The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-03-27
Boys in Army Hospital Train
Full of Good Cheer.
None of the Sob Material To-
pekans Looked For.
ALL ANXIOUS TO GET HOME
Took Special Interest in the
Women and Children.
Wounded Men Endorse Saliva
ton Army Campaign.

BY MYRA WILLIAMS FARRELL.
The person who went to the Santa
F'e station Wednesday afternoon to
meet the soldier hospital train, expect
ing to sob, had a great surprise wait
ing for him. 1t might have been
named appropriately the Sunshine
train, in more ways than one, for it
was made up of men from the land of
sunshine and roses, California. There
was not a bit of gloom to be found,
from one end of, the long train to the
other. This was true even of the litter
cases. While two or three of the men
looked wan and pale, all wore smiles
ings of the great crowd of people who
surged thru the coaches, grasping
their hands, and wishing them good
luck and Godspeed.
The women of the Red Cross can
teen, under the direction of Mrs.
Charles Elliott, and representatives
from the Chamber of Commerce,
passed among the men with cigars,
tobacco. flowers-donated by the
florists of the city-cards and maya
zines.
They had expected to serve pie and
coffee, but had orders not to do SO.
One of the canteen women mentioned
this to some of the soldiers, saying she
had hoped to give them some home
made pumpkin pie. "Oh, boy" ejac-
ulated one husky looking youngster,
pumpkin pie wouldn't have hurt me-"
Never mind, you'll have plenty of
pumpkin pie when you get home" he
was told.
kept in reserve for the children who
came along. When they were not too
shy, he picked them up in his arms.
Got some little nephews of my own
at home" he explained.
Here, give us your hand. It's been
a long time since 7 had chance to
shake hands with an American
woman was an expression frequently
heard.
'Parley vous Francais?" was asked
the State Journal reporter.
"Je ne parle pas Francois tres bien,
she confessed.
Neither do l." and the soldier grin
ned broadly.
The attention of the soldiers was di-
vided between the moving crowds in
the outside visiting thru the windows.
Here, boy, you're missing some
thing" one would call to his buddy.
A man with kindly face, not on
any committee SO far as anyone knew,
went along with huge box of candy
inviting the soldier to grab" One
boy had a handful when a rather ell.
derby woman started to shake hands
with him. Hold on" he told her, as
he deposited the candy in his pocket.
Il want to shake hands with You, but
I don't trust any woman where candy
is concerned
Here and there would be one who
would say beamingly, I've got moth
er waiting for me, and you bet 1 will
be glad to see her"
Some boys were chatting with
group of girls outside the window. and
one said, pointing to his companions,
Those fellows claim they are gassed.
They make too much noise for men
that have been gassed."
Don't pay any attention to him.
one of the others put in, Hes suffer-
ing from shell shock
Praise Salvation Army.
Just before the train pulled out,
w. A. Biby halted outside each coach
and called. in that voice of his which
commands attention wherever heard:
Boys, we've got a big campaign on
in this town to raise $4,000 to build
home for the Salvation Army. Our
slogan is, They gave our boys a home
over there. Wen give them a home
over here Are we right?"
The brief. eloquent speech was in
variably followed by cheers and ap-
plause, and hearty cries of You BET
thing we've got" They sure did treat
US fine" They gave US doughnuts."
etc
There were about 1877 men on the
train. 1t was estimated by a IOpeka
woman who is deeply interested, hav-
ing a boy in the 35th division, that
there were AZ boys aboard who had
been wounded IN the Argonne.
An interesting young soldier, whose
parents had been born in Spain. but
who is himself, as he proudly asserted.
an American, told of carrying light
ammunition to the infantry at the
front, in the Argonne.
There were men from nearly every
division of the American army. Many
were from the seth division, tho they
were not Kansans, and a. good sprin-
king were from the 91st division.
! which fought to the left of the 35th in
the Argonne, and to which division the
/ both field artillery was attached for
short time after the signing of the
armistice.
| A number of men wore three
stripes. indicating eighteen months
service overseas. One of these SOL
diers had been detailed with the
( French Blue Devils early in the war.
Mrs. L. A. Ryder discovered him. and
/ learned that he knew her son, Maj.
| Charles Ryder.
/ The interest shown in these soldiers
made more than one person stop to
think what it would mean when the
! Kansas divisions come home.