The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1919-12-05
COIOred Rookie
Wakes Up Things
Now Different"

Descending from The go train at
the station in Columbus a eolorcd
rookie might have been seer by q
keen observer.
His uniform didn't seem to nc per-
fectly. and altogether he may have
felt as forlorn as he looked as no
reported with the rest OF his delach-
mcnt 10 the receiving officer.
After being initiated into the mys-
tcrics Of the army bath he was
further made at home hy being
placed In detention quarters.
Life isn't altogether as Il looks on
the recruiting pictures and he liz
tens TO the soulful notes Of the
mountain canary, singing a duet
with the plaintive sounds cmanating
from the desert coyote and then he
dreams Of Villa and his muTderous
bandits until rcveille awakcns him
with a start After permission Il
granted him 10 leave camp he stands
not on the order OF his going but No.
beats Il UP Taft street only 10 find
out that he has seen most Of the
city In a very short time. After
hanging around the depot until the
evening train has departed. all ex-
element seems 10 have ended for
the day.
But stars OF hope are shining
around a sign that says Khaki Club
and his feet unconsciously wander
In that direction. Tapestry curtains
through which the welcoming lights
from the brassolite lamps shine
give the club a refined atmosphere.
Entering he lees many Of the popu-
lar members Of his regiment reading
the latest magazines and most in
teresiing and instructing books fur
nished the Khaki Club by the very
efficient American Library associa-
ton. Checkers and other forms OF
amusement hold the undivided at
tention Of the players, and the beau
tiful art creations donated by Ger
lach-Barklow Company Of Joliet gel
his %appreciative attention. Tn,
Tuskegee Institute singers voice,
are reproduced on the Victrolia a
the melodious strains Of "Suanel
River" a sense Of homeskick.
ness 10 creep over him.
This Is quickly dissipated. how,
ever. by the music OF the spheres.
emanating from the poolroom. am
an interested group are eagerl!
watching a contest in which sixteei
players selected by competition
from among the 2ith Infantry's hes
pool experts. playing for a gold med.
al donated by Iewelcr Lebow.
The contestants play different set
and the tournament lasts a week.
The next nieht there is a ban
dance in which the boys and girl
r. dressed in overalls and ging
ham dresses. Cider and doughnut
r served on bales Of hay and TN
seats are also baled hay.
Open house Is the rule in the BIZ
clnh this night md the feminine
touch i- appreciated
Emancipation day through IA,
courtesy Of Colonel Hadsell. was Gel.
ebrated by a big picnic at Hcrmanoi
Grove and "hot dogs and coffee and
all the picnic %pcrquisites were sup
piled.
Baseball, dancing and a fine rid'
In the army conveyanccs made M,
day a red letter day in the history
Of the oolored Columbus soldier. and
his gratitude 10 War Camp Commu-
nifty Service was expressed continu-
ally.
Boxing was an added attraction
and after training with "specdball.
Hayden, Rabbit" Rodgers and Old
Man Burton, the hot showers and
rub down gave him an Appetite
that only Joe Jackson's famous
southern style Of cooking could APP
pease, and a box Of Camel cigar
cites at wholesale prices made him
say, Gee, boys, this Is better than o
furlough."
A great railroad recognizes the
immense value OF recreation as a
preventive OF wrecks mo pun in
tended. and could the mothers OF
the great United States realize tho
wrecked lives that might have been
but for the activities OF War Camp
Community Service, a service that
has saved innumerable boys at tho
critical time by giving them clean
and wholesome recreation benefcia.
10 both mind and body, whose bene.
nts will descend even 10 the third
and fourth generation.
Many Of them wear silver star.