The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-09-17

posted up that some chap who got a
decision in one of the boxing rings the
night before challenges all corners; 1t
Is typewriter on Red Triangle sta.
tionery. A checker champion gets the
"Y" man to write out and post o chal.
ienge for him. In all the several divi-
sions of the crowded ship-for our
ships must be crowded to get men
enough to Europe for a quick finish
of their big job-a photograph APP
pears at unexpected times of the day
or evening. Down In a packed hatch
way a white curtain goes up and al
most before the men realize 1t a NOV
ing picture show, with the latest and
best films, is going at full clip right
down I'm their bedroom.
Blasts of band music strike thou
sands of tickled ears some evening or
afternoon. This mea that, with the
permission of the commander of the
troops, the "Y" man has dug the in
struments of a regimental band out of
the hold and has put the whole happy
band onto his program.
Mysteriously there have appeared
among the men sheets on which are
printed short lessons in French
French of the sort they'll need. These
are studied without fail.
instruction as Well.
"There will be a ~stereopticon lee
ture on France on the deck this eve
ning," Is a notice that attracts atten-
ton. On the decks that evening the
young Americans hear a first-class IL
Illustrated lecture about the country
to which they are going. Before their
trip is ended the boys who are inter-
ested enough to attend will have heard
lectures of this sort on France, Bel
GUM. England and Italy.
Every now and then, in some mys-
FERROUS fashion, a big "sing-song" Is
started. Early in the voyage each
man was given a book of songs, on
which was the Red Triangle. There
are evenings when the spirit of song
overwhelms almost everybody on the
ship, Ii Gems. A gargantuan orgy OF
singing ensues. Not every nan OF the
thousands can gather in the same
place, so overflow singsongs take
place. As many as six different sing
songs have been going on at n time
on the same deck, In the case of one of
our largest transports. It's probably
the most music that old Neptune eve
heard. When a fellow feels like sing
ing he's got to sing and that's all there
is to it. If the feeling takes several
thousand young fellows at the same
time, what's going to be done about
1t? It's got to come out; and there
you are. Not long ago 1t Is said that
on the Atlantic, in different spots,
there were 100000 young Americans
bound for Europe. Beyond any doubt
1t is the biggest cargo the Atlantic
v bore on it's great breast and all
the great wet pathway was n long
echo of There's a Long. Long Trail"
"Over There" "Good-by, Broadway"
and "Long Boy"
Sour Pickle the Cure.
After a few evenings some knight of
the boxing gloves has begun to show
something better than average form
possible champions begin to loom on
the horizon. AT least, as the boxing
begins to assume a tournament form,
with some two or three men putting
down all Corners, the young men begin
to insist on a championship bout.
There's a big day when that happens,
Tho hnnI stCaIf mill hn ont Ia Fall
glory. Every inch of deck, every spar
and every hanging-on place will be
filled. The two champions will be
cheered like fighters In a worlds
championship event as they climb into
the ring. The band will play. The
fight will start. And, until one or the
other goes down and the victor is ac-
claimed the best man on the ship, not
a boy will think of those things that
60 ~ break up morale.
The days of s~easickness come, too.
With seasickness comes a homesick-
ess. There is one treatment, from
the practiced Y. M. G. A. mans stand
point, for both these illnesses, and that
is--a big slice of Soul pickle. Part of
the outfit Of every "Y" man on the
sea-and there are varying standard
outfits, ranging from $3.50 to $500 In
value-is a huge bottle OF sour pickles,
the sourer the better.
Singing, fighting, games, are good
representatives. Of s~easickness, but some
times the young men become very Ill,
and detected.
BY the time the troopship has land
ed In Europe the boys have got used
to the feel of being out Of their own
country. They have discovered that
the good old song, "Over There"
sounds just as well over there as 1t
does over here. They have played
and sung their way across, without
chances for moping pr worrying.
The ocean-going ~" bridges the gar
between the "Y" service in the Ameri-
a camp and In the battle zone. II
makes 1t possible to say that every
inch Of the soldier boys way, from
the time he goes to the camp In Amer
lea nm tO the time he comes back