davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Laclede blade., 1918-01-18
Service Flag Program

The service flag purcha sed by a
committee from the M. E. church
will be unfurled during an appro-
pirate program to begin at the
close of Sunday school at 1890
next Sunday, January 20. The
flag was received some time ago
but on account of the severe
weather the unwilling was delayed.
The flag is 3x5 feet and contains
26 stars, 25 for the boys who have
recently entered the service and a
larger silk star for General Perish
ing.
The following program will be
given:
Song, "Star Spangled Banner, "
school,
Salute to the flag.
Song, America. "
Vocal solo, Miss Winkelmyer.
dwelling of flag.
Reading of honor roll,
Song, Battle Hymn of the Re-
nnhlic -
The Laclede blade., 1918-01-18
Methodist Church Notes
T. E. Sisson. Pastor.

T. E. SisSon, Pastor.
Sunday school at 10: As; J. Paul
Jones, superintendent.
Preaching at 11:OO by DIR. G. J.
English, district superintendent.
Epworth League at 6:45.
At 1870 the pastor will give the
long deferred discourse on dancing.
The Laclede blade., 1918-01-18

While out rabbit hunting with
his son Tuesday near their home
on route two Walter Ratified had
a close shave when q ball from
a target rife struck him on the mp
per lip, Just below bis nose. max
ing a painful and quite ugly wound.
The Laclede blade., 1918-01-18
Report Of Missionary Society


Woman's Foreign Missionary So
ciety of. the Methodist Episcopal
church was organized in 1902 un-
der the pastorate of Rev. Cox, with
four members. namely, Mrs. Fannie
McGrew, Mrs. j. R. Wells, Mrs.
I. B. Siders and Mrs. j. H. Duck
worth. The first three members
named held the offices of president,
treasurer and secretary, respect
lively. Our membership has grad
ually increased until we now have
about thirty.
The pledge for membership is
prayer for the work and two cents
a week. For several years we have
contributed 500 a year to DIR. Agnes
Edmond's hospital in Chung Ching,
China. We have also maintained
four scholarships, 500 each, in the
girls school in Vikarabad, India,
This is the school of which Miss
Elizabeth Wells has charge, Most
of the girls in this institution have
been taken from most miserable
home surroundings. The records
of the girls who have gone out
from this school show that the $40
a year, which is the amount requir-
ed for the maintenance of a girl.
has brought vast returns. Many
of these girls have passed the gov
ernment examinations successfully.
Some of them have passed with
high honors and we may be sure
that no favors were shown them by
the Mohammedan examination
board. These same girls are now
out working among their own peo-
pie and are winning souls for
Christ by the thousands.
We also contribute $35 year for
the support Of the missionaries in
the Des Moines Branch.
Our annual thank offering of $50
a year goes to the general work.
This year a new work has been
given to our branch. One of our
schools in France has been turned
into an orphanage for the children
of those whose lives have been sac
rifced in the present war, and our
auxiliary has contributed to this
work.
Besides our own money. the Ep-
worth League has sent $5 thru our
auxiliary to DR.. Edmond's hospital.
In addition to the money which we
have given to the work of different
divisions of the society, we sent a
box to the girls school in Vikara-
bad, India.
The total amount of money
raised this year is approximately
$24O. Under the leadership of our
excellent president, Mrs. Bigger,
we hope to do better next year.
We wish to thank all those who
have made it possible for us to
carry on this work. We especially
wish to thank those outside of the
society who have contributed to
.our work. MARY F. BURKE,
Treasurer.
The Laclede blade., 1918-01-18
TOWN and COUNTRY
About Local People and Events and
Other Matters Of Interest

