Evening star., 1943-04-02
INSTALLMENT x.


be doing more important things.
This, unfortunately, doesn't apply
to the daily task of cleaning the
stoves thoroughly. The stoves, it
says here in the books, are the
cooks tools and he must do his own
grinding.
It isn't worth the time to wait
for the stoves to get comfortably
cool before you begin the twilight
Identification of these overgrown
infernos. In order to avoid the rush
at the theater, and to let the kay
pees off early, start work now.
The stoves must be cleaned in
side and out-thoroughly. First,
shake down the fire. All the live
Goals must 60 into the ashpan under
the CRATE. That much is simple.
Then remove the ashpan, red Goals
and all. It must be dumped into
the ashcan out on the garbage rack.
This entire procedure should be
simple, too, it says here. All you
have to do is catch the front handle
with a heavy glove and catch the
little hook in the rear with the far
end of your cap litter. Here we go!
Garry the ashpan we'll in front
Of you. Amt it hot! When you
get to the door, simply open it with
the toe of your shoe. Like this.
Like-Doesn't seem to work. Try
again. Try pushing the right screen
80 that the left one will swing
slightly toward you. Ready? Slight
ly push the right screen. Something
seems to be wrong here.
During this time you will become
increasingly aware that the glove
over the ashpan handle is becoming
hotter and hotter. Just as you get
your toe into the door, the heat
nenetrates the glove and you de-
cide-very suddenly-that perhaps
It's best to drop the whole matter.
Drop it slowly, carefully, tenderly-
If YOU can. Do not drop 1t upon
the wooden floor. Look around, II
YOU think you have time, and locate
an overturned boiler on which TO
set 1t. Whew, that hands hot! NO
boiler? Then drop it anyway!
1t Can BE Done.
You will find that dropping the
eshpan, even though you did IL
gently. has released small amount
Of floating ash, all of which will be
absorbed into your mouth and nose.
Patience. brother. See that the ash
pan isn't lying where it will burn
ANYTHING, such as perfectly good
wooden floor. Pour cold water on
the glove, wait for the resulting
steam to blow away, prop open the
door as you should have done IN the
first place, and try, try again.
This time you will almost reach
the garbage rack before the glove
again gets hot. Slide. Kelly, slide!
You won't get there without drop
ping the whole pan into the clean
road, but at least you tried.
Beat the pan against the ash can
several times for sound effect. Re
turn to the kitchen, where the mess
sergeant, who was watching you
through the window all the time, will
direct you to return and clean 1t up.
When the job is completed take
hope and courage. You have only
two more ash pans to empty.
Then you may get to work clean
Ing out all the SCOT which has gath
cred above and below the ovens. In
this procedure a small. Solid-surface
rake is inserted through tiny door
In front. Using the door as base
of operations, wiggle that pesky little
thing around inside the long, wide.
low space, pulling out load after
load of SCOT. The work Will teach
YOU muscular coordination. manual
dexterity, the art of contortion, hu-
militv and several dozen new cuss
words you didn't even know you
knew
Rake. rake, rake. Time marches
on. Still more raking. Like the
magic pitcher in the old Greek
legend, the more you take out the
more there is inside. The SCOT from
all three oven jackets will fill one
large ash pan, at double-table-
spoonful the rake.
BY the time you have finished
and look about you the kaypees have
around gaping at you as If you were
a steam shovel A very, very black
steam shovel.
Isn't gas wonderful fuel?
A Gold -Bricking Champion.
Pvt. Sher and I were sitting out
on the back steps to dodge the clean
Ing work going on inside when we
kaw the sergeant bearing down on
us from the other end of the battery
street.
TITS no use scootlng inside. Har-
grove" said Sher. Hes already seen
us. Look tired, as If you'd already
done your part of the work" Pvt.
Sher Is the gold d-bricking champion
of Battery A and always knows what
to do in such an emergency.
We both draped expressions OF
fatigue over our faces and the
sergeant skidded to halt before us.
He reached into his hip pocket for
finger at both of us.
BUNS" he shouted. Buns! I
worked my fingers to the bone yes
terday morning getting this platoon
to pretty up the barracks for inspec-
ton. Comes inspection and two
privates have dirty shoes lying
sprawled all over the floor under
their hunks! Private Hargrove and
Mister Private Sher! Report to
Corporal Farmer in fatigue clothes"
We reported to Ccrpl Farmer, who
looked at his list of jobs. LAS much
as you don't deserve it." he said,
you two goldbricks are in line for
eanteen police"
Mr.. Pvt Sher and I walked up
the battery street toward the can
teen
"Is this canteen police business
good or bad?" I asked.
"Oh. so-so," he said You have
10 clean up the papers and cigarette
butts around the post exchange first
thing in the morning. Then you
come around and check up three or