Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-05
SEVERAL LOCAL
LEGION MEN SPORT
SYMBOL 1903"

An Initiation was held yesterday
afternoon at the American Legion
nail by the La Societe Des 40
TONNES Et 8 ChevauX and the fol-
lowing members of the Legion were
initiated into the mysteries of the
wfecklng society,"" Erick Click of
ralrileld. Adelbert Tucker, Donald
Scott and Deane Peacock of Oak.
Iahd. william Cameron and Joseph
Bouthot of Waterville. The tourney
was hard and difficult but very in
!erestlng to the gallery After the
mutation the p. G.'s as the initiates
are known did X. p. duty and serv-
.u very hne supper. Anotherjin mi
tlatlon will be held within a week.
10 prepare the degree team for a
large initiation which is to be nut
OH at Augusta sometime during the
month nv
On a rapidly increasing number
oL american Legion lapel buttons
mere is appearing an underslung
a.. ..to bearing the mystic numerals
virtually every large post
or the Legion in the United States
mas voiture of La Societe des Oua-
rante Hommes ct HUT Chevaux, and
me most active Legion men through
out the country are members and
proud or their association Every
Lesionnairc is a prospective mem.
Der. '"e''
W nat is this box car society?" is
a question asked much less freouent-
~ OF late. but it should be answered
Tor the benefit Of those who do not
Know. Perhaps it is best first to
consider what it is not. in view of
me wiz rumors surrounding any
secret society. In the first place. it
Legion. 1t is not an officers club.
nor buck privatts' association. IT
admits overseas men as well as
nose VINO never saw the blue sea.
me 20 ct = does not ask a man his
polltlcS. ms religion. or his rank in
the armed forces of the United
states during the World War. 1t
ooeS not even ask him if he favors
prohibition. believes in free love
likes rolled hose. or understands
Einsteip's theory of RELATIVELY. 1t
ASKS MN but one question. and this
IS II: Are YOU good Legion
naire?"
III the candidate for admission into
i-dSoclete can answer truthfullv that
ne has been Il loyal Legionnaire and
mas accomplished some service for
MS local post and comrades his
eHslb!lity has been thoroughly es-
tablished.
La Societe DIES Quarante Hommes
CT HUT ChevauX is the playground
ana honOr society of the American
Legion 1t corresponds in n fashion
!" the degree of the Mystic Shrine
IN the Masonic order. eligibility to
Whlch depnedS on valued service to
the fraternity. The American Legion
IL q great fraternity of men at arms,
embracing those men. young or old.
VINO offered their lives to their coun-
try in time of war. The 4O-S is de-
signed to gather into one BODY The
men OF the Legion who are willing
t. continue their service to their
country and their comrades in time
of peace.
Perhaps it would be of interest to
those not familiar with La Societe
to explain a few of the terms used.
The name. La Societe des Quar-
ante Hommes ct HUT Chevaux."
strictly translated is "The Society
OF the 40 Men and Horses" The
insignia of the order is the box car
of French railways. which was la
belled as having Il carrying capacity
Oh 40 men or horses. In the eX-
perience of American soldiers i'm the
a. T.. F., it was often found that the
capacity of 40 men often was eX-
ceeded by having the travellers all
stand or lie in windrows But it was
better than hiking many kilometers
over muddy French roads. Menu
bers of the 40-S are known by the
generic term "yOyageurs militairc"
or military travellers. Candidates
are 'prisoniers de Guerre" or poor
Goofs." Translate it as YOU please.
A "wrecking crew" puts on the mi
tiation ceremonies. Officers are dcsig-
mated by terms about the railroad
stations in France. The chef de
chemin de fer" is literally the chief
of the road of iron, or railroad presi-
dent. The chef de care" is the sta
ton master; the chef de train" the
assistant station master: the "con-
ducteur," the conductor. "chemi-
not" a director: the "Garde de In
porte" the guard of the age; the
"sarde de PRISONERS" the prisoners
guard.