The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1919-02-27
AMERICAN SLANG.
British People Find it Wonderfully
Interesting.

"Sanmy's appearance, social
conduct, and conversation, to say
nothing of his military prowess, have
endeared him to all classes in France
and ENGLAND. French newspapers
tell of his chivalrous attitude toward
the fair sex generally, and his kind
ly, paternal way with children IN
war-racked villages; the Engllsh
daiIies print columns about his alert
military bearing, and the charm OF
his native slang. This last charac-
teristic draws forth the following
letter on What Sammy Says which
is taken from the London Daily
Mail:
Sammy is in my ward, and | like
him. His face he describes as lone
of the sort that only mother could
love- but somehow, lantern-jaWed
and hlgh-cheeked as it is, it appeals
to me.
Even more than his face | like
his conversation. His experiences
during the war are, suppose, much
the same as those of other men; his
mode of relating them is peculiarly
his own. The picturesque imagery
with which he adorns his speech may
be an old story in Goods country
to me it is thing of wonder and a
JOY forever.
He came over the big drink
some months ago. He had a pleasant
, VOYAGE, saw no t'tin fish, and had
plenty to eat-''six meals a day,
three up and down." On arrival at
the port they got into 1.-The dinkiest
little train ever" Before it started,
the captain asked for key to wind
it I'D with. Sammy says that per-
sonally he intends to take one home
as a charm to hang on his watch
chain.
They went into camp, where they
spent their time hiking about the
countryside. The .''eats' here were
not over good. They were given tea
(which tasted like the last water
Noah kept afioat in and fish that
was never caught, but must have CIV
an itself up" However, they made
their motto, Work like Helen B..
Happy" and stuck it out bravely.
The one thing that really ''got their
goat was having to sleep on terra
frma. That, Sammy says, is Latin
for terribly hard
Ultimately he and his companions
crossed to the front. The country
pleased Sammy, but he found the
language difficult and the French
people slow of comprehension. On
one occasion he wanted pair of
duck shoes, so he went into boot
makers and quacked-but he
couldn't get the old dame "wise" to
it..
For the fight that put him out OF
action Sammy says his lieutenant
was responsible. He was sure tired
of his position and crazy on becom-
ing a captain or an angel" Sammy
was ready enough to help, but a
Boche shell interviewed and insisted
on sending in his name with an ap-
plication for immediate transfer to
the Flying Corps
Hence his presence in the hospi-
tai.
1t is my duty to give Sammy his
letters and today, as he read volu-
minous epistle his face frightened to
such an extent that I was forced to
inquire what good tidings had arriv-
ed. He hesitated, then grinned. Il
don't mind telling you, nurse he
said. Its my wife writing, and
from what she says l calculate when
I get home there'll be something be-
sides a fence running around my
little place in Seattle.
Sammy goes to sea tomorrow, mad
shall miss him badly. He himself
is all anxiety for an early return to
front where he anticipates a real
good time for the Yanks and cor
respondingly bad one for Jerry. The
latter is assuredly up against the
straight goods" at last. Anyway,
whatever happens to the English,
for the U. S. A. forces it is going to
be heaven, hell or Hoboken by
Christmas