The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1918-03-14

seems to me the good things as l see
them. Saying nothing of the evil
and undesirable influences which are
at work here, as is everywhere, l want
to say that army life seems to have
tendency to make one to allow
themselves to resort to these bad in
fuences, much more so than In civil
life. 1t is for this reason that 1t
seems necessary to look to the high
ideals in everything. In my giving
you the good as l see it here, l would
not have you think all is sunshine
and that men are contented to be here
and made soldiers. Certainly being
made a soldier does seem to destroy
ones future prospects in life and it
is for this reason most men seem to
be disconnected.
Ny first impression after arriving
here was the opportunity of meeting
and coming in personal contact with
so many different men, from so many
different parts of the country and hav-
ing followed so many lines of work.
All this in itself is a schooling.
want to say that l have met some
fine young men and feel fortunate
in having their fellowship.
Next was the way in which the
government has of handling men, of
euuipping, caring for and the way in
which men are trained for warfare.
This l want to say is carried on in a
great and we'll planned system, which
seems to be gradually improving in
its methods. The many things which
have gone through here all seem to
impress some certain meaning to me.
The physical examinations, the state
ments one make before officials, the
weekly inspections as to our cleanll-
ness and care of things We are respon-
sible for-all seem to demand the
truth, to be clean and be ever ready
at any and all times. So it seems to
me that while this is the demand of
the war department of the United
States, so likewise is the demand of
God, our creator.
There is one icident here which to
me is amusing, and that is men stand
ing at attention when an officer comes
in on US when we are in our squad
room. Standing at attention In this
case means that when an officer comes
in. the first man to see him is to call,
Attention." Then all the men are to
stand at attention. Standing at atten-
ton is standing erect and being at
tentive. Well, it is sure amusing to
have an officer come in on, say, some
40 or so men, some talking, some jok-
ing, laughing, readig, cleaning their
rifles and some lying on beds resting.
Some fellow who sees him first cries
out Attention." Instantly the noise
stops and every man is standing erect
and attentive. All this is done so
quickly and as you look about and see
the different expressions on their
faces you can't help but feel amused
and still draw from it some good.
| will say there exists here a fell
lowship, a feelig of sympathy toward
each other, also dependency upon
each other, which is not found in civil
life. Life here is to us what we make
it for ourselves and the other fellow.
In all, it is surprising to see how well
the men get along together.
A great deal, it seems to me, can
be said in appreciation and praise of
the work of the Y. NJ C. A. Also the
Red Cross, though its work | am not
very familiar with, but realize what
could be its part later on.
The Y. NJ. c. AS purpose and work
IS to keep up the morale of the men,
to furnish a place of recreation, and
20 bear in the minds of men the worth |
and necessity of christianity. They
ire certainly doing a great work.
To me it seems all this good we
an see in mems lives, in almost every
hing, this brotherly love towards 9TH
,rs, this cooperation, this aggressive,
decisive spirit, this self-sacriicing ser
ice to duty and trust in God Almighty
S the demand to all to- end this awful
warfare and insure to the world
asting peace. At any rate, these are
III high ideals and will do us good to
ny to live up to them, although ev-
rything may seem to be going wrong.