POLK COUNTY NEWS, TR YON, N. 0
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By An. American Arfclra
if Guy E
mpey
SoldierWEoWeet Machine Gunner, Serving in France
Copyright 1917. fcy Arthur Qnj Ease
EMPEY WRITES AND STAGES A PLAY BEHIND THE LINES
WITH GREAT SUCCESS.
Synopsis. Fired by the sinking of the Lusitanla, with the loss of
American lives, Arthur Guy Empey, an American living in Jersey City,
goes to England and enlists as a private in the British army. After a
short experience as a recruiting officer in London, he is stent to train
ing quarters in France, where he first hears the sound of big guns and
makes the acquaintance of "cooties." After a brief period of training
Empey's company is sent into the front-line trenches, where he takes
his first turn on the fire step while the bullets whiz overhead. Empey
learns, as comrade falls, that death lurks always in the trenches.
Chaplain distinguishes himself by rescuing wounded men under hot
fireA With pick and shovel Empey has experience as a trench digger
in No Man's Land. After exciting experiences on listening post detail
and observation post duty, Empey is picked for patrol duty in No
Man's Land and has narrow escape from death.
CHAPTER XVIII Continued.
14
While they are talking, an old Jew
aamed Ikey Cohenstein comes along,
ind Abe engages him for cashier. After
engaging Ikey they meet an old
Southern negro called Sambo, and
ipon the suggestion of Ikey he is en
gaged as porter. Then the three of
them, arm in arm, leave to take pos
session of this wonderful palace which
Abe has just paid $6,000 for. (Cur
tain.) In the second act the curtain rises
on the interior of the Diamond Palace
saloon, and the audience gets its first
shock. The saloon looks like a pig
pen, two tramps lying drunk on the
floor, and the bartender in a dirty
shirt with his sleeves rolled up, asleep
with his head on the bar.
Enter Abe, Sambo and Ikey, and the
un commences.
One of the characters in the second
act was named Broadway Kate, and I
had an awful job to break in one of
ihe Tommies to act and talk like a
woman.
Another character was Alkali Ike, an
Arizona cowboy, who just before the
close of the play comes into the saloon
and wrecks it with his revolver.
We had eleven three-hour rehearsals
before I thought it advisable to pre
sent the sketch to the public.
The whole i brigade was crazy to
ritness the first performance. This
performance was scheduled for Friday
night and everyone was full of antici
pation; when bang! orders came
through that the brigade would move at
two that afternoon. Cursing and
blinding was the order of things upon
the receipt of this order, but we
moved.
That night we reached the little vil
lage of S and again went into rest
billets. We were to be there two
weeks. Our company immediately got
busy and scoured the village for a
suitable place in which to present our
production. Then we received another
shock.
A rival company was already estab
lished in the village. They called
themselves "The Bow Bells," and
put on a sketch entitled, "Blighty
What Hopes?" They were the divi
sional concert party.
We hoped they all would be soon
In Blighty to give us a chance.
This company charged an admission
of a franc per head, and that night
our company went en masse to see
their performance. It really was good.
I had a sinking sensation when I
thought of running my sketch in op
position to it.
In one of their scenes they had a
soubrette called Flossie. The soldier
that took this part was clever and
made a fine-appearing and chic girl.
We immediately fell in love with her
"until two days after, while we were
on a march, we passed Flossie with
"her" sleeves rolled up and the sweat
pouring from "her" face unloading
shells from a motor lorry.
As our section passed her I yelled
out: "Hello, Flossie; Blighty What
Hopes?"" Her reply made our love die
out instantly.
"Ah, go to h 11"
This, brought quite a laugh from the
marching column directed at me and I
instantly made up my mind that our
sketch should immediately run in. op
position to "Blighty What Hopes?"
When we returned to our billet from
the march, Curley Wallace, my the
atrical partner, came running over to
me and said he had found a swanky
place in which to produce our show.
After taking off my equipment, and
followed by the rest of the section, I
went over to the building he had picked
out. It was a monstrous barn with a
platform at one end which would make
an Ideal stage. The section got right
on the job, and before night had that
place rigged out in apple-pie order.
The next day was Sunday and after
church parade we put all our time on
a dress rehearsal, and it went fine."
I made four or five large signs an
nouncing that our company would open
up that evening at the King George the
Fifth theater, on the corner of Ammo
street and Sandbag terrace. General
admission was one-half franc. First
ten rows In orchestra one franc, and
boxes two francs. By this time our
printed programs had returned from
London, and I further announced that
on the night of the first performance
a program would be given free of
charge to men holding tickets costing a
franc or over.
