If you could see them back of the
lines, even within sound of the guns, playing a game of ball; if you
could see them putting on a minstrel show in a Y. M. C. A. hotel in
Paris; if you could see a team of white boys playing a team of negro
boys; if you could see a whole regiment go in swimming; if you could
see them in a track meet, you would know that, in spite of war, they
are living normal lives, with just about the same proportion of
sunshine and sorrow as they find at home, with the sunshine dominant.
Some Silhouettes of Sunshine gleam against the background of war like
scintillating diamonds and
"Send a thrill of laughter through the framework
of your heart;
And warm your inner being 'til the tear drops
want to start."
There was that watch-trading incident on the Toul line.
The Americans had only been there a week, but it hadn't taken them long
to get acquainted with the French soldiers. About all the two
watch-trading Americans knew of French was "Oui! Oui!" and they used
this every minute.
The American soldiers had a four-dollar Ingersoll watch, and this
illuminated time-piece had caught the eye of the French soldier. He,
in turn, had an expensive, jewelled, Swiss-movement pocket-watch. The
American knew its value and wanted it.
They stood and argued.
Pages:
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130