HOW TO BE A ROOKIE
CHEER UP THE LONESOME SOULS
In as much as you nave qualified as
a rookie, you must put forth every: ef
fort to retain your rank.
Your conduct around the barracks
will determine in a large degree your
success.
Take it on yourself to entertain the
boys and keep them in good spirits.
Uemember that they are away from
home and get very lonesome and need
someone to cheer them up. ’
(let up about four o’clock in the
morning and start the victrola with a
lively piece. Music is a great help to
lighten the troubled heart and the boys
will appreciate your efforts. No doubt
they will express their gratitude I>y
tossing a few favors in your direction.
There are lots of little things that you
can do_ at this early hour to show
your kindness of wit. Before your
comrades get up pick up a few stray
socks and lay them on the faces of
the sleepy hoys. It is advised that you
make haste in getting out of their
reach as it is surprising how quickly
they will arise from their stupor. Se-'
lect about twelve of the stalest socks
and stand them upright in the mid
dle of the floor for some early riser
to stumble over. .
At the noon hour when your com
rades are trying to sleep, make a run
ning jump and land in the middle of
the bunk, then grab his mattress from
under him. He will probably chase you
out of the barracks, but this will bo
."reat sport and will afford amuse
ment for all the boys in the room. If
the surgeant comes in to settle the
noise tell him you are only doing it to
cheer the boys up a bit, and that you
feel that you are succeeding.
Just before mess hide a few mess
kits and then wait to hear the fellows
talk about you when they come in
and find their mess4its gone. P’er-
naps they will express themselves
very freely about the fine fellow who
took them and from that you can tell
what short of an impression you have
made.
A night when taps have sounded and
aU within the barracks is quiet start
singing at the top of your voice.
Choose some popular song like “It’s a
Long Way to Tipperary.” That will
waken the boys and cheer them up
with patriotic vigor. If they don’t
seem to appreciate that, start sewing
on an old fiddle, which you have prev-
iou.sly “borrow'ed,” which you can
make more noise. Before you get
through you will probably have a
great collection of hobnail shoes
around your bunk, and will not have
to draw on the Quarter Master for a
long time.
After a few days the “Top_ Ser-
geant” will recognize your ability as
an entertainer and move you to anoth
er barracks, to practice your art there.
He also might be able to use you^^in
the kitchen to cheer up the “K. P's.
Pvt. ABTHUR PAY,
Quartermaster Sergeant Bodefo* 1
is leaving here to go to the camp
quartermasters’ schools of cooks and
bakers as an instructor. We wish him
every success in his new position.
THE CADUCEUS.
MY ERROR
13
Some time ago I went to the
Y. M. C. A. cafeteria in Charlotte
To have lunch.
I was alone.
At the table next to
Mine, sitting with his
Back toward me, was
An officer.
All the insignia of rank
I could observe
Was a strip of braid on
His sleeve.
Having finished his lunch
He arose, went over to the ^
Hat rack, took a hat oft
The rack and proceeded towards the
Blonde in the cage to
Pay his check.
The hat he took had a
Bright yellow cord and
To save him the
EJmbarassment of going out with
A cavalry-man’s hat I
Decided to inform him of
His mistake.
Leaving my
Coffee to cool I approached
Him and said
“Sir, you have taken a
“Cavalryman’s hat by mistake”
He said: .
“Haven’t you been in the
Army long enough to
Know that Generals wear
All gold hat cords?
And that was my first
Conversation with a
General of the United States Army.
Sergeant Patrick J. Casgrove.
Canteen “La fraternite”
T. BAXEVAND & CO. ‘
Rear of the Detacfiement Barrracks
COMPLETE LINE OF
CIGARS, CIGAR
ETTES. CAN
DY and ICE
CREAM
ICE COLD
SOFT DRINKS
Eift §tnn?t»aUI|ntpl
Cafe in Connection
Table de Hotel Meals
75 Cents
Also A-la-Carte Service
‘WE TRY TO PLEASE”
Opposite the Southern Railway Depot
CHARLOTTE, N. C.
W. E. HOCKETT
Manager