We had an orchestra of seven men
and seven different instruments. This
orchestra was excellent, while they
were not playing.
The performance was scheduled to
start at 6 p. m.
At 5 :15 there was a mob in front of
our one entrance and it looked like a
big night. We had two boxes each ac
commodating four people, and these
we Immediately sold out. Then a
brilliant idea came to Ikey Cohenstein.
Why not use the rafters overhead, call
them boxes, and charge two francs for
a seat on them? The only difficulty
was how were the men to reach these
boxes, but to Ikey this was a mere de
tail. He got long ropes and tied one end
around each rafter and then tied a lot
of knots In the ropes. These ropes
would take the place of stairways. -
We figured out that the rafters
would seat about forty men and sold
that number of tickets accordingly.
When the ticketholders for the boxes
got a glimpse of the rafters and were
informed that they had to use the rope
stairway, there was a howl of indigna
tion, but we had their money and told
them that if they did not like it they
could write to the management later
and their money would be refunded ;
but under these conditions they would
not be allowed to witness the perform
ance that night.
After a little grousing they accepted
the situation with the promise that if
the show was rotten they certainly
would let us know about it during the
performance.
Everything went lovely and It was a
howling success, until Alkali Ike ap
peared on the scene with his revolver
loaded with blank cartridges. Behind
the bar on a shelf was a long line of
bottles. Alkali Ike was supposed to
start on the left of this line and break
six of the bottles by firing at them with
his revolver. Behind these bottles a
piece of painted canvas was supposed
to represent the back of the bar, at
each shot from Alkali's pistdl a man
behind the scenes would hit one of the
Preparing the "Chow."
bottles with his entrenching tool
handle and smash At, to give tne im
pression that Alkali was a good shot.
Alkali Ike started in and aimed at
the right of the line of bottles instead
of the left, and the poor boob behind
the scenes started breaking the bottles
on the left, and then the boxholders
turned loose; but outside of this little
fiasco the performance was a huge suc
cess, and we decided to run it -for a
week.
New troops were constantly coming
through, and for six performances we
had the "S. R. O." sign suspended out.
side.
CHAPTER XIX.
On His O vn.
Of course Tommy cannot always b
producing plays under fire but while
in rest billets he has numerous othei
ways of amusing himself. He Is a
great gambler, but never plays for
large stakes. Generally, In each com
pany, you will find a regular Canfield.
This man banks nearly all the games
of chance and is an undisputed author
ity on the rules of gambling. When
ever there is an argument among the
Tommies about some uncertain point
a? to whether Hought(n is entitled to
Watkins' sixpence, the matter Is taken
to the recognized authority and his de
cision is final.
The two most popular games are
"Crown and Anchor" and "House."
The paraphernalia used in "Crown
and Anchor" consists of a piece of can
vas two feet by three feet. This Is
divided into six equal squares. In these
squares are painted a club, diamond,
heart, spade, crown, and an anchor,
one device to a square. There are
three dice used, each dice marked the
same as the canvas. The banker sets
up his gambling outfit in the corner ol
a billet and starts Lally-hooing until a
crowd of Tommies gathers around;
then the game starts.
The Tommies ptare bets on the
squares, the crown or anchor being
played the most. The banker then
rolls his three dice ami collects or pays
out as the case may be. If you play
the crown and one shows up on the
dice, you get even money, If two show
up, you receive two to one, and if three,
three to one. If the crown does not ap
pear and you have bet on It, you lose,
and so on. The percentage for the
banker is large if every square is
played, but t the crc wd Is partial to,
say two squares, he has to trust tc
luck. The banker generally wins.
The game of "Hon 5" is very populai
also. It takes two men to run it. This
game consists of numerous squares ol
cardboard containing three rows ol
numbers, five numbeis to a row. The
numbers run from one vo ninety. Each
card has a different combination.
The French "estandnets" In the vil
lages are open from eleven In the morn
ing until one in the afternoon & ac
cordance with army orders.
After dinner the Tommies congre
gate at these places to drink Frenct
beer at a penny a glass and plaj
"House."
As soon as the Staminet is suffl
ciently crowded tne -proprietors of th
"House" game get busy and, as thej
term it, "form a school." This consist
of going around and selling cards ai
a franc each. If the y have ten In th
school, the backers of the game de
duct two francs for their trouble anc
the winner gets eighj francs.
