Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1918-03-22
CHAPTER |.
From Mutt to Khaki,

II was In an Office In Jersey City.
l was sitting at my desk talking to
a lieutenant Of the Jersey National
Guard. on the wall was big war
map decorated with variously colored
little flags showing the position of the
opposing armies on the western front
In France. In front Of me on the desk
lay n New York paper with big faring
headlines:
LusiTANiA SUNK! AMERICAN
LIVES LOST!
The windows were open and feel.
Ing OF spring pervaded the air.
Through the open windows came the
strains OF hurdy-gurdy playing in the
street, Didn't Raise My Boy TO Be
a Soldier"
"Lusltanla Sunk American Lives
Lost ~ Didn't Raise My Boy TO
Be Soldier" To us these did not
seem TO jlbe.
The lieutenant in silence opened one
Of the lower drawers of his desk and
took from II an American flag which
he solemnly draped over the war map
on the wall. Then, turning to me with
a grim face, said:
How about II, sergeant1 You had
better get out the muster roll of the
Mounted Scouts, as | think they will
be needed in the course of a few days.
We busted ourselves till late In the
evening writing out emergency tele-
grams for the men TO report when the
call should come from Washington.
Thel We went home.
/ crossed over to New York, and as
l went up Fulton street to take the
subway 10 Brooklyn. the lights In the
tall buildings Of New York seemed to
be burning brighter than usual, as If
they, too. had read "Lusitana Sunk
American Lives Lost " They seemed
to be glowing with anger and righteous
Indignation, and their rays wlgwagged
the message, Repay"
Months passed, the kilograms lying
handy, but covered with dust. Then,
one mo nentous morning the lieutenant
with sigh of disgust removed the
flag from the war map and returned
to his desk. | Immediately followed
this action by throwing the kilograms
into the sastebasket. Then we looked
at each other in silence. He was
squirmlng In his chair and | felt de.
pressed Oh uneasy.
The tel' )hone rang and | answered
II. II wal a business call for me, re.
questing my services for an out-of.
town assignment. Business was moi
very good, so this was very welcome
After listening TO the proposition
seemed to be swayed by peculiarly
strong force within me, and answered
u am Dorry that | cannot accept your
offer, but | am leaving for England
next week" and hung up the receiver
The lieutenant swung around in his
chair, and stared at me in blank aston,
lshment. A sinking sensation came
over me, but defantly answered his
look with. swell, it's so. I'm going.
And l went.
The trip across was uneventful.
landed at Tllbury, England, then got
into a string Of matchbox cars ant
proceeded to London, arriving Their,
about 10 p. m. took a room in a hote
near st. Pancras station for Ave ant
six-fre extra" The room was mlnu,
the fire, but the extra" seemed Il
keep me warm. That night there wa.
Zeppelin raid, but | didn't see muei
Of 1t, because the slit in the curtain,
was too small and had no desire [,
make 1t larger. Next morning the tel
ephone bell rang, and someone asked
"Are you there?" l was, hardly. Any
way, learned that the Zeps had re
turned to their fatherland, so | wen
out into the street expecting to Sc
scenes Of awful devastation and COW
ering p1pulace, but everything wa
normal. People were calmly proceed
ing to their work. Crossing tn
street, accosted a Bobbie with:
"Can you direct me to the place O
damage?"
He aske1 me. What damage"
In sllrpr lse, I answered, "Why, tn
iamay, ~ 1894 Nv the Zeps"