Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-08-03
ARMY LIFE HAS
ONLY IMPROVED
The AMERICANS
Apprehension Once Felt About
Soldier is Disproved BY
Attitude.
Elk SERVICE MEN ARE
EAGER TO RESUME WORK
Manned Veterans Acquiring New
Trades and Occupations in
Desire to Remain
Independent.
(By !. H. Sorrells.)

10y y. 0OIIGllS.)
Directly after the signing of the
armistice, there was much speculation
by the folks who remained at home
just what the soldier was going to
look like when he got home, and more
just what would be his thoughts, his
desires, his inclinations. In other
words, they wondered if two or more
years in the services, and in SO many
instance right up amid the scenes OF
death and violence in the front line
trench, would have any great effect
on the character of the individual.
A number of magazine writer's fat
tened their purses with stories of how
the war had changed the character of
the soldier; how from sturdy, indus
trious farm-boy, he had become a
seeker for the gayer and brighter
things of life; the farm boy wanted to
live in the city, polite way Of ask
ing, "how yu wonner keep 'em down
on the farm
Eager to Get Back on Job.
The men who were reared in the
city would become polite vagabonds,
according to the stories written by
some of the high salaried spoilers,
gnu WOUlO IOdIl c%OOuC CllC SOQI!UI /,
preferably afoot, unable to get back
to the bench, or the desk, or the type
writer, or the ledger. Some instances
of that have occurred. But as a
whole, the theory has fallen flat. Men
are coming back eager to get into the
harness. They are coming back to the
old job eager to jump into it, and for
the first time in their lives really
tear into the work Army life has
changed them, and their viewpoints
in a number of ways. It, has taught
them the value of time; it has made
them more Industrious; it has taught
them loyalty; but most of all, it has
taught them that to the strong of
heart, there are no obstacles which
cannot be surmounted.
Even the Manned Independent.
Many men are coming home manned
Are they laying in supply Of pencils
preparatory to occupying shady
street corners for the sale thereof !
They are not In the first place, those
who have been MANNED to such an ex-
tent that they are untitled probably
for the work they did before their
service are being taught trades and
professions which will Cam them a
living.
Those, however, who were manned
to the extend that the injury is but a
handicap are either thinking of being
objects of charity, nor of roaming the
country, beloved vagabonds,' or Of
squandering their life as moths about
the candle of the bright lights. They
are going right back home, and they
are hittins; The ball as they never did
before.
Crippled Lad Good Farmer.
There comes from Ozark a little
story. 1t has to do with W. w. carp,
a lad who was severely wounded in
one of his feet in the fifth battle of
the Argonre forest carp was recent
ly discharged from the army but his
wounded foot will always be a liabil-
ity. 1t is a handicap, but when ne
reahed his home, he spotted every
farmer in his district two good feet,
and then he raised a crop of water
melons said to be the finest in the
country. He recently came to Ozark
with load of them, and their size,
and evident quality found for them a
ready market.
carp is like the majority OF the
men who have returned, and are re-
turning from the service. They've
changed. But the change will not
make wanderers or gentlemen of for
tune out of them. The change has
caused them to blow into the ole home
town, and with all the pep and energy
which characterized the work of the
American fighting man, sail into that
little old job, and give it sure enough
good walloping.
carp spotted the farmers foot,
and beat 'em several yards raising
watermelons. The American soldier
spotted Wilhelm most of France and
tehn toow it away from him.
The returned soldier is going to
spot his job everything on the board
and the pound the adding out of it.