The Monroe journal. [volume] (Monroe, N.C.) 189?-1965, 1918-07-02
SKETCHES


tieers in the short SPACE of few
months. but Georges case is an un-
usual one. Up until his induction in
10 the service he had never earned
over sl.25 day. He was just a
/ day laborer. switching from one job
To another. all depending upon labor
ing conditions in his section. One
week he dug bitches; another week
he was a farm hand: and he worked
at the oil mill a few weeks in the
/ fall of the year. To say the least
+ his life was encireled by very mar
row limits. both in the capacity to
enjoy himself. or TO attain financial
independence. His lot was a little
better than that OF a dog. No amuse-
ment. no rest: nothing but work.
wOrk-ani the hardest kind of work
At that.
II isn't known if he objected to
being sent the army; II is known.
though. that he didn't utter a word
Of complaint. He held his head high,
and his step was Arm. After he and
his companions has been installed at
Camp Jackson for few weeks. the
conduct of George began to attract
the attention Of his officers. When
he was ordered to cut wood. he went
at the task gracefully. and always
made il point to cut more than was
really needed. At first he was 0c-
casionally assigned the duty of clean
ing up quarters, and this job doesn't
compare fayorably in the least with
the daily occupation of the average
housewife. There were hundreds of
cigarettes "stumps" TO be picked of
the floor: litter to be swept in pile,
later to be hauled OF. and spttoons
10 be cleaned out. George went at
this work with a smile. Not a word
of complaint did he utter The top
sergeant noticed Georges willingness
10 do this work, and he decided TO
relieve him Of any more like IT, leay-
ing the distasteful work for those in
the company who were inclined to
shirk duty
For three weeks George hadn't
been called upon to cut wood or to
clean up quarters. Poor soul, He
thought his work hadn't given salts
faction One day he said to the top
sergeant: Hadn't better cut some
wood; you know | haven't worked
any in weeks" Nav" retorted
the towering sergeant. let them guys
who shrk duty do the nasty work.
The sergeant was amused at Georges
ignorance. He told his superior Of
fcers about the unusual request Of
Private Shyttle. The captain was in
terested. and on spotting George
around the barracks one day, called
him. "Shyttle >" he said can you
read and write?" "A little" Shyt-
tie replied modestly. How would
YOU like to be a corporal? Think
you could hold the job all right" ask
ed the captain. "I'll de my best. cap
tain, Shyttle managed to utter, as he
turned red in the face with pleasure
From then on he was known as Cor
poral Shyttle.
Although he was clothed with a
little authority. humble George, who
had never made over S1.25 a day,
went on doing his duty in the old
way. His promotion had spurred
and he began improving his writing
and English the hours after duty.
The whole company had by this time
become interested in George, and all
were eager to help him along; es-
pecially the captain. One day this
parsonage. after George had been
serving as corporal for several months
summoned him to his headquarters.
"Shyttle." he began. would you like
to become company horseshoer?
There is extra pay amounting to about
$50 attached, you know.
Certainly Shyttle was willing to ac-
cept the post of company horse-shoer. /
The captain noted his eargerness, and
was inwardly pleased. The next day
he dispatched him to a training camp.
where for three months he studied
the anatomy of horses foot. Sever
al weeks ago he went back to his COM
pany with the credit OF being one OF
the best blacksmiths turned out Dy
the training camp.
Later in conversation with an ac-
quaintance, Shyttle said The army
has done wonders for me. Before |
enlisted | seldom ever earned over
a dollar day; now. If | left the ser .
vice. could make from 81 to IS
day. And have bettered my meager
education. can read much better
and write a more distinct hand than .
could year ago; and I'm still learn
ing"
The story of Shyttle's experience
was communicated to the writer by
a reliable friend. There is no eN-
aggeration: it is the plain truth, Yet
his case Is not so rare. Hundreds
have been reported from all over the
country In Lanes Creek township
they tell a tale somewhat similar to
Georges. A young man, who was
laid up in bed almost every summer
with rheumatism was indicted into
the services last fall. He was sent
with misgiyings on the part OF the
examining physicians. They didn't
think he would be kept in the army
but they mid not care to assume the
responsibility of rejecting him Tor
service. Nothing more was heard oil
him until last February when his Ia
Their attempted to get him out on
furlough for the summer. The pa
pers were all fixed the furlough was
granted: nothing was lacking but the
consent OF the boy. No, I'll not
sign it," he wrote his father when ne
the application for furlough