Then the game sti.rts. Each buyej
places his card before him on the ta
ble, first breaking up matches Into fif
teen pieces.
' One of the backen of the gax le hai
a small doth bag in which are ninetj
cardboard squares, each with 8, num
ber printed thereon, 2) om one to nine
ty. He raps on the table and criel
out: "Eyes down, mj lucky lads."
All noise ceases an I erery one Is at
tention.
The croupier placeu'hls hand In th
bag and draws forth a nunbere
square and immediatjly calls out th
number. The man who ovns tie care"
with that particular number on It
covers the square wlti a natch. Th
one who covers the fifteen numbers or
his card first shouts "House." Th
other backer immediately comjs ovei
to him and verifies the card by callini
out the numbers thereon to the mar
with the bag. As each number 1
called he picks it out of the one
picked from the bag and says, "Bight
If the count Is right he shout?, "House
correct, pay the lucky gentleman, and
sell him a card for the next school
The "lucky gentleman" geneially buyi
one unless he has a miser trace lr
his veins.
Then another collection In made, c
school formed, and they carry on witl
the game.
The caller-out ha many nicknamei
for the numbers such as "Kelly's Eye'
for one, "Leg's Eleven" for eleven
"Clickety-click" for sixty-six, or "Tot
of the- house" mean! ig ninety.
Empey tells In the next Install
ment how the var is crumbling
the British wall of caste, which
once was insurmountable.
(TO BE CONTINUED-!
AS A RESULT OF NINE EVPLO
SIONS THAT WRECKED CHEM-
ICAL PLANT.
CHINA GROVE N.G. MAN KILLED
Remnants of Human Bodies Brought,
Out From the Debris Throughout
Day After Explosion.
Pittsburg. Fifty-six men are
known to be dead, 94 injured in hos
pitals and 31 employes of tne Aetna
Chemical Company, are missing as a
result of the nine explosions that
wrecked this company's explosive
manufacturing plant at Oaxuale, 16
miles from this city. This report is
the result of the day's investigation by
state, federal, county and city officials
and of the work of scores of men un
der the direction of Coroner Samuel
C. Jamieson.
Throughout the night and all day
men were extinguishing small fires in
the debris and were bringing out rem
nants of human bodies, legs and arms
hands with finger rings on them and,
in some instances, only the incinerated
torsos fere found. In most cases there
was nothing to indicate the identity of
the victim. These gruesome recover
ies were carried to the temporary mor
gue where opportunity to view them
was given any one that might have
lost friend or relative in the disaster.
While earlier explosions wrecked
the plant, the last one, about 6:20.
scattered debris over more , acreage
than before and blackening every
piece of metal or timber as i well as
anything human beyond recogniton.
All day. a blue-brown smoke con
tinued to hang over the ruins consid
erably impeding the work of the
searchers. Its deadly fumes are fear
ed by the residents of the community
and only when a slight breeze would
lift the smoke would searchers be able
to get close to the various piles of de
bris. For a time the work was imped
ed further by the thousands of sight
seers that flocked to the scene from
the surrounding country. A company
of the state constabulary was rushed
in automobiles from Greensburg to
establish a greater cordon about the
scene of the disaster. The crowds and
automobiles were turned back when
they had eached within five miles of
Oakdale. Only those having business
or the officials were admitted past thh
guards.
Thousands of persons streamed into
the temporary morgue all day to view
the gruesome finds from the ruins and
it tok a special detail of police to
keep this morbid' element in check
Some identifications were made. Piti
ful, sad scenes were on every hand.
POSTMASTER GENERAL SAYS
TEDDY WAS MISLEADING.
Washington. Postmaster General
Burleson issued a statement asserting
that Colonel Roosevelt evaded the
Issue and was misleading in his "pre
liminary" reply to the demand that
he prove his charge that the adminis
tration was punishing publications
which upheld the war but told the
truth about administration failures,
while it failed to proceed against
those who opposed the war or at
tacked the allies but defended inef
ficiency. "Mr. Roosevelt's reply of May 11
which he then termed . 'preliminary',"
said Mr. Burleson, "in the main
evades the issue presented and is
throughly misleading. He names The
New York Tribune, Collier's and The
Metropolitan Magazine in a way
which creates the impression that
these publications have been the ob
jects of improper discrimination by
the postoffice department.
"This department has taken no ac
tion against Collier's.
"This department has taken no ac
tion against The Tribune.
"The department has taken no ac
tion against The Metrnolitan Mn.ro.
zin.
NAMES 13 MORE NEW
TORPEDOBOAT DESTROYERS.
