WHEN THE BAND STRUCK HOME

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 42, 13 November 1918, Page 5

WHEN THE BAND STRUCK HOME

The negro stevedores were playing baseball—playing it tooth and nail, without a thought for anything else in the world. They hadn't been so wrapped up in- anything since they landed in Trance. Suddenly, on the fringe of the thick, noisy, black lino of rooters across the outfield, men began to turn their backs on the game, stiffly standing at attention. Over their heads, from the direction of the band, came faint but thrilling music, to which they automatically fitted words: To arms, ye brave, to arms! We'll form battalions strong, March on. . . .

"Attention!" shouted the husky lieutenant, who but a moment before had been ragging tho pitcher. Moro men, and down the rooters' line yet more men, were, straightening, stiffly erect. The runner,, -ten feet off second, spun half a turn on his heel. The pitcher dropped his Ml, the batter his slick. Even the "ump" was called to silence. Away back, the Y.M.C.A. man saw a lazy catcher stand, elbow crooked, and with his black hand to the forehead of his wire mask. Tho "Marseillaise" hod Jiushed tho M Great American Game.