The Springdale news. [volume] (Springdale, Ark.) 1887-1990, 1918-02-22
NOTES FROM
CAMP PIKE
Er" in {. Funk Writes of Y. NC A
and Other Activities at Camn
Pike


tBy Erwin Funk
These are busy days with the arrny
boys at Camp Pike After tuo
months Of forced inactivity dino ~
the weather conditions. during which
period the boys have done ijttle -
ne real drilling the camp is fairly
dry again and the officers are nush.
ing the men to the very limit Ia make
up for lost time Squad drill has
been kept up most Of the time. and
the boys and officers have been yet
ting lot Of theory, but now they are
out by companies, hattalions and req
lments, and are getting ready for
the rifle range Time IS most nre-
elous commodity when a nation ia
preparing million men for the hat.
tie line but # there is anyone in he
world who can get more hours out Of
day or more minutes out Of an
hour, than top sergeant from the
regular army ! don't want him for a
boss, And that IS where the ton
sergeaats at Camp Pike come from
Bur the work IS welcomed By most
at the men. There are men here who
have been II quarantine ever since
their arrival last fall, and they wei
come anything that will give them
change in the daily arogram. 1t Is
small wonder that lot OF the North.
ern boys are cussing Arkansas for
they hold the state responsible for
the weather. the quarantine and the
occasional grouchy officer. They did
MT like our dust, they didn't like our
snow, and they don't like our mud.
Some Of these days they are going to
look buck with longings for our Ar.
ansas spring. but you can't make
them see 1t than way Just now.
The Y NJ. c. A buildings are
crowded theses days-or rather ev-
enings, for they have no time to visit
them during the day. When darkness
puts an end TO the drill most Of them
are too tired TO even want to come
to town and soldier has to be tired
or dead broke when the bright lights
Of Little Rock have no attraction for
him So he naturally gravitates to
the to read, or to write, or to
play games 20 listen to concerts or
lectures, and many attend the var
ieus classes and religious services
4 word as TO the reading matter at
Camp Pike A lot Of people are
sending magazines and periodicals.
there but there IS really toe much
cheap stuff and not enough Of the
better class. The Saturday Evening
Posts have been welcome, but they
get too many Of them; especially the
ones of last year Ii you send Posts
don't send older than a month back.
There are literally tons OF Posts
stacked around the post office and
other buildings Don't send maya
zines that are made up chiefly Of
continued stories. for the chances are
against the soldier being able to get
all the copies Don't send dirty or
torn copies. If the boys are entitled
to anything. they are to the very
best you can send Don't send them
by express or freight collect for
there IS no one here with any money
- purpose.
toi b. YOU have seen some Of
IL Pe RIA 1. and some me, of the the
me fyal foolish nlS'0C char rn1ll - nav
been made against the Red t.'ss.
the \ NJ. c. A., the medical officers,
and other departments Of the army
and army work. But this is very no
ticeable- the stories de not come
from the soldiers, but are the work
Of the ignorant and careless. or of
an organized enemy propaganda,
When you hear one Of these stories,
or read one Of them, just refer 1t to
the first soldier You meet. Or write
to your own boy They know. And
We don't believe they will hesitate TO
tell you the truth But to date ev-
cry such charge has been disapproved
by the men themselves
1t has been freely predicted that
the stiff white collar that has SO long
been the emblem Of mans servIlity to
fashion in the social and business
world, is going to get real setback
when the war is over So many men
and officers will come out OF the ar
my addicted to the soft SHIRT habit
that it may create a new style all over
the country It Will be remembered
that the Civil War made whlskers
popular because the soldiers had no
opportunity to shave and when they
went home after the war closed, they
had found what saving II was IN time
effort and neckties, so for genera
ton or two Whiskers grew IN proius-
ion. Invention OF the safety razor
and spread Of the belief that "nis-
kers may serve as lurking place
for germs will prevent any such re-
petition.
II would be fine thing II every
one in the state could visit lamp
Pike believe that II IS really
worth considerable sacrifiee 70
come even though you may have no
relatives here, or do not expect y
have. 1t really doesn't give much
idea OF the place to say that there are
more than a thousand buildings OF
that SO many tons Of nails or so many
million feet Of lumber we're USED
Even statement that there are oo,.
00O men can't convey the real splii,tt
III the camp. As words fail To yea
he real grandeur Of Niagara or the
other scenic wonders OF the "otia' -
words fail to bring home the itet.ns
that comes over you 40 - II,
the drilling men and realize Just "h"'
they are doing .-,...o
Women visitors are made welcome
AT the Y. W. G. A Hostess HOUSE
inst a few steps from the depot, ana
i Is a beautiful homelke place IN
fact ii ia the most attractive h'aee
= camp Pike and lot Of fellows
,,..zratt mo- that they cannot man,
afa some excuse that would
tax !, {. Il ihem there oftener A ma tI.,I
e and t ss@ e. assistants. including
.raineEaarse are=in attendance a az
il times and every mother, wife or
sister SIS IS assured of hearty welcome lsfdiSr
Tbey viii HEN you find the soldier 1bia
You want to see and if it i possible Sr;il;es,,
for him to &c away from his drllisH ,s
or his work aill nave HIM Drought
to the House