The Benson signal., 1918-03-23
With smile, I replied, 'Well, it's ND

Then was taken before the doctor
and passed as physically fit, and was
issued a uniform. When l reported
back to the lieutenant, he suggested
that, being an American, go on re-
cruiting service and try to shame some
of the slackers into joining the army"
Gall you have to do," he said, ''is to
60 out on the street, and when you see
young fellow in mufti who looks
physically fit, just stop him and give
him this kind Of a talk: Aren't YOU
ashamed of yourself, Britisher, phys
ically fit, and in mufti when your king
and country need you? Don't you
know that your country is at war and
that the place for every young BritOn
is on the firing line? Here 1 am, an
American, in khaki, who came four
thousand miles to fight for your king
and country, and you, as yet, have not
enlisted. Why don't you join? Now
is the time
'This argument ought to get many
recruits, Empey, so go out and see
what you can do."-~
He then gave me a small rOsette Of
red white and blue ribbon, with three
little streamers hanging down. This
was the recruiting insignia and was
to be worn on the left side of the cap
Armed with swagger stick and my
patriotic rosette, went out into Tot
tenham Court road in quest of cannon
fodder.
Two or three poorly dressed civil
ians passed me, and although they ap-
peared physically fit, said to myself,
"They don't want to join the army
perhaps they have someone dependent
on them for support" so I did not ac-
cost them.
Coming down the street I saw
young dandy, top hat and all, with
fashionably dressed girl walking be-
side him. muttered, "You are my
meat" and when he came abreast of
me stepped directly in his path and
stopped him with my swagger stick,
saying:
"You would look fine in khaki; why
not change that top hat for a steel
helmet? Aren't you ashamed of your
self, husky young chap like you in
mufti when men are needed in the
trenches? Here I am, an American,
came four thousand miles from Ogden,
Utah, just outside of New York, to
fight for your king and country. Don't
be Stacker, buck up and get into uni
form; come over to the recruiting Of
flee and I'll have you enlisted"
He yawned and answered, II don't
care if you came forty thousand miles,
no one asked you to-" and he walked
on. The girl gave me a sneering look;
was speechless.
Irecruited for three weeks and near
ly got one recruit.
This perhaps was not the greatest
stunt in the world, but 1T got back at
the officer who had told me, "Yes, we
take anything over here" had been
spending good lot of my recruiting
time in the saloon bar of the Wheat
Sheaf pub (there was very attractive
blonde barmaid, who helped kill time
I was not as serious in those days as
I was q little later when / reached
the front)-well, it was the sixth day
and my recruiting report was blank.
I was getting low in the pocket-bar-
maids haven't much use for anyone
who cannot buy drinks-so / looked
around for recruiting material. You
know q man on recruiting service gets
"bob" or shilling for every recruit
he entices into joining the army, the
recruit is supposed to get this, but he
would not be a recruit if he were wise
to this fact, would he?
Down at the end of the bar was a
young fellow in mufti who was very
patriotic-he had about four "Old
Six" ales aboard. He asked me If he
could join, showed me his left hand,
two fingers were missing, but I said
that did not matter as 1--WE take any
thing over here" The left hand is
the rife hand as the piece is carried
at the slope on the left shoulder. Near
ly everything in England is "by the
left" even general traffic keeps to the
port side.
I took the applicant over to head
quarters, where he was hurriedly ex-
amined. Recruiting surgeons were
busy in those days and did not have
much time for thorough physical exam
nations. My recruit was passed as
eft" by the doctor and turned over to
corporal to make note Of his scars.
I was mystified. Suddenly the corpo-
raj burst out with, "Blime me, two Of
his fingers are gone" Turning to me
he said, "You certainly have your
nerve with you, not 'alf you amt, to
bring this beggar in.''
The doctor came over and exploded,
"What do you mean by bringing in
man in this conditiOnT
Looking out Of the corner of my eye
1 noticed that the officer who had re-
cruited me had joined the group, and
I could not help answering, "Well, sir.
I was told that you took anything over
here"
I think they called it yankee i'm
nudence." ANYHOW it ended my recruit