Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-10-04
(Passed by the Censor.)

Il PerSnlnSS QuuTleTS. IiS "oo WV"
BLACK Jack" when he was in Mexico
after Villa some years ago, at the time
that gentleman got little obstreper-
GUS and II became necessary to teach
him thing or two regarding the pow
er and prestige of the United States.
I shall not give this soldiers name in
this story. His name doesn't matter.
Until a few months ago he was q quar-
termaster sergeant, senior grade. Now
he Is n second lieutenant and not the
best pleased with his promotion, be-
cause, from financial standpoint, he
is not so well off as he was when an
enlisted man.
That works this way: A quartermas-
ter sergeant Of the senior grade re-
ceives sS1 per month. In addition to
that he is entitled to an increase OF
several dollars per month in his pay
for each enlistment. Having done
several bitches" the re-enlistment
pay of this officer brought his month
/ ly pay to something over 500. Be-
sides that, while he was an enlisted
man he received his board and his
clothes free Of charge, and his dental
work and medical attention were also
gratis. AS a second lieutenant he now
received about $144 per month. Out
of this he has to pay for board, cloth
ing and other incidentals that were
formerly furnished at the expense OF
Uncle Sam.
Since the army is his game" as he
says-that Is, his life work-he natu-
rally looks after the financial end OF 1t
too. and he calculates that now since
he il wearing the black and gold hat
cord and tile gold shoulder bars OF
second lieutenant, he 10 skinning him.
self out Of s35 per month.
A most interesting character is this
lotacey. Of whom I write. He Is ~
6yes are clearer, his stride Is frmer,
his muscles are harder and at the same
time more supple and powerful today
than are mine. There Is no part OF
this army game that he does not know.
He has been a doughbcy. has soldier
ed in the artillery and the cavalry. He
Is O shark" on army paper work, and
he has army regulations at his finger
tips. He can get in the kitchen and
cook a better meal than can the ma
jority of lads who have begun to learn
to cook since the country went to war.
No matter what 1t is, this man can do
it. Naturally so, when the army Is
my game"
His face is rough and tanned and his
hands are big and tough and much re-
semble picnic hams, yet he writes
most beautiful Spencerian hand and
should he decide to take up some
game" other than the army when the
present show is over, he could COM
mand q handsome income as an In
structor in penmanship.
There are comparatively few gray
hairs in his head and he could easily
pass almost anywhere for a man of 35
or younger. The wonderful physical
training he has received through
twenty years service in the greatest
army in the world is responsible for
that. He gives his men spiel like
this:
You fellows. the majority Of you
have some other game than the army
to play for a living. You arc in the army
because your country needs you to
help in whipping hell out Of them
Huns. While you are in the army you
are to be regular. There are certain
rules and regulations governing the
conduct and management Of the army.
You got to live up to 'em. got to live
up to 'em Everybody has got to do It,
All want you to do is to watch them
rules and keep on the right side OF
'em. I'm your commanding officer
but I am a man and I have been
buck private and IL 1t were not for cer-
tain circumstances I might be now
l. I'll meet any Of you lads fifty fifty all
the time"
That's the line Of talk this old reg
ular puts up and already he is devel-
oping a wonderful spirit Of happiness
and contentment among his men.
Hes a hard old geezer." they say. in
discussing him among themselves, and
then they add: but he's fair and on
the level, amt he?"
This Is by way Of introduction to a
little story I thought I would write
about this old timer and General Per-
shing. He was in talkative mood the
other night and he started to talking
of his old soldering days. He had no
idea that a part Of his conversation
would ever get in print and 1t might
be he would bawl me out II he should
ever see this story. However he
doesn't know me from the ace OF
spades, or that write occasional
newspaper stories. so do not worry.
General Pershing's name was men,
toned during the conversation some
way or other, and to the astonishment
OF all Oh us tHe uouaiiy w.
veteran suddenly grew enthusiastically
reminiscent. II know General Per-
shing," he said. "and fine man and a
great commander he is. OF course a
great many articles that are now being
published about the American chief
are more or less rot: but too much
cannot be said about his efficiency or
ability.
"I was with the general on that lit
tie business trip down In Mexico when
that rough-neck Villa got gay. We
didn't get him. No. But don't you
think we couldn't have got him. Fact
is We had him surrounded when we