NelghOOrS FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
A real value! 2 cans Early June
Peas for 25 cents. Carothers &
Allen.
Harry Landree took two cars of
fat lambs to market Thursday
evening.
Another bargain! Old Fashion
Lye Hominy 10 cents the can.
Carothers & Allen.
A girl baby was. born to Mr.. and
Mrs. Chas. K. Dali, of route two,
last Tuesday.
Fresh cinnamon rolls Saturday
10 for 10 cents. Don't forget this
item in your order. Carothers &
Allen.
The Reading Circle will meet next
Tuesday evening with Mrs. A. j..
Caywood, Mrs. Edith Moore, lead
er of the lesson.
You can add years to your life
by eating whole wheat -four, Davis
Whole Wheat -four in 10 ID. sacks
65 cents. Carothers & Allen.
Blue D Meal now so cents for
an 81 lb. sack. This is undoubted-
ly the finest quality of meal you
ever used. Carothers & Allen.
Grover Peacher has his address
changed from route two to route
three he having moved onto the
West farm which he recently pur-
chased.
You can't tell Glendale OleO
from the finest quality Of butter if
the two were put side by side.
Conserve on this item, 35 cents the
10. Carothers & Allen.
Quality at a bargain price. l
lb. package Morning Glory coffee
for 25 cents. We guarantee this
equal to any 80 cent value bought
elsewhere Carothers & Allen.
Joy rides are now being taken
in sleighs instead of automobiles.
Not for many years has sleighing
been so good as now, but the
trouble is there is not many sleighs
ready for service.
Mrs. Liera Rauer, employed in
the Leader Office at Browning, got
her right hand caught in the job
press last week and so badly mash
ed that it was necessary to ampu-
tate all four fingers,
Get this! We will have an assort-
ment of Campbell's package cakes
Saturday. You can't bake them
as cheap as we can sell them.
Quality can't be beat. Is cents
each. Carothers & Allen.
The Bruner Red Cross will hold
a miscellaneous sale at the Bruner
school house on Friday evening of
this week. Hot lunch will be
served and everybody cordially in
vited. Proceeds for the benefit of
the Red Cross.
r. w. Wilson was over from
Brookfeld Tuesday on business
connected with his residence prop
erty vacated by Willis Stoddard
removing to Brookfeld. He rent
ed the place to q. ]. Griffith and
the family moved into it Wednes-
day.
Railroad business is being ham
pered on this division by shortage
of water. The water train is kept
constantly going between Brook
field and Locust creek but it can
not supply the needs at BroOk6eld.
Engines are being coupled togeth-
er in sections of a half dozen and
taken to the water station on LO
The Laclede blade., 1918-01-18
PARAGRAPHS
Brief Mention Of Those Who Come
and Go During the Week

Mrs. Joseph Mathiasch, Jr. and
son of Logansport, Ind, are Lere
visiting Joseph Mathiasch and
other relatives.
Mrs. c. B. Talbot and daught-
er, Miss Frances. returned home
Monday from visiting over Sunday
with relatives at Tina.
DR.. and Mrs. J. L. Burke went
to Meadville Thursday for an ex-
tended visit with their daughter.
Mrs. A. c. Lippitt and family.
Mrs. Ida Davis, district deputy,
has been in Carroll and Charlton
counties the past week in the in
terest Of the Royal Neighbor society
Visit our store Saturday and get
a slice of war bread. You want
to begin acquiring a taste FOR it
for it's coming. Carothers & Allen.
Mrs. C. V. Jennings returned
home Monday from spending sew
eral days with her father who is
quite sick at his home near Brown
ing.
Just the place for sleighing part
les to go on Friday night of this
week is to the Bruner school house
where the Bruner Red Cross will
hold miscellaneous sale and serve
hot lunch.
Mr.. and Mrs. Luke Piggott of
Forker and Mr.. and Mrs. P. F.
Weaver were dinner guests of Mr..
and Mrs. j. Q. Aber Wednesday,
the occasion being Mr.. Aber's 57th
birthday anniversary.
w. R. Kent of Osgood spent the
first of the week here with his wife
at the home of her parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. J. Knight. Mrs. Kent S here
helping to care for her mother who
is still quite i'll with but slight i'm
provement.
Mr.. VIM. E. McKinize and Miss
Clara E. Couch, both of Linneus,
were united in marriage at the Bap-
tist parsonage in Laclede last Tues
day morning, Rev. R. L. Stratton
officiating. The couple met here
by appointment, the bride coming
from Chicago where she had been
for several months. They will re-
side on a farm near Linneus.
Hon. j. G. Green and K. NJ.
Duncan of Browning we're in town
Monday and made THE BLADE a
social call. Mr.. Green was on his
way to attend the funeral of a rela-
tive at junction City, Kansas,
while Mr.. Duncan was going to
Kansas City to attend a convention
of farm implement dealers.
In a great many towns through
ont the country business houses
are closing each evening except
Saturday from one to two hours
earlier to conserve fuel and light.
There has bsen no serious shortage
of fuel in Laclede yet but it be-
hoOves everyone to be as saving as
possible. A continuation of cold
weather is making coal harder to
get by the dealers and the supply
may be cut off at any time.
In many places schools are being
continued six days in the week that
the same amount of work may be
done and the term ended earlier so
the boys may be free to engage in
farm work as soon as the season
opens. This seems TO be a sensible
thing to do in the face Of q scar
city Of labor Of eli kinds. The
matter is being considered By the
Laclede board bat 10 action has
The Laclede blade., 1918-01-18
ON LOCAL SUBJECTS
Local Items and Interesting Bits Of
News Of All Sorts

