US Army Infantry School - Doughboy Yearbook (Fort Benning, GA)

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Jr-W , 1 - 1 ri, , X fl-Ll A -X Lx A f km ansov .mp structed without thought of harmony of color or shape or direction of lines, since they all ran askew and the East was like the West. I knew not his theme, though greatly interested, and was much surprised when a dignified and learned looking gentleman in the rear of the hall held up a commanding hand and called Time. At this the orator bowed meekly, and amid the plaudits of his auditors, retired to his seat. He was followed by another of his kind, who spoke with less learning but more hurriedly, and retired before the commanding person in the rear could raise his hand. With fear and trembling I approached this austere stranger and enquired of him why one had been permitted to leave the rostrum of his own volition, while the other had been given, what I had described, but did not understand, as the hook. And he told me that less than one half an hour was the greatest time one was permitted in which to tell all he knew. This greatly puzzled rne, and I asked him if great learning did not require a greater space of time for its revelation than less learning? Strangely he agreed with me, but ventured the opinion that much knowledge could be expressed in few words if one knew what not to say. Then isn't silence evidence of supreme knowledge? I queried, but he turned away in disgust. Many days I pondered over the strange things I had seen and heard, till one bright day I wandered over the Western hills to ease my mind in communing with nature. And all was at peace. Suddenly I was aroused from my revery by a great noise as though hail were falling upon a roof. I looked in the valley below me, and the sight froze the blood in my veins. There be- fore me had been herded all the members of this tribe, their faces sunk in despair, while above them their keepers turned upon them murderous look- ing three legged weapons, which spat innumerable quantities of burning missiles. My heart sank within me, for I knew that my people were doomed. But such was not to be. Suddenly a miracle was wrought and they walked, nay, ran forth from the valley of death whole in body, tossing their head pieces high in air in token of their joy at such timely deliverance. I saw them many times in the days that followed and they seemed bright and ever cheerful as though their troubles were soon forgotten. Verily, thought I, these be a strange people, with thick hides and short memories. But soon I found them downcast again, as they came slowly, slowly from the rear door of their grooming room, each pondering over blue letters of their 2 gd' 'I - ' -la O x' x 5 WPW ii-4 I f

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,1 - fi r ! ., I. L' N : ,. 1 E JIM. nd dl X 0 l , Ag 1924- oousuaov ask: Have you no drawing of this locality? Most certainly said he But these people are being taught to draw here, that they may apply their knowledge elsewhere. And are there other places which have no drawings and none Whose Q if profession requires them to supply such de- CJ Q ficiency? There are no such places he X Q said But these vassals must learn to draw :. J 1 maps that they may then read those which Xxlffa :Axim others have drawn. ' This seemed strange to r ....Z' me, and I asked him if they were also to learn Y . . . l 3 to write books that they might 1n turn read those which others had written. He answered me not, but gave me a withering look and passed on. In my minglings with the members of this tribe, who had now come to speak more freely in my presence, I heard an oft repeated word which seemed to spread consternation among them and cause them to tremble and grow white around the gills. This was the word Monograph which I learned was a speech each must make, and in it display his knowledge of some part of the jousting in Europe during the last years of the reign of Wilhelm. Soon thereafter, one bright Saturday morning, I followed to the upper story of a disconsolate looking building in the village, and there I found them all assembled, hushed and stilled at the sound of a small whistling device wielded by one called King Alfred. This person I learned was no king in reality, though regal in bearing, but had been selected by the clan as their leader to trans- O ' mit their desires to the Baron, and protect i them from oppression. And right nobly he J performed these delicate tasks. 'S A A D w And now there mounted the rostrum X E Q one of the tribe, with polished brass but shak- get fk ing limbs and ashen face as though the very f X 1 W thought of that which he was about to relate had torn and shaken his soul until nocturnal repose had long since fled. And he spoke at Vg I fx length with much learning, pinning the while -g- QSJ XX red and blue arrows at various places upon -'A l -1? a large drawing, which seemed to be con- FTA l 'M i v-Q -.15-e , , If 's, 1-vi 4 - f x 4 'iff' ll

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J Q ii -- 3. . X 55 I n , 1- I, ,f 4. - .su-if 'Sl N w' Ai 5 1924- nousuaov Ek alphabet affixed to certain paper-writings headed: Musketry. And the letters 'A' and 'B' were sadly lacking. But they bore up with a right good will and appeared thankful that 'C's and 'D's were still articles of issue. In a little while I saw them no more: That is for some days. I learned that they had all been granted a respite over the Yuletide, and right merrily they spent their freedom, as was related to me sometime later by one Judge Munro. When I next beheld them my spirits rose, for there were my brave fellows mounted upon fleet steeds, ready to be off and away from their bondage. But upon approaching closer, their faces bore no look of triumph, as I had expected to find, but had rather strained and uncertain expressions as though wondering whether it were not the part of wisdom to seek the com- fort of mother earth in a per- pendicular posture rather than Q 6 wait for an uncertain event- Q MXN Q9 j ta if 1 9 . 9 x uality. But these brave fel-XZ MY- 9f I.2XEmL iK- lows were one and all'of sport- J A Q ing instincts, and Qected to T remain aloft. As they jour- 5 neyed along the trail slowly, X at first, I observed many changes of mind. And I thought me many times that they were somewhat influenced by the desires of the beasts they rode. Some had no sooner left the barrier than they disappeared midst clouds of dust and returned not. Others thought better of their first resolutions, and right quickly severed all relations with their mounts, which seemed not loath to be rid of their burdens. I even thought they assisted in some degree. They all returned in time however, even those which had departed most rapidly. And all nursed and seemed to favor their posterior extremities, even to the extent of standing when invited to sit. This was unusual, since heretofore I had not known them to stand when any other posture could be adopted. And thereafter for several days I observed them standing at ease with their hands behind them, as they had. previously been advised to do. It now being the dead of winter and the atmosphere quite moist and chill, my people were led to the Western part of the estate and set at a most un- 1- f 'qi' f' .VW xy 'ill