The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-01-24
The Kid Brother in Camp
How Uncle Sam Has Organized tho Training Camp
Actiuies to Provide Heakhful Outlets for the SOLDIER Energy
By James n. Collins
By James n. Collins

army ~cahtonment Is to have its singing
instructor, for singing Is n wonderful
co-ordinator In army discipline, ana
lightens the hard work of marching
and soldering immensely. Many n com
mander has said that he does not fear
the outcome when an army goes into
battle singing. Already II has been
found that our soldiers are anxious to
sing under sklllful leadership, and we
know that we must meet on the west
ern front M army that is not only the
most highly trained In the world in
military tactics, but also trained In
singing. A German regiment on the
march will sing In n way 10 make ones
hair stand on end. The men will swing
along to a German song that runs
for six beats, und then will stop
abruptly for two beats. and sing for
four beats more and then stop four
beats. Every national resourc that
we have In the way Of ragtime and
college cheers will be needed when we
meet the trained singing soldiers Of
the kaiser, and as we learn from them
in trench fighting and bombing, Sc we
must learn from them In this.
Idle Time Is Organized.
The other day n New York lawyer
who was II pacifst until war was de.
clared, but who now understands that
sometimes The best way 10 get peace Is
TO fight for II visited his brother who
Is training in an eastern camp. He
found his brother hard and brown.
every inch a soldier, keen for the west
ern front. and glad 10 be in the army,
but he also found that his brother had
a great deal OF time upon his hands
which It was difficult TO use 10 nlyan.
tage. In civil life the kid brothers
day can be pretty efficiently planned.
When he gets done at the office or fac
tory he has sports and social interests.
can read or study, and make every half
hour our In Il general scheme Of
work, play, and self-improvemeut. In
the training camps there must be Il
different scheme. Surroundings are not
always SO favorable to study, md
many an hour which in civil life would
be utilized to some useful end Is idled
away. But this Idle time Is also being
organized and in ways that not only
make for personal improvement but
Cor better citizenship. At some OF the
environments IL has already been dis
covered that hundreds of recruits can
not read or write the English language.
They come from sections In the coun-
frx. Gatttn1 hp. prannun I'm mi nrro ~ =
where the parents language has been
retained and contact with Americans
has not been sufficient. Glasses In Eng
llsh have been started and when these
boys come out OF the army they will
be American In speech and ideals. The
French language and French geography
are being widely taught because IL has
been found that these studies make the
most direct appeal to recruits.
Then there are the sports. Many n
country boy who has lived far from
baseball and football and many a city
boy whose interest In boxing and wrcSt-
ling has found outlet only through
sporting pages of the newspapers will
find In camp not only the opportunity
u lllts lllfHc El4llfN lbI I4'l~'lG buL W
learn under a competent instructor.
Each camp will have one Of the best
college coaches In the country, and the
sports will be organized In II way to
give every recruit his chance 20 play
the game he likes and to excel In It.
Can Find consenIaI Pals.
There will be other attract MS In
~ ,4. g.. 4 1-ll I,V.- 80. 90. l..
Is a farm boy who has had few oppor.
tunitles 10 get to own or few pals
when he got there, or suppose he Is
that even more lonely chap, the boy
who does not find his sort of pals IN
tn, gnngs around his nclghbOrhOoi.
Turn him loose In a city OF 10000 fell
lows his own age, with his play or
ganlzed as well us work. abundant out
door exercise, and good food, careful
medical attendance, supervision, and
personal hygiene. For the first time IN
his life he feels the fascination of team
play, and has the benefit OF associates
that will meet his very idea Of what
good pals should be. II he * red.
headed, freckled. and Astounding In
rough boyIsh energy, and likes vigorous,
harmless deyiltry, he will soon find
around him Il gahc Of his own kind
larger than he ever hoped 10 sec In hl-
life, and n that will help him develop
his every aspiration, whether II be Il
lead or To follow the lead. II he Is Il
quietcr boy with inventive or artistic
or literary tastes he can 500 find con
genial fellows Of his Own way of think,
ing, pals who probably understand
what Is In him better than anybody ht
has ever met-better than he under,
glands himself.
With all these attractions 1t might
be thought that the kid brother would
never want to leave camp. but he will
and the director of trimming camp nc
t~lvities knows that he will, and has
provided for him intclligcntly. IL ha,
been found that soldiers In camp vii
20 10 town whenever they have al
hoGr's free time.
When Uncle Sam set ont 10 scleci
sites for his army environments las
spring, there a excitement In ever!
community from ocean Ia ocean. Cham
bers of commerce and citizens league,