The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1918-09-05

A MONTH AT CAMP TAYLOR
By C. S. Knioht

BY C. S. knight
would be untrue To my country
and tho many who have sons. broth
crs, sweethcarts, and acquaintance,
in tine army, if / did not pass on to
you. through the columns Of The
Citizen some Of the things saw
and heard during the twcnty-eight
busy days ] was privileged 10 spend
boz the great cantonmcnt known as
Camp Taylor" near Louisville.
arrived there on July 18TH and
was met at the Hostess House
where all strangers are directed
90 gol by one Of its Y.MCA. work
ers, who took me TO Headquarters
where / met DR.. Williams-thc
evangelist who conducted our very
successful revival last winter.
As soon as Or Williams saw me,
he asked me TO go and help him in
his work as religious secretary in
Building so. i52; and as there was
no objection, | found myself behind
the desk that afternoon, very busy
giving out writing paper selling
stamps, weighing parcel post pack
ages. answering questions, and try
ing 10 say a kind word 10 the boys.
The crowd was not large for the
first few days. because the boys are
usually transferred from the Depot
Brigade after three or four weeks
Of training. and most Of them have
gone: but great crowd Of others
soon came to take their places, and
we had more than plenty TO do,
and such interesting work it was,
too.
The thing that impressed me most
forcibly was the wonderful trans
formation the army is able TO eff
feet in the men in a single week.
They arrive in camp by hundreds,
dressed in all styles of clothes, and
neither looking nor acting much
alike. and then they are put in
uniform and by that one act the
milliOnare's son and the plOwboy1
are reduced 10 an exact equality;
from that moment on il is fair
field and no favors. If man has il
in him and will work hard and take
an interest in what he is told TO
do. he has a good chance 10 become
corporal, and later a sergeant;
but if he does not take hold. he has
an equally good chance 10 be called
down, or otherwise made 10 realize
when nations life's at hazard,
we've no time 10 think of the feel
ings Of individual men,
After they get the uniform, they
are taught TO march. Hour after
hour they tramp the streets and
drill grounds. keeping step TO the
left. right. left, right!-Or one, two.
three. four, Of the officers. II is
splendid training. and gives one an
appetite for the good, wholesome
food which Uncle Sam feeds his
boys in khaki. The food is first
class, and plenty Of il; and most Of
the boys gain in weight right from
the start. Besides the marching.
they are given setting up" exer-
else: and for an hour or two each
afternoon everybody has 10 play
games-medicine ball, tug Of war,
bull in the ring" relay races, and
all sorts Of things 10 keep them
happy, tougher their muscles, and
quicken their actions. In short TO
give them SNAP" as the officers
say.
After supper the boys crowd the
Y.MCA. huts. They play on the
piano, run the talking-machine,
look over the magazines and papers,
play checkers and sing songs. and,
of course. write letters. The YIN.
CA. furnishes paper, envelopes, pens
and ink. free. and how they do write
One, three. five or more letters
each, 10 mothers. and fathers, and
sweethearts. One day we sold over
$3.50 worth OF stamps and had a
Il. s. mail bag full Of letters and
post cards. TO the folks back home.
The Y.M.CA. is a kind Of a home