NEGRO SOLDIERS' HUMOUR.

Taihape Daily Times, 30 September 1918, Page 2

NEGRO SOLDIERS' HUMOUR.

One of the American Y.M.C.A, secretaries, who is a real expert on the subject of the American negroes in the war, tells of some of their humorous comments. “Niggah!” said a captain to an exceptionally stupid though pathetically earnest and willing private, "you is i suttinly de biggest bonehead I has evah seen in mah ’sperience. I’se done tol’ you all I know an’ you doan now nuthin’!” Another man approached the desk at a recruiting station, and said, “Say, boss, I want to enlist.” “In what?” “I wants in de infantry.” “Well, this is the navy. Don’t you want to enlist in the Navy ” “No, sah! By no means! When I'se in de infantry big shell bursts, and dere I is. When I’se on a ship big shell busts, and den where is I?” “Goin ’to enlist?” a negro asked a friend. “Yes, indeedy.” “Whaffor?” A “Infantry” H “How ’bout Aviafion Corps?” “What’s dat?” “FlyinM” , I.,*' ' “No sah! Nothin’ doin’! Not me, nohow!” “Why not, niggah?” “Why not? Lemme tell you-aTT why not. Yet get in one o’ dem machines what has a body like a fish, wings like a butterfly an engine on its nose. Two holes, one for de~shover (chaffeur), one for de captain. You goes up ’bout three miles, goin’ like de dehbil. Den the motor stalls. Den the captain he say to you, ‘Bud, you get out and crank dat motor!’ ”