Washington. Secretary Daniels an
nounced that he had named 13 more
new torpedoboat destroyers in mem
ory of men of the navy who won dis
tinction through heroic conduct
Among them the Anthony is named in
memory of Sergeant Major William
Anthony, of the marine corps, who
distinguished himself when the Maine
was blown up in Havan harbor and
the Edwards for Midshipman W. F.
Edwards, of Petersburg, Va.
SILENT TRIBUTE PAID
CAPTAIN JAMES N. HALL.
The airplane driven by Capt. James
N. Hall, which fell while flytnjr within
the German lines a few days ago, bore
the number "17." Now a new "No
17" has appeared on the American
rront northwest of Toul.
Immediately under the pilot's seat
on each side, has been placed the in
scription "Old Jimmy." It Is a silent
:ribute to Captain Hall.
The American flyers have adopted
for a miscot a jackass.
J
ii
s
;
Sometimes we see a suit or dress
which has been presented by its design
er without any attempt to depart from
good, accepted standards of style In its
construction.! The charm of such a de
sign lies in other; things than original
ity or startling noyelty. It is embodied
in the best use of all the means at
hand to make a perfect garment of Its
kind. A lovely example of this con
servative and elegant designing is
shown in the suit of embroidered jer
sey made for wear In midsummer
pictured here. It is j in French gray
; with embroidery In white and will
please every discerning woman.
There is nothing to say of its design
that is not told by the picture. The
skirt and coat are both cut on the
simplest lines and embellished with a
wide band of j embroidery. The belt,
of the material, is narrower than is
usual in this season's suits and finished
with a small, prim bow at the front
and the fastening of the coat at the
bust and waistline is mana-
iwnuui suit to beiw
In either silk or wool jersey 2
uaviiig certain advantages. n,e
-worn with a pretty blom
0 0 v-ijc in me saaie.
. .oo ".usiuine eqt;
lequiieujeut, in war times
vci,. m vavj ociMce witn any feji
piuce oi a nanusome sweater coat
collar is partly white, in the
or smart new sweaters and sJ
coats, and its color makes it loo
with any frock.
For patriotic reasons many
will not buy wool. In this suit
not offered as a substitute for si
but . as a. more appropriate he
for the character of the suit i
parasol, made of flowered chiffon
keeping with it and correswic
dressy footwear is provided for:
black kid pumps and gray silk
Ings. No other material would i
as well as jersey for this suit.
Girl's Jacket-Dress of Voi
One set of ingredients that have been
used with great success for children's
rammer frocks Includes voile, wash
satin, colored embroidery, silks for
fancy stitching, and little crochet but
tons. . They have been put together In
many ways In frocks for little girls
Crom three to eleven or twelve years
old. Distribute a set to each of a half
dozen designers, or designing mothers,
and the result will be another half
dowsn fetching little! dresses, each
worked out according to the age of the
little one who la to wear it and the
fancy of its maker. A coatee, or jack
et effect, is likely to make its appear
ance amnng them.
Anywhere, from the time she steps
beyond the limit of babyhood until she
is about to enter thai fl
i'A"-
coatee dresses are among the prized
possessions oi the little girl. Here is
one of them for a little miss of eleven,
made of the before-mentioned set of
Ingredients. K any one is able to com
bine them In better proportion, to .bet
ter or as good effect, let her send in
her recipe for the benefit of a waiting
tnultirode of mothers, j
This little frock Is of white voile
Ith fancy stitching land smocking in
Inc. Bine wash satin Is used for the
-1
fr the na
WU1U Ullll lllll M 2111U ' -i I
belt, and tiny white crochet bat
finish them off. Smocking takes . a
v. Uio 1U11UCB3 Ul j-.
A. i -L. K OOTTie US'
jLruut ana proviaes, iu
IAai-Ka oU.).ln nnncflrfl lit 10?
iu - i j . iu. nna 8
va me uem auu ai uie
tne smocked front or tne m- g
sleovpB nrA thrp-nii!irter length.
a tiny girl of four to six or seven y
the blue satin may be left out
voile used for belt, collar and
outlined with leather stitching
blue. .
sUppers are appropriately worn ,
this attractive little dress, it rf
able and inexpensive and It Is n
all difficult to make. All th(,tt(
good points that will recommend
sensible mothers.
Brlflhtenlng Sweaters.
Dark-colored silk sweaters
many Instances brightened by g
Ktripes of gay and pleasantly con
Ing colors.
3U
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