Friday, 31 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 22--A LETTER FROM CARL DUNCAN--Camp Martin, Topeka, Kan, Sunday, Aug 26--I have some spare time today so I shall spend it by writing in particular to those who are called in the first draft. I feel that I have some information that some of you should have before leaving for your training camp next month. If I have any time left I shall relate some of my experiences during my three weeks of army life. First, as to what to take with you. I know all of you have thought of this and, like myself, wondered just what you would need and how much you would be allowed to take. By all means you should have the following articles in your suitcase: 3 or 4 shirts. 3 or 4 pairs of sox, (preferably gray yarn, which should be washed before wearing.) 3 or 4 collars. Handkerchiefs. High top shoes, (by no means low cuts.) A change of underwear. Tooth brush and paste. Razor and all shaving articles. Wash rags and towels. Writing material. Thread, buttons, pins and needles. Kodak if wanted. A black foreinhand tie is the uniform tie. It is more convenient to carry your toilet articles in a toilet case. If you do not want to buy one, you can have it made out of some heavy material with pockets for talcum powder, razor, shaving stick, etc. It should have flaps for pins and needles. Any size desirable can be made. The ladies of Rosedale gave each of the soldiers one just before we left. The nearest thing I can think of that resembles what I am talking about is the canvas tool kit with automobiles. This, with a few changes, make a very good pattern to follow. Regarding a mirror you can buy at camp what is called a French mirror, for 25c, which is non-breakable. It may be that you will need a wash pan, but I would wait until I got to camp to buy that, because it may be that you will have all modern conveniences. Here we are temporarily located and the water supply is not adequate for the number of soldiers encamped. The safety razor is mostly used, but if any of you use the old fashioned kind it is advisable to take a hone. You should have a wrist watch as no other kind is allowed in the army. I feel quite sure your equipment will be delayed so it is best to take all you can get in your suitcase. They may send it back, but again you may get by. We have never gotten our uniform yet but have been drilling for three weeks in civilian clothes. We are expected to have everything issued to us this week. The equipment problem is getting to be a big one and they are having a hard time equipping the guards, much less the national army. Our order for equipment consists of the following: 2 uniforms complete. Shoes, overcoat, sweater, underwear and gloves. 2 Blankets. Cot and mess articles. The meals have been above what I expected. We are well fed and I have never left the table hungry. We have had pie almost every day and ice cream twice last week. By getting on the good side of the mess sergeant, you might get some extra handouts some times. You will be allowed to take 75 pounds overseas. A barrack bag will be issued at camp for carrying your clothing. In no case is a private allowed to take a suitcase or trunk. We go to bed at 11 o'clock and get up at 5:45. At six o'clock we must be in ranks and dressed for roll call. If you appear in ranks half dressed or if you are late, you are due to get fatigue duty for a day. This means a little hard manual labor about the camp. Fortunately, I have never had any marks against me and I am sure I don't intend to have. It doesn't do one any good to disobey orders. From 6 to 6:30 we take physical exercise, consisting of gymnasium drills and a run around the track. After 6:30 we are allowed one and a half hours to redress and clean up. Breakfast comes at eight o'clock while we are in this camp. My! but you sure do eat after going through these drills before breakfast. We have never drilled very much. A few days we got as much as five hours but since we have been at Topeka we have not worked over two hours any day. Most of the time is spent sitting around singing the familiar song "Where do We Go Next Boys." All you have to do is to obey orders and you will get along all right. When you are told to do anything, do it an do it quick. The man who obeys never gets into trouble and it is not so hard to do this as you would think. The men who are always in the civil courts are the very ones who are court-martialed and get fatigue duties. Your bunk has to be cleaned every morning and your bed has to be made up in a certain way. It must be made up this way and no other. If you make it up your way you may expect punishment. You will never be told to do anything but once, and the sooner you learn this, the better for you. An army must be disciplined. If it isn't it might prove disastrous on the battle field. There are lots of things I could write but I am afraid I will have to finish this another time. There are 1700 encamped here and I think fully 1000 are talking around me. There is so much noise I can't hear myself think. We are expecting to leave here some time this week for Mineola, NY, that is, that is where we think we are going. I suppose we will embark for France about the last of September. It will be some time before we will see action. You would be surprised how poorly trained the guards are, and its going to take some hard work to get them in shape by Jan. 1st. I send my best regards to all my friends, and especially to my pupils. I hope that all of you enjoy a pleasant school term. I wish I could be with you, but such a thing is impossible. When I come back I hope to have the opportunity of teaching you the history of the great war. My address is 117th Ammunition Train, 42nd Division, USA, Caisson Co. No. 2, Topeka, Kansas. If anyone desires any further information, I shall be glad to tell him what little I may know. I have learned things since I have been here that are not printed in the papers. I wish I had time to write to each one of you, but since I haven't, I have chosen the pages of the NEWS, hoping thereby to reach all of you. Before closing I may say something that may be of interest to those who have so kindly recommended me for a transfer. I was taken to headquarters yesterday and worked all day on service records. They are evidently giving me consideration for clerical work. Friday, 31 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 22--Granville, Roy and Ruth Eubanks went to Mexico Wednesday to spend the week with their grandparents, it being their last chance for a visit before the opening of school. Friday, 31 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 22--Dr. G. M. Nichols received a letter Saturday from his son, Will, who recently enlisted in the Navy, informing him that his ship was in service near the Philippine Islands, but that it would perhaps soon be sent to Russian waters. He was not allowed to write anything whatever of a military nature. Friday, 31 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 22--The NEWS acknowledges the receipt of the following, and along with the bride's