Mr.. and Mrs. E. E. Gould, who
have been in Colorado the past few
years, will return next month to
make this place their home again,
residing on the Gould farm just
west of town. This is good news
to their relatives and many friends
here.
There is to be an adjourned meet
ing of the Modern Woodmen camp
next Wednesday evening. Every
member who can should attend
this meeting that full set of Off
GERS may be installed. One appli-
cation for membership is also to be
presented,
On account of the films for "A
Slacker's Heart" being snowbOund
on western road the show billed
for the opera house on Thursday
night of this week was can
celled: However, the program.
will be given at some future date
as it is considered one of the best
features to be had.
Speaking of the present mail
service, the Daily Argus printed
Friday afternoon reached Laclede
Tuesday morning. Three days and
four nights travelling FIVE miles is
certainly going some" and equals
the record of a letter mailed at
Calvert, La, November 5, reach
ing this office twenty days later.
The late storm has reached
pretty we'll into the southlands.
A letter from the Benson family
at Alamogordo, New Mexico, says
it showed all one day there last
week hut it soon disappeared, leav-
ing more moisture on the ground
than any other time during the
winter.
Another LacIede boy has joined
the colors. Roy w. Sharp, son of
Mr.. and Mrs. Chas. T. Sharp of
route three, who has been at Fair
mont, MINI. the past year, writes
to have the address of his BLADE
changed to Fort Monroe, Va. He
is member of Battery B, Goth
Reg. G. A. G.
Rev. James N. Crutcher of Kan
sas City is billed for a lecture at
the Christian church next Monday
night. Rev. Crutcher has been
engaged in charity and social work
for a number of years and his Rd-
dress will be supplemented with
pictures of the state penal and
charitable institutions.
The oldest newspaper we have
ever had the opportunity of read
ing was copy of the Evangelical
Magazine and Gospel Advocate"
issued at Utica, N. Y, Friday,
January, 10, 1910, just 78 years
ago last Thursday. It is magazine
form, eight pages, three columns
to the page. Being a religious
periodical is did not devote much
space to the news of the day, its
columns being filled with articles
on religion. Among the list of
weddings of the week however was
that of the late Mrs. Catherine Nc
Lain, grandmother of Misses Cora
and Cassie Heath whr are preserV-
ing the paper among the family
keepsakes. Mrs. McLain made
her home here for many years,
nassipp away at the Heath home
several years ago, The paper was
issued weekly at $l.50 per year If
paid in advance and when q sub
scriher was Q year deIinanent it
Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1918-04-18

Pretty soon the cook poked his head
in the door and shouted: "Hey, Yank,
come out here and clean your dixie!"
I protested that I had wasted half
hour on it already, and had used up
my only remaining shirt in the at
tempt. With a look of disdain he ex-
claimed: "Blow me, your shirt! Why
in - didn't you use mud?'
Without word in reply I got busy
with the mud, and soon my dixie was
bright and shining.
Most Of the afternoon was spent by
the men writing letters home. used
my spare time to chop wood for the
cook and go with the quartermaster to
draw coal. I got back just in time to
issue our third meal, which consisted
Of hot tea. I rinsed out my dixie and
returned 1t to the cookhouse, and went
back to the billet with an exhilarated
feeling that my days labor was done.
I had fallen asleep on the straw when
once again the cook appeared in the
door Of the billet with: "Blime me, you
Yanks are lazy. Who In a-goin' to
draw the water for the mornin' tear
Do you think I'm a-goin' to? Well,
I'm not" and he left. filed the dixie
with water from an old squeaking well,
and once again lay down in the straw.
Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1918-04-18

g Qua CU.unih. 1liS was 10 taGc Ep
ARTILLERY formation" We divided into
small squads and went into the feids
on the right and left Of the road and
crpuched on the ground. No other
shells followed this salvo. 1t was our
first baptism by shell fire. From the
waist up / was all enthusiasm, but from
there down, everything was missing. I
thought should die with fright.
After awhile, we reformed into col
umns of tours, and proceeded on our
way.
About five that night, we reached the
ruined village of H, and I got my
first sight Of the awful destruction
caused by German Kultur.
Marching down the main street we
came to the heart Of the village, and
took up quarters in shellproof cellars
(shellproof until hit by shelD. Shells
Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1918-04-18
CHAPTER v.
Mud, Rats and Shells.

