The Yale expositor., 1918-11-28
our SOLDIER BOYS.
Letters From and Items Concerning Yale
Boys Who are in the Service Of
Their Country
France, Oct. s, 1918

ceived five letters and a Life" That
is the second copy l have been lucky
enough to get since coming across.
If we stay long enough, like the pro-
verbal cat, may have nine "Lives,'
or inverseIy, may need nine lives to
stay long enough to see the realization
of the motive which inspired our trans
portation.
l hope you're not worrying about
that any more than l, for from the
present conditions, il even half what
we hear is true, something's going to
happen to someone, and he isn't wear
ing khaki.
There are lots of good laughs in
"Life" but to my distorted sense of
humor, nothing is more laughable than
some of "Willie's" beautifully humble
oonfes ions and condolences offered to
his "dear children" Poor Bill His
"sob song, is a fitting finale to tack on
his war cry. The trouble is, that in
stead of the world understanding and
appreciating his humility and sympa-
thizing with him when he is so wrong
fully abused, it's amused by his strug-
gle, and with insult upon insult, "rubs
1t in"
Oh, Bill You should have read a
little speech by one of OUR noblemen.
lie was particularly thoughtless one
day and forgot his authority and posi-
tion among men. 1t was then he said,
"You can fool some Of the people all
the time, all of the people some of the
time, but you can't fool all the people
all the time" Maybe that was before
your time. If it was, of course you
are to be excused, because with your
all important "self" to consider there
would be little time to devote to mere
"commoner"
And there's another fellow, Bill, who
has the same "job' today-whose words
you may still be forced to concede
contain much wisdom and more than a
suggestion of truth
There amt no medals on his breast,
Nor emblems on his coatj
He led peaceful, quiet life,
Til someone got his goat
Until ruler started IN
To clean the bloomin map
old BiIlfound then his veins ran
blood,
An not like he thought--sap.
He signed little paper,
An soon it went to press,
An In week million men
Was learnin' to right dress
An then they gave 'em uniforms
An set 'em learnin' guns,
An sent 'em out in boatloads
To go an lick the Huns.
An he is just common man
Who treats his fellows right,
An any man has got to scrap
Who says he isn't "white."
The~Yanks? Boy, them is lighters;
Don't seem to care damn,
Except to make Bill dof his hat
To him-an' Uncle Sam"
Words and music by me, myself
'"This copy for professionals only"
They say that ain the spring ayoung
mans fancy etc. Well this is not
spring, and 1 am not what might be
called young, but sure know which
way my fancy runs-to heavy under
wear and buck wheat cakes. The un-
derwear may be forthcoming but 1
have my doubts about the cakes until
1 get back.
Isuppose 1t Is the usual idea that
because we are over here we are wit
Messing wonderful and thrilling sights.
Personally am not Have been here
now about two months and I'm still
waiting for my first "thriller," Well
get 1t soon enough, suppose, but un-
less things change all | will bring back
with me will be some good ideas for
antique scenic decorations. you know
what that isl don't
But to get back to facts-I am far
from being uncomfortable. Am al
ways well enough to ouss the bugler
for waking me up in the morning and
for blowing flights out" at night. Eat
three meals day (more IL l can slip
one over on the mess sergeant.) DO my
own sewing-set the buttons on my
coat right over to the edge now. Next
time Ill have to operate on the button
holes, or get new one.
Have acquired new nickname
since coming over here--"Happy" And
when used to have my picture taken
you would ask "Why the dickens don't
you look pleassnt?" Gosh what a
funny world
suppose you have wondered why /
have not sent home some souvenirs.
To tell the truth, haven't seen much
in that line since arrived. They have
some silk "hankies," but you have them