The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-08-26
VISITOR TELLS
 GOOD STORY OF BOYSAT ClBBON

their way to the Outside to enter the service. From one of those who visited the soldiers at Fort Gibbon the following interesting story shows the spirit and feeling between the enlisted men and their officers:
 "The first to arrive at Fort Gibbon to give our boys in bun and olive drab Godspeed on their way were the Ruby contingent with Coke Hill at the helm and Tom DeVane at the engine of DeVane's Dixie Queen. Every one of the women who came on the Dixie Queen knows just how it is to be kissed by a soldier, for Arthur Lutro of the Ruby Giants was right there on the job when they landed, and those Ruby boys are not so slow. There were in the party Mesdames DeVane, Long, Hoff- man, Clarke and Misses Edith La Belle. Lena Fisher, Lilly Wallace and Lilly Williams. The men were T. J. DeVane, T. H. Long, Coke Hill, Lynn Smith, Joe Josephs and Knute Undergrad. A few hours later Capt. Sam Closes launch brought Mr. and Mrs. Matthew's from Hot Springs and toward morning the Tan ana arrived from Fairbanks with Mrs. K. Pierce, Mrs. A. J. Williams, Mrs. c. N. Creamer. Mrs. A. E. Golden, Mrs. A. J. Nordale, Mrs. L.. B. Sturtevant, Mrs. Rutherford. Mrs. Wilson, Miss Anita Nordale. P. J. Rickert, A. Duquette, Abe Stein, Geo. Hunter, G. w. Slater and Charles Deinert, who enlisted. The Tanana also brought from Nenana Mrs. F. A. Fowler, Mrs. M. Anderson, Misses Thora Slippern. Alta Russell. Helen Hutmacher, Messrs. R. Lovelace, Fowler and Thos. Siroff. Ed Willet came to enlist and R. B. Ward, Jr., was inducted.
 From Hot Springs the Panama brought Mrs. Cleveland, Mrs. Morri- son, George Morrison, s. c. Howell and J. c. Phillips.
 Mrs. Horner of Horner hot springs was just in time for the dance, as was Tom McKinnon, returning from Iditarod.
 Tuesday forenoon was spent in visiting, watching the drilling of the soldiers, and ball game in the af- ternoon. Considering the short length of time the boys have been in training their drilling is little short of marvellous. The boys themselves explain their rapid progress by say ing that they have the best officers in the army. One private told a visitor. These officers are splendid fellows. They know their business and have more patience in teaching us than I thought men could have"
 The officers on their part say their success is due to the fact that they have almost perfect material to work on. The commanding officer said to a small audience, q believe these men are the finest material in the world." and to large audience he said, q am awaiting the time when the age limit goes up so that we may make up company of these young old sourdoughs up to forty-five. I believe they would make con- pany that for endurance and resource would not be surpassed" The off, cers were especially proud of the spirit with which the boys go at whatever is at hand. There is no quarreling with the work assigned. Gladly and cheerfully the Alaskans do what is necessary. They have learned before through hard experi- ence that no required task is de- grading.
 The fun of the day commenced at 9 o'clock at the new barracks. The upper floor was divided into four big rooms. The boys had planed. polished and waxed the floors until they were fit for the most fastidious disciple of Terpischore, and the mu- sic was unanimously voted the best in Alaska. There were two full sets of musicians and more than two full sets of men for the hundred women whose beauty graced the hall. Truly there was "sound of revelry by night" The rule was soldiers first, and no mere civilian even felt that such rule was unfair. There was plenty of Ego" all the way, but when c. w. Slater reached for guitar and began to sway and sing as he played, the dancers found out who put the pep in pepper. and here after all time will date from the farewell dance to Company B, Four teenth Infantry. Dancing was not the only entertainment of the even ing. Short addresses were made by Lieut.. Olson and Commanding Officer Smith. Fargo Rose and Corporal Hickman put on a vaudeville sketch which was worthy of 8 place on the Orpheum circuit. Roses monologue