I must have slept for two or three
hours, not the refreshing kind that re-
suits from clean sheets and soft pill
lows, but the sleep that comes from
cold, wet and sheer exhaustion.
Suddenly, the earth seemed to shake
and thunderclap burst in my ears. l
opened my eyes-I was splashed all
over with sticky mud, and men were
picking themselves up from the bottom
of the trench. The parapet on my left
had toppled into the trench, completely
blocking 1t with wall Of tossed-up
earth. The man on my left lay still. i
rubbed the mud from my face, and an
awful sight met my gaze.-his bead
Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1918-04-18

moving. My rifle was lying across the
sandbagged parapet. I reached for 1t,
and was taking aim to fire, when my
mate grasped my arm, and whispered,
Don't fire." He challenged in low
voice. The reply came back instantly
from the dark forms:
"Shut your blinkin' mouth, you
hoomin' idiot; do you want us to click
1t from the Boches?"
Later we learned that the word, "No
challenging or firing, wiring party out
in 'front.'" had been given to the sentry
on our right, but he had failed to pass
it down the trench. An officer had over
heard our challenge and the reply, and
Immediately put the offending sentry
under arrest. The sentry clicked
twenty-one days on the wheel, that Is,
he received twenty-one days field pun
ishment No. l, or "crucifixion," as
Tommy terms it.
This consists of being spread-eagled
on the wheel of timber two hours a
day for twenty-one days, regardless Of
the weather. During this period, your
rations consist of bully beef, biscuits
and water.
A few months later / met this sentry
and he confided to me that since being
"crucified," he had never failed to pass
the word down the trench when so or
dered. In view of the offense, the
above punishment was very light, in
that falling to pass thezword down a
trench may mean the loss Of many
lives, and the spelling of some impor-
'ant entarnrise in No Mans Land.
Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1918-04-18

rne ax1e with cola wHter ana q rag,
and learned another maxim Of the
trenches-"It can't be done" I slyly
watched one Of the older men from
another section, and was Mortified to
see him throw into his dixie four or
FIVE double handfuls of mud. Then he
poured in some water, and with his
hands secured the dixie inside and out.
I thought he was taking an awful risk
Surprising the cook should have seen
himl After half an hour Of unsuc-
cessful efforts I returned my dixie to
the cook shack, being careful to put on
the cover, and returned to the billet.
Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1918-04-18

The greatest shock recruit gets
when he arrives at his battalion in
France is to see the men engaging in
"cootie" hunt. With an air Of con-
tempt and disgust he avoids the COM
pany Of the older men, until couple
Of days later, in torment of itching,
he also has to resort to shirt hunt,
or spend many a sleepless night Of
misery. During these hunts there are
lots Of pertinent remarks banded back
and forth among the explorers, such
as, "Say, Bill, I'll swap you two little
ones for big one" or, 1--WE got a
black one here that looks like Kaiser
Bill"
One sunny day in the front-line
trench, saw three officers sitting out
side Of their dugout ("cooties" are no
respecters Of rank; have even noticed
a suspicious uneasiness about certain
well-known generai), one Of them was
4 major, two of them were exploring
heir shirts, paying no attention to the
occasional shells which passed over
head. The major was writing letter;
every now and then he would lay aside
his writing-pad, search his shirt for a
few minutes, get an inspiration, and
then resume writing. At last he fin
!shed his letter and gave 1t to his "run-
aer." I was curious to see whether he
was writing to an insect firm, so when
the runner passed me / engaged him
In conversation and got glimpse at
the address on the envelope. 1t was
addressed to Miss Alice Somebody, in
London. The ''runner" informed me
that Miss Somebody was the majors
sweetheart and that he wrote to her
every day. Just imagine 1t, writing a
love letter during ''cootle" hunt; but
such is the creed Of the trenches.
Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1918-04-18
OVID TIL. I(6'
90
AN AlIERICAN SOLDIER
WHO WENT q -
AlIIlUl GUY Ef[pE.Y
I @IS7 eY |
ARTHUR GUY EfipEYl
MACHINE GUNNER SERVING N FRANCE

lie SaId, -Un, Jcs, JUs arcr
l answered, ''Oh, no, I'm not!'-But
I went.
We lined up outside with rifles and
Dayoneus, 1zU ROUNDS OF uInnunItIun,
wearing our tin hats, and the march
to church began. After marching about
five kilos, we turned off the road into
an open field. At one end Of this field
the chaplain was standing in Timber.
We formed a semicircle around him.
Overhead there was black speck cir
cling round and round in the sky. THIS
was German Fokker. The chaplain
had a book in his left hand-left eye
on the book-right eye on the airplane.
We Tommies were lucky, we had no
books, so had both eyes on the air.
plane.
After church parade we were
marched back to our billets, and pmyed
football all afternoon.
Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1918-04-18
CHAPTER III.
I 90 to Church.

