The Martian, journal publié par les soldats américains de l'Hôpital de Mars-sur-Allier , item 3

• August 3, 2017 04:10:41 Cheryl Ellsworth

   Blue stamp in upper left corner 

  BIBLIOTHEQUE DE LA VILLE

  NEVERS

   Written in ink, upper left: 

  2.N.518

  
  

  THE MARTIAN
  

  HOMMES-36-40

  CHEVAUX - 8

  
  

  Vol. 1 - No. 8

  SUNDAY. October, 13, 1918.

  Price : 30 centimes.

  
  

   Left column: 

  SONG OF THE K.P.
  

   cartoon of three men singing, holding a large paper between them 

  
  

      After the war is over,

  After we've crossed the sea.

      We'll give up slinging corned beef

  And pouring out watery tea.

      Our fatigue suits we'll bury in quick lime,

  The sergeant will see us no more.

      We hope to be fathers with children,

  If they pull another war.

  
  

  MASONIC NOTES
  

  
  

      The Masons who are represented by a member

  ship in this Center of nearly three hundred

  enjoyed a social evening on Tuesday Oct. 8 th

  at which nearly all were present. Prominent in

  the list of entertainment was a Jazz Band orchestra

  which was brought from some distance

  and at considerable expense. The Order here

  is especially well represented in Colonel Skinner

  and the Commanding Officers of the various

  Units. Interesting plans are in the making

  and the meetings are sure to be enjoyed during

  the coming months by those who have the 

  privilege of membership.

  ______________

  
  

      It may be truthfully said that the Post Band

  has started in full blast!

  
  

   Center column: 

  "TOPSIDE"
  

  
  

      The new Headquarters Buildings on "Top-side,"

  the highest spot in the Center are completed.

  This rather unusual but pleasing name

  was given to the site by the Commanding

  Officer and has its origin in a term that is frequently

  used in the Orient to describe any high

  point of land. The site chosen for the new

  buildings is particularly attractive and dominates

  the entire camp. It is accessible from

  every part of it and is ideally located.

      The highest flag-pole in the Center first catches

  the eye across the slope. Just beyond is the

  large, gray Administration Building. Inside its

  walls are the offices of the Commanding Officer,

  the Adjutant, Sergeant Major, Clerks and Stenographers

  and for various departments. There

  are also respective offices for the Motor Transportation,

  Railroad Transportation, Sanitary

  Inspector, the Chief Professional Consultants,

  Supply Officer, Statistical and Information Divisions,

  Draughting Department, Assistant Provost

  Marshal and the Detachment Commander. Incidentally

  there is a snug little sanctum for

  The Martian.
  

      Beyond the Administration Building is a group

  of structures surrounded by a big hedge, including

  the Officers quarters, Mess and Recreation

  Hall and Bath. Across the quadrangle are the

  quarters for the enlisted men. At the head of

  this quadrangle is the Headquarters Red Cross

  hut with accommodation for the band and orchestra

  and also facilities for recreation, study and

  amusement. In the rear of the building is a

  field which will be utilized for athletic purposes.

  A tennis court is also planned. The

  entire scheme reflects both utility and beauty

  and it is highly probable that "Topside" will

  prove the most attractive spot in the Center.

  
  

  HOSPITALS
  

      Hospitals have become the rage among our

  best people. Almost all our upper classes are

  staying at them. For ridding yourself of

  useless appendages, finding out about yourself,

  your construction and interior decoration

  scheme, hospital treatment cannot be beaten.

  Never attempt the vulgarity of getting up

  at meal times and thus betraying your base

  army origin. Insist on having all your meals

  served as you recline on your bed. In that way

  only can the morale of the personnel be kept

  up. A good line to spring on the ward surgeon

  is, "Oh, you're Captain So-and-so, are you?

  I heard all about you in the States. I did. My

  sister's friend's uncle's cousin said he won't

  ever forget what you did for his horse. And I

  guess the horse won't either". This will put

  the Hon. Medic at his ease and show him how

  you appreciate his surgical knowledge. Be nice

  to anyone from the Chief Surgeon to the orderlies.

  If you give them a lot of trouble (apologizing

  properly for it all the time) they will want

  you to come again. A pleased customer is our

  best advertisement.

      Finally pick out the object of your hospital

  proposal (everybody makes one) very carefully.

  Wait 'till you're out of the ether as you are very

  apt to have a case of mistaken identity on your

  hands. Then if you don't die from other causes

  you may eventually freeze to death!

           G.R.M. "48"

  
  

   Right column: 

  THE ARMY NURSERY
  

  
  

  Jack Sprat could eat no fat,

  His wife could eat no lean :

  But neither one had occasion then

  To tackle the army bean !

  
  

  Little Bo Peep has lost her sheep

  And doesn't know where to find them

  But I'll bet, By Heck,

  They're below and English deck

  With more sheep hung behind them !

  
  

  Little Nurse Muffet

  Sat on a tuffet

  With a private one fine day,

  An officer spied her

  And sat down beside her

  And the private faded away!

               H.D.G. "35"

  
  

  THAT LETTER HOME
  

  
  

      The mother eagerly opens your letter.

  "Somewhere in France" stares out at her,

  - that tantalizing, elusive, baffling little phrase

  which means to us merely the convenient

  heading of a letter. And yet how often we

  forget that to her it means the center of the

  world!

      "I went to a French village last night" and

  again you wrote "The country here is fine"

  or perhaps you penned "We get a good view

  from our hospital site." A shadow of

  disappointment clouds her face. She had hoped

  for a more definite picture of the setting which

  held her boy. In imagination she puts together

  these fragments of description, thankful

  to be able even in a small way to arrive at

  some tangible idea.

      Another mother opens a letter with tembling

  fingers.

      "The French village with its winding

  streets, it's  [sic]  ancient court yard and the red

  geraniums at the windows look for all the

  world like the Hollywood moving picture set-up

  we visited last summer".

      She smiles with keen appreciation. A few

  lines further :

      "From our hospital site, the country lays

  before us in a checker board squares of green

  meadow. Fringed with tall poplars and dotted

  here and there with ancient stone cottages with

  red tiled roofs". Instantly her imagination is

  fired. She turns the page. "My little village

  friends Maurice and Marie in their black smocks,

  catch my hand and chatter in happy French

  while they wheedle me out of chocolate and

  chewing gum".

      The mother's eyes glisten with tears. So like

  her boy - ever fond of children. But the

  closing sentence is of all the letter, the sweetest :

      "I found a wild-flower on the meadow this

  morning, - a California wild-flower, mother,

  and I kissed it as a token of my home-coming,

  and to you".

      The letter is finished, but mother still sits and

  smiles, a far-away look in her eyes.

            Sgt. L.Y. "35".

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