The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1919-12-27


themselves serving as privates or as
Junior officers under majors and colo
nels who, had been their employees
before the war are. now being re-
versed, often ip ludicrous fashion
One Canadian colonel who for four
years had been responsible for the
bodies and souls of 1000 men, each Of
whom was ready to give up his life on
the colonel's order, found on his re-
turn to civil life that he could not get
job. Finally he decided to apply to
government employment bureau, but
on entering the Office found himself
face to face with his former orderly,
lance-corporal, who on more than
one occasion had led him a merry
dance and had often been the subject
Of disciplinary measures. The ex~
colonel did not apply for a job, but
took advantage Of the opportunity to
exchange greetings and good wishes
and utter few platitudes about the
weather.
Another officer of high rank took
position soliciting advertising. Hum
bly, approaching the owner Of a smart
cigar store, he found himself face to
face with former private in his
ranks with whom he had had many
unpleasant collisions. The ex-major
executed a tactical retirement by pur-
chasing a package of cigarettes.
= : Many Won Better Jobs.
The case Of a Calgary barber who
enlisted as private and earned pro-
motion on the field to the rank Of
major, who now doesn't fancy a re-
turn in barbering, has many parallels
throughout the country. Generally
speaking the private who attained
high rank during the war is regarded
as having developed qualities which,
no matter what his former occupa-
ton was, ought to find recognition on
his return to civil life. Wherever pos
sible this recognition is being awarded.
John P. Gfrvan, sorter in the To-
ronto general post Office, enlisted as
private in August, 1914. In the closing
campaign Of the war Private Girvan
had become Major Girvan, acting lieu
tenant in command Of his battalion,
with D. IS. c., M. c., and Croix de
Guerre ribbons on his breast. A few
weeks ago Major Girvan reported for
duty to the post Office where five years
ago he had laid down the position Of
sorter. The post office authorities
took council and decided not to send
Major Girvan back to his sorters po-
sition. Instead they made him assist
ant to the superintendent and gave
him charge Of the night staff, posi-
ton ordinarily reached only after a
lifetime's work in the civil service.
Ex-MaJor Rings Up Fares.
Other cases have not been so salts.
factorily disposed of. A former major
is serving as street car conductor,
the same position he occupied when
he enlisted as private at the begin
ming Of the war. Asked why he did
not endeavor to secure position more
In keeping with his rank in the army,
he said:< "Thds Is the one job In civil
life know. II I tried to pitchfork
myself into some other job I might
make fizzle Of 1t and become a bum
for the rest Of my life."
= The fact is that the great bulk Of
Canada's army is slipping back into
civil life without creating a ripple on
the surface. According to government
figures recently announced, 3185S9
men have been released from the
army since the signing of the armis-
tice. OF this total no less than 189 900
men have made no application for EN-.
ployment and have presumably slipped
back into places that were waiting
for tipen. Out Of 6, 773 men who have
applied for employment, 61,278 have
been placed.
From these it appears that since
the armistice more than 100000 men
have been reabsorbed into Canadian
civil life and that some 10000 still re-
main to be absorbed. Many of these
latter are doubtless students, candi-
dates for vocational training, or young
men taking things easy for a time be-
fore seeking emplo yment..