Upon enlistment we had identity
disks issued to US. These were small
disks of red fiber worn around the neck
by means Of a string. Most Of the Tom
mics also used a little metal disk which
they wore around the left wrist by
means Of chain. They had previous
ly figured it out that If their heads
were blown off, the disk on the left
wrist would identify them. If they lost
their left arm the disk around the neck
would serve the purpose, but If their
head and left arm were blown off, no
one would care who they were, so 1t
did not matter. On one side Of the
disk was inscribed your rank, name,
number and battalion, while on the
other was stamped your religion.
G. of E., meaning Church Of Eng
land; R. c., Roman Catholic; W., Wes-
leyan; P, Presbyterian; but If you
happened to be an atheist they left 1t
blank, and just handed you pick and
shovel. On my disk was stamped G. Of
e. This Is how I got 1t: The lieuten-
ant who enlisted me asked my religion.
I was not sure of the religion Of the
British army, so I answered, "Oh, any
old thing" and he promptly put down
G. Of z.
Now, just imagine my hard luck. Out
Of five religions ! was unlucky enough
to pick the only one where chuSch
parade was compulsory
The next morning was Sunday. I
was sitting in the billet writing home
to my sister telling her Of my wonder
full exploits while under ffre-ail re-
cruits do this. The sergeant major put
his head in the door of the billet and
shouted: &C. of e. outside for church
parade!"
kept on writing. Turning to me, in
loud voice, he asked, "Empey, aren't
you G. of Ell"
answered, "Yep."
In an angry tone. he commanded,
'Dont you yep me. Say, Yes. ser
geant major"
II did so. Somewhat Modified, he
ordered, "Outside for church parade"
looked up and answered, II am
not going to church this morning"
Rockingham post-dispatch. [volume] (Rockingham, N.C.) 1917-1965, 1918-04-18

were constantly whistling over the vii
lage and bursting in our rear. search
ing for our artillery. ........
These cellars were cold, damp and
smelly, and overrun with large rats
big black fellows. Most Of the Tom
mics slept with their overcoats over
their faces. / did not In the middle
Of the night I woke up in terror. The
cold, clammy feet Of a rat had passed
over my face. I Immediately snoth-
cred myself in my overcoat, but could
not sleep for the rest Of that night.
Next evening, We toek over our sec
tor of the line. In single file we wend-
ed our way through zigzag COM
munication trench, six inches deep
with mud. This trench was called
"Whisky street." On our way up to
the front line an occasional flare Of
bursting shrapnel would light up the
sky and we could hear the fragments
slapping the ground above us on our
right and left. Then Fritz would
traverse back and forth with his type
writer" or machine gun. The bullets
made sharp cracking noise overhead.
The boy In front of me named Prem
tice crumpled up without a word. A
piece Of shell had gone through his
shrapnel-proof helmet. I felt sick and
weak.
In about thirty minutes we reached
the front line. 1t was dark as pitch.
Every now and then German star
shell would pierce the blackness out
in front with its silvery light. was
trembling all over, and felt very lonely
and afraid. All orders were given in
whispers. The company we relieved
filed past US and disappeared into the
blackness Of the communication trench
leading to the rear. AS they passed US,
they whispered, 'The best O. luck
mates"
sat on the fire step Of the trench
with the rest Of the men. In each
traverse two Of the older men had been
put on guard with their heads sticking
over the top, and with their eyes try
ing to pierce the blackness in mo
Mans Land" In this trench there
were only two dugouts, and these were
used by Lewis and Vickers machine
gunners, 80 1t was the fire step for
ours. Pretty soon 1t started to rain.
We put OIL our "macks," but they were
not much protection. The rain trickled
down our backs, and 1t was not long
before we were wet and cold. How ]
passed that night I will never know,
but without any unusual occurrence,
dawn arrived.
The word "stand down. was passed
along the line, and the sentries got
down off the fire step. Pretty soon the
rum issue came along, and 1t was O
GOdsend. 1t warmed our chilled bodies
and put new life into US. Then from
the communication trenches came
.dixies or iron pots, filed with steam
ing tea, which had two wooden stakes
through their handles, and were car
ried by two men. I filled my canteen
and drank the hot tea without taking
it from my lips. 1t was not long be-
fore I was asleep in the mud on the
fire step.
My ambition had been attained!
was In q IrOnt-line trench on the west
ern front, and oh, how wished 1 were
back in Jersey City.