host of Higbee friends, extends best wishes: "Mr. Louis E. Griffith and Mrs. Jennie Lavelle announce their marriage at 5 o' clock p.m. Wednesday, August 22, 1917, at the Central Presbyterian church, Denver, Colo. At home Brighton, Colo., after September 1. Friday, 31 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 22--Mrs. W. R. Pattrick was about the happiest woman in town Saturday, when she received through the mail a gold souvenir spoon sent her as a birthday present by her son, J. H. Pattrick, who is with the American Medical Corps in France. She was made all the more happy from the fact that the little package reached her on her birthday. Friday, 31 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 22--Miller Pyle writes us from Ft. Bliss, Texas: "Please change my address to Cpl. Miller Pyle, Co. B. It took me three months and eleven days to make first class private and then corporal. Lots of men have left here past month under sealed orders. Only about 15,000 here now. We were reviewed by Gen. Roof recently and tomorrow will be reviewed by the commanders at the Southern Department. Next week we go on a 125-mile hike. On or about September 5 I will either go to France or to one of the new cantonments as instructor in the various forms of signal work. Keep the NEWS coming, as it is enjoyed by all." Friday, 31 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 22--P. E. True moved to Higbee from Marshall last week. Friday, 31 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 22--Saturday, August 25th being Dr. G. M. Nichols' 57th birthday, Mrs. Nichols surprised him with a big dinner fit for a king. The guests were Mrs. Mary Nichols, Wisdom Burton and H. Scott Welch, each of whom enjoyed the occasion and the dinner to the fullest extent and expressed the wish that the doctor could without growing old before his time, celebrate his birthday every week or so. Friday, 31 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 22--John Wright who moved to Marissa, Ill, a week or so ago, returned with his family Wednesday, the mine at which he was at work having been closed down for about two weeks on account of the installation of a new engine. Friday, 31 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 22--Mike, the 9-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Donatti, living at mine No. 11, died Friday night of last week from cholera morbis resulting from eating green grapes. Interment was made Sunday at Moberly, following services in the Catholic church. Friday, 31 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 22--Born, on the 15th, to Mr. and Mrs. John Sweezer, a son. Friday, 31 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 22--PARIS DOUGHERTY DEAD--Paris Dougherty, one of Howard county's best known and highly respected citizens residing near Myers, died at the home of his mother, Mrs. Martha Dougherty, on the 24th, from paralysis, with which he was stricken several weeks before. He was 55 years old. Besides his mother he is survived by three brothers. Funeral services were held Sunday at New Hope by Rev. P. A. Dougherty where interment was made. Friday, 31 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 22--Miss Margaret Maupin, of Fayette who taught in our school last year, and who was re-elected for the coming term, tendered her resignation Wednesday, having married the first of the week. The board held a meeting Wednesday night and accepted the resignation and took steps looking to the securing of another teacher. Although school opens Monday, the board is anticipating no trouble in finding a capable teacher. Friday, 31 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 22--Mr. Ernest Fowler of Eldorado, Kan, and Miss Goldena Campbell of this place were granted a marriage license at Moberly Wednesday and were married there that day, but by whom we could not learn. Congratulations. Friday, 31 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 22--John Stepp, aged 28, residing near Lisbon, Howard county, was shot and instantly killed Thursday night of last week near the Missouri River bridge by Hammett Colvin, a negro aged 30. Along with other young men of the neighborhood, they had spent the day at Boonville attending a circus and started a crap game as soon as they left the ferry on the Howard county side on their return. All had been drinking heavily, it is said, and the shooting followed a quarrel over the game. Colvin went to Fayette and gave himself up. Friday, 31 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 22--R. C. Duncan received a letter from his son, Carl, Wednesday, informing him that he had been unsuccessful in his efforts to get a transfer from the "Rainbow Division," soon to be sent to France. As all know, Carl enlisted in advance of the draft as an accountant in the quartermaster's department, with the understanding that he would be sent to one of the southern training camps. he was very much surprised on reporting for duty to learn that Capt. Herdon, who recruited the troops, and who has since been made a Major, had offered the services of the boys to Uncle Sam, and that they had been made a part of the "Rainbow Division" to sail for France some time in September. Through friends Carl tried to get a transfer to the troops with which he enlisted, but Herdon refused to recommend the transfer, which means that he will soon be on his way to the front as a driver of an ammunition wagon to the firing line. In a letter from Carl, elsewhere in this issue, it will be seen that he is making the best of a bad situation, and the NEWS along with his host of friends, hopes for his safe return and that his experience with the "Rainbow" boys will be such that he would choose that particular branch of service above all others were it all to be done over again. Friday, 31 August 1917, Vol. 31, No 22--OWSLEY-BRYANT--The following from the Windsor Review will be on interest to readers of the NEWS, the bride being a former resident of Higbee and one of its most popular and charming young ladies: "The social circles of Windsor were treated to a surprise when the last of the week the report became current that Mr. Pierce Owsley and Miss Eva Bryant had been married Wednesday afternoon in Sedalia by Rev. C. H. Briggs of the Methodist church. After a short visit in Kansas City they arrived home the last of the week and have since been busy receiving the congratulations of friends. "The bridegroom is the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. R. N. Owsley and since his father entered upon his duties as postmaster has been efficiently filling the place of assistant postmaster. He is a splendid young man and has a host of friends in Windsor and community. "The bride is the daughter of Mr. George Bryant, formerly of Windsor. She has for a number of years made her home in Windsor and has been popular with the young people of the town, among whom she has many good friends who are well wishers for the happy couple." The NEWS joins other friends in best wishes. Kathy Bowlin, Additions, corrections, comments welcome.