The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-10-20
BY CLARENCE 3. KELIAND.

by the RegimentaI Commander.
ny CLARENCE y. KEI1T.AND..
Paris, Oct. 10 tby maill.--t was IN
tiny old town in Italy, kilometer's
nistAnt from the line OF the Pave.
and In it were qutrtered a regiment
Of the Arditi, those famous and fe-
rocious fighters who love the knife
And the bomb. but are az tempera-
mental a. opera singers ava not
expect to find there man who spoke
English, but as my car roAed into the
hne square, voice shouted
Yes, here comes my old college
chum. Hey. YOU
I stopped, Running madly towards
me was long, thin, lanky, brown
faced American in the uniform Of the
Y. N. c. A., He was glad. he was
overtoyed. He rushed to my chair and
shook my hand. So
Get out! Get right out! Say, but
I'm glAA to soc you. and want to
show you the works. Want you to
INJECT al my old college churns and
in the world. Say. where did you
blow In from? Hear about my BIZ
cycle ?" And all this in one breath.
What are you Doing here. any
wayw I asked him.
Working for my old college chuma.
the Ardtti. Say. 1 guess they amt
q CREST bunch. My old fraternity mate,
the colonel. gave me q new bicycle.
Yes. sir. Somebody swiped my old
One. and saw how was going to
walk. I'm working with about $4,000
troops and they're scattered. But as
noon ~ the colonel heard my bike was
gone he sent me . new one. One of
those military bikes that the ciciisti
use. Fold up In the middle. Say.
wasn't that nnc? Come on over to
my casa del scIdats. Show you a
ever saw. Gosh. I'm glad to see you.
Hatn't another American In miles.
But I get along. Never lonesome
Say. but these people are great
I got down and walked with him
10 his casa del soldats, which Is the
name given to Y. M. c. A. huts in
Italy. It was an old house which had
been turned into = eoldfers' club. and
rooms. Z music room with piano and
guitars and mandolina. and at the
hack . beautiful garden.
The boys come out here 1T night.
Full Of music. Play and play. All
college chums Of mine, every darn
one. And say! look who's here. MY
interpreter. Old college chum of
mime. Meet him. Great scout
couldn't do without him. Going to
have . concert tonight. Yes, sir
hired the cinema theater and the r.
M. c. A. troupe OF singers came
around. Got some Of the greatest OPP
EZRA singers in Italy. The army drafts
'em, and then lends EN- to the T.
NJ. c. A. to entertain the soldiers
Gosh. they like music
walked around the town with this
man from PittsbMrg. John Botsford
IL his name. He knew everybody. and
yelled at everybody and was yelled
hack at. Everybody was his old col
lege chum or hts fraternity mate. and
everybody seemed to love him. men.
women and children. / have never
seen such case of universal popu-
larity. And his stock OF Italian con-
sisted, as far m I could see, OF two
words, Mute buenc." He used them
overtime.
Eyes. cir. I know them all. All col
Here cAusnA tnEefhEr. But say great
| rs tee you. Going to stay. hatn't you?
Concert tonight. You'll want to see IT,
You know the r. ~. G. A. 10 mighty
strong with the army. Holds up the
morale. We entertain the soldiers and
give 'em athletics and post cards.
Say, they're crazy about post cards
these college chums OF mine. Give
AssAF millions OF Them
And the ofkcerv xnd, men are So
Nj over the country on INV hike. and
ha~s meat md races and setting
M exercises. The other day we had
r,sn tcna. rrs~arxs to the Duke a..
Ensta when they ret 10 him he
-.ve s~srv one NJ them = wrist watch
and tho winners all ret silver cigar
efte casea beSides. T1nc man. the duke.
ma rcIlarr ehun al mine..
Ana - he rattled aIonr. Suddenly
-. $4,000 swsv ana s.v him rrah
: centain end throw his arm about
NJ .houider. and nurnp his hand And
cc,,iA hear aoIA roIiere chun,. and
farnity mate, used again and
.rsir to~sthsr vrfth 4 rerfect han OF
.1,,Itr hmera.n
.sT.h. aS~rcr no,.fora svervhoav
49, rim" ..td the internreter al
-.y. mcvinr avrys husv re il.
Wcrk 1rom mcrnin- tilI night Never
sir~d on. the soldisrs and the ON
s.rs - hc x,crr. Tor them a. hard
49, 49, -r.n - -