, 1924-02-06

Perhaps it is best first to consider
what it is not. inview of the wild ru-
mors surrounding any secret society.
In the first place, it is not a political
ring within the Legion; it is not an
officers club, nor a buck privates' as
ISOLATION; it admits overseas men as
well as those who never saw the blue
sea.
"The 40 & 8 does not ask a man his
polite, his religion, or his rank in the
armed forces of the United States
during the World war. 1t does not
even ask him if he favors prohibition,
believes in free love, likes rolled hose,
or understands Eeistein's theory of
relatively. 1t askes him but one ques-
ton and that is, Are you a good Lei
gionaire?'
"La Societe DIES Quarente Hommes
ct HUT Chevaux is the playground
and honor society of the American
Legion. 1t corresponds in a fashion
to the degree of the Mystic Shrine
in the Masonic order, eligibility to
which depends on valued service to
the fraternity of men-of-arms, en-
bracing those men, young or old, who
offered their lives to their country in
time of war. The 40 G. 8 is destined
to gather into one body the men of
the Legion who are willing to con-
tinue 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 Quarante HON.
mes ct HUT Crevaux,' strictly trans
lated is The Society of the Forty Men
and Eight Horses The insignia of
the order is the box car of French
railways, which was labelled as hav-
ing a carrying capacity of forty men
or eight horses. In the experience of
American soldiers in the A. E. F., it
was often found that the capacity was
underestimated. Frequently the cars
carried both the men and the horses.
The capacity of forty men often was
exceeded by having the travellers all
stand or lie in windows. But it was
better than hiking many kilometers
over the muddy French roads. n
Members of the 40 & 8 are known
by the generic term, 'voyageurs mill
taire,' or military travellers. Candi-
dates are PRISONERS de guere' or poor
goofs.' Translate it as you please. A
'~wrecking crew puts on the initiation
ceremonies.
"Officers are designated by terms
used about the railroad stations in
France. The chef de chemin de fer
is literally the chief of the road of
iron, ar railroad president. The chef
de %train,' the assistant station mas
ter; the 'conducteur,' the conductor;
a 'cheminot,' the guard of the gate;
the 'garde PRISONER the prisoner
guard etc.
"Should the reader happen to be a
member of the 40 and g. it may be
well to call his attention to the uni
versatility of the organization and the
certain welcome which awaits him in
communities where voitures are es-
tablished. If he is given to much ira
yelling and is wise, he will place the
mystic fraction, 40 and s, after his
name on hotel registers. Local voy-
ageurs and visiting members of the
fraternity soon will mage themselves
known and the cameraderie of men
at arms will shortly make the stran-
ger feel at home.
"In the quarters of the 40 and s
the cares and burdens of business are
thrown aside and there reigns the
friendly social spirit of he-men men
who have fought together in the a
of wars and are standing together in
the time of peace. 1t is a place for
relaxation, for friendships, for remi-
niscence. 1t is a place where all good
Legionaires hope to go before they
diei