FROM- THE STOKEHOLD

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2632, 30 November 1915, Page 8

FROM- THE STOKEHOLD

KEEN. TO BE SOLDIERS

RECRUITING OFFICE SKETCH.

Scene: Tho Recruiting Office, Town Hall.

Dramatis _ Personae: Recruiting officers; one Fireman, one Greaser. I'ireman (on entering office): ''We seen the doctor—he says it's right!" Recruiting Officer: "What doctor was it?" ' ' .

fireman: "Dr. Hogg it was I" R.C.: "Did he pass you as fit?" Fireman: "Yus, we writ it on the hack of tho paper Both of us is fit.'-' _ R.C.:'. "That's good. . . , All right (by way of dismissal), you'll hear from us in due course." 'Greaser (cutting in):' "'Ere, what's tins abaht earin' from you. What abaht it—can't we go into camp—we want to be soldiers now I"

R.C.: "Not till the papers oome through from the doctor." Greaser: " 'E says it's all right. Now, look ' matey, what we want to know is • ■Do_ wo go back to the ship or we go into camp?" R.C.: "The best thing I think you can do is to go now and square up with your ship, and then como round tomorrow. Probably your papers will be in by then."

Fireman: "Ship sails at 5 o'olook— what about a bed to-nijiht?" R.C.: "I dumio." . Greaser: "Say, old chap, you've got a fine bed, eh, what; What abafita doss on yer 'arfrug?" R.O. : "The_ very best thing you can do, my man, is to square up with your ship. Then we'll find you work until you are called up." , Greaser: "Blimey, matey—work!—Wo don t want no work. Look! (and ho snoved two great, grimy, toiL-wom hands under the R.C.'s nose). ;Yer don't get that fer not Kin'". I don't' want work — I wantT ter be a soldier."

R.C.: "I'm sorry-—" . • * ■ . Greaser: "This is a,funny way. anyhow. Say, mister, they don't do it this way at 'Ome!" . .

R.C.: "No; its different out here." Greaser: "Yus, as soon as you take tho shilling you're a soldier." R.C. (getting impatient): "Yes, Yes!"

Greaser (appealingly): "What abaht a bed fer to-night?" R. 0.: "Better go back to your ship and fix up." ' : Greaser (disgusted): "Well, s'elp mel I 'feard you wanted men! Look 'ere, the ship sails at '5 o'clock) what! Can't we 'op it inter camp?" R. 0.: "I'm afraid that won't do. We have to wait for the papers—the papers have to go to the Defence people at Buckle Street. Then they will call up the next draft about December 14 or 15." ■ - •

Greaser: "What d'we do till then?" R. 0.: "We'll try and find you work —but first of all we must see that tho papers come through in order.". Fireman:' "Jfttter git back to tha ship, matey! This ain't no good to' us." i After more, haggling the grimy pair left the. office sore at not being able to " 'op it inter camp" ' there and men, and aghast at-the thought'of not haying." any bed to lie on if they left their ship. They ( admitted having Is. 4d. between them in hard cash, but were unanimous tn the resolve that that sum was sacred to liquid refreshment. One of them said he would be "chuckin' away tweiiny-ilireo by enlistin'," which sacrifice.;was diily applauded by one of ,th'e recruiting officers, who said he was Hot to go tfiat far.. The same recruft also let drop the fact that- he made two trips'from - St. -John's 'itokine helmeaiit that all he got out of it was an outfit from tho ships clothing.providor.