The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-01-17

Dy. before we 60 mrther with this
short story let not the prior sen.
fence be construed to mean that IL
is one of my courteous ways of sole.
iting the loan of a green back. True
it is ! have been accustomed to pay.
ing eight per. cent to Standard Ber-
ryman 4 Company, but this prac-
tice has been discontinued long
since.
CHAPTER L
Camp Johnston, Florida
| Once upon a time there was an
unsophisticated boy 0ust like q
fairy story whose home is among
the trees in a Grove City in Idaho
alias Blackfoot, desiring to make
the world safe for democrats" en-
listed in the quartermaster corps
Grasping the hands or his lifelong
friends with a vice-like grip and
kissing his wife with a last fond
embrace he babe them all farewell
at the little rock depot on the 29th
OF July. Camp Johnston was his
destination and his safe arrival was
accomplished on the second of the
following month. Out of an O. B.
L. auto and into camp headquarters
stepped the young man of twenty
six, dressed in black French crepe
suit and covered by a wide brim-
med sombrero. Handing his creden-
tials to the clerk at the information
desk with feeling in the bottom
Of his heart that he would be sent
to the officers training school, who
gave them the once over and replied
Eleven blocks east and four north;
report to headquarters of the de-
tention camp" Detention means de-
tanning, holding, combining. l knew
the definition of the word at the
time-I know it considerably bet
ter now. In passing it is we'll to
mention here that the officers
training school is not situated in
the aforementioned detention camp.
With a suit case changing from right
hand to left and visa versa, and the
perspiration running out of his
shoes; because on that never-to-be-
forgotten afternoon the mercury was
attempting to drive its way through
the top of a Fahrenheit; this little
soldier boy truged along to report
in accordance with the explicit in
structions given by the information
clerk. From there l was directed
to the depot brigade, Receiving
Group, better known as those who
have passed through it as the "bull
pen." you'll like it," you'll like
it," was the casual remark of the
1000 or more khaki clad young
huskies fresh from the farm. Well,
| did, I have and -four hours lat
er | had gone through gruelling
physical examination, taken the oath
and was an honest-to-goodness SOL
der of Uncle Sans. For supper
that night we had beans, bread and
coffee; simple but wholesome, and
| went to bed with a feeling of pride
in my heart that l was going to fight
for my country. Four forty-five a.
m. the next day. Everybody out."
A shrill whistle announced that it
was time to get out for revielle, II
was not so green and unsophisti-
Gated to not know the meaning of
this because when-I went to col
lege they published an annual call
ed by the same noun.
A wind-beaten, rugged, accredited |
Southern gentleman, with map like |
a heavy weight pug, who, I after
wards learned had done trick at |
Leavenworth, strutted up and down
the company street taking turns at |
blowing blast and yelping, Some
on, come on, git out. You're in the
army now and the sooner you learn |
it the better off you will be. Line up
in a column Of two 's.-Right face"
In some manner or other after STEP
ping upon the heels of the soldier
in front of me l managed to be fac
ing the proper direction. got fuzzy
and more bushy than it seemed pos
sible and my tail went up like an
old gray squirrels. Revielle blew
but the formation was not dismiss
ed. 1t was then / learned the mean
ing of an army detail. II want you
six men to guard the Latrines on the
hill" Holding my body as stiff as
starch and with my chest thrown out
marched along with the other five
soldiers to do guard duty. At that
time the word Latrine was as for
eign to me as the Chinese language
but twas not long before my dis
covery proved it to be an old fash
loned Indiana k-house where ma
lure takes its course. The next day
was p Cc,.,,hhio0 ~ &hn