; and there are but two
classes Of individuals to be SEEN
the lucky and the unlucky ones. The
appearance OF their faces will tell the
story of whether or not the mail man
has been kind with "the boys" Even
the important function Of eating
must give way to that Of going for
the mail.
.
to be a signal for general move-
nem toward he rows Of piGeonhulos,
WhNrc they eagerly crowd about one
bags ct mail, There is a hNsh, and
for briof sine the sound OF o pin
railing could be- hoarG. The FIRST
letter goes into the box. There Is q
demonstration of the reflex action,
for instantly the face of some soldier
| is lighted with smile. AS other let
| ters are posted the number of smiles
| increase.
To an outsider there can be no ap-
probation Of the meaning of "mail
| time" The sound of scurrying feet
means nothing to him until he sees
the look on the faces of those boys
as they crowd about the mail box.
| When one is illumined with interest,
| the average person will pause, and
| the longer he gaZes the deeper will
| become his interest. Even when the
mail is posted the thought Of those
boys, wide-eyed and with rapidly
beating hearts, Is a picture not soon
to be forgotten.
| The contents of the letters, it
would seem from observation, vary
greatly, for upon some faces there is
| every appearance OF favorable news;
in other instances there is that sad
| look which tells, much as a mute per-
son might, that the Intelligence Is not
all that could be desired.
There Is neatly addressed letter,
plainly showing the touch OF the fem
mime hand. No mind reader is re-
quired to tell that the "girl back
home" has gladdened the heart OF
| the absent lover. Others may be
seen, written in a manner which
shows a slight trembling and appar-
ent nervousness which cannot be con-
cealed. Looking again it will be seen
| that there Is trace Of moisture in
the eyes Of the reader. Something
mother has written has touched the
young, tender heart.
Mail time Is over, and every one
turns away to awit the coming Of the
next mail. The same thing is then
| repeated. Each day 1T is the same;
the same little comedies, the same
little tragedies are witnessed about
| the mail boxes.
Some Of these days a Riley or a
Kfpling Is going to- chance by on
some such occasion, and there will be
one of the greatest poems yet pro-
duced. Only a master hand could
picture the pathos of 1t ALL
Yours sincerely,
Ruglas w. Burgess.
Supply Co. 318, Field Artillery,
Camp Jackson, S. G.
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