Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1918-12-20
Copyright, 1917, by Tho Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate)

It was 1914, and the great world
war was on, and here was | in the
United States and neutral. For thir-
teen years I had been soldering but
had never been under fire. In my
imagination I could hear the guns
booming ON the western front. [ adj
nit 1 was a trifie afraid nevertheless
I had a great desire to get into the mix
up. How could I get over? I planned
out many ways, but none of them
were practical.
One day while walking down Green
witch street, New York, / passed an
employment agency. Staring me in
the face was a great flaring sign,
"Horses for France" Under this
E'Men Wanted" Here was my chance.
Upon returning to my office imme-
diately got in touch over the telephone
with two prominent men in New York
whom I knew to be distinctly pro-ally.
After outlining my desire, an appoint
ment was made for me to meet a GER
tain gentleman at the Hotel AstOr at
four o'clock that afternoon. met
him. He introduced me to a French
man. At that time in my eyes a
Frenchman was a hero, man to be
looked up to, man fighting in the
Great Cause. But now Frenchman
to me is more than a hero. After
being introduced went up into the
Frenchmanfs room and talked over
the matter of horses for France for
about twenty minutes.
Upon leaving the Frenchman I was
told to report to him three days later,
at the same time and place. I left,
bubbling over with enthusiasm and
anticipation.
During this interval of three days
mapped out story of my life to pre-
sent to him upon our second interview.
The eventful day at last came, and
once more was closeted with him. /
started to tell him my story. He
interrupted me by waving his right
hand to the right and left. 1t re-
minded me of the butts on target
range during rifle practice, when the
man marking the target wigWags a
miss to the firing line My heart sank,
Then he spoke, and I was carried
from dependency to the greatest
height of expectation. His words:
pardon me, monsieur, already
know your life" and in an amazingly
short time he told me more than ]
knew about myself. I had been care
fully Investigated.
My instructions received from him
are confidential so I will not so into
them. Anyway, he handed me an en-
velope and told me to follow out care
fully all details as contained therein.
/ Immediately went back to my of
fee, opened the envelope and on
typewritten sheet / read: Report at
Goldsmith's Employment agency. No.
- Greenwich street. Ship as an
ordinary horseman and during voyage
carefully follow the verbal instruc-
lions received by you during our in,
terview, making careful note Of al de
tails Immediately after happening. Be
cautious in doing this. Upon landing
in France report to the prefecture of
police, Bordeaux, and to the letter
obey his instructions. Good luck"
I went home and put on my oldest
clothes-an old black suit, olive drab
shirt, pair of heavy army shoes, and
a wooden cap. I had let my beard grow
and certainly looked rough.
In passing through City Hall park,
New York, one sees many derelicts
of the human race sitting on the
benches.- I sat down between two of
these wrecks of humanity and en-
gagged them in conversation, trying to
blend into their atmosphere. About
ten minutes later a policeman came
past and told the three of us to move
on. 1 sIouched away with the other
two. Telling them that / was going
out "panhandling," took my leave, but
not before one of them made an APP
pealing and successful touch for a
nickel. The method used by him in Sc
curing that nickel would have done
credit to the greatest financiers in the
country in putting through deal in
volving millions.
Going down Greenwich street,
slouching along, looking at the ground,
ran plump into q young lady of my
acquaintance. l had a feeling of af-
lection for this particular young lady,
but it soon died out upon hearing her
remark as I collided with her, If you
cannot look where you care going, |
will have you arrested" OF course,
she did not recognize me and / took
no pains to argue the matter with her.
/ was glad enough to stink by.
When / came to the agency there
was long line~of buns, two and three
deep, trying to ship as horsemen for
France.
1t would be impossible to get a
rougher and more unkempt gathering
of men. 1t looked as If some huge
giant had taken a fine comb and care.
fully combed the cutters of New
York.
I fell into this line and waited my
s---- --vy~--s-~-..,s.s.--