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[Illustration: Let's Go!!]




ROOKIE RHYMES

BY THE MEN OF THE 1st. and 2nd. PROVISIONAL TRAINING REGIMENTS
PLATTSBURG, NEW YORK

MAY 15--AUGUST 15 1917

[Illustration]

          HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS
          NEW YORK AND LONDON




          ROOKIE RHYMES

          Copyright, 1917, by Harper & Brothers
          Printed in the United States of America
          Published September, 1917




CONTENTS


  _Page_

  PUBLICATION COMMITTEE                               13

  FOREWORD                                            15
      Robert Tapley, Co. 5, 1st P. T. R.


  PART I--POEMS

  STANDING IN LINE                                    19
      Morris Bishop, Co. 8, 1st P. T. R.

  THE FIRST TIME                                      21

  ONWARD CHRISTIAN SCIENCE                            22
      D. E. Currier, 2d Battery, 1st P. T. R.

  THEY BELIEVE IN US BACK HOME                        24
      Anch Kline, Co. 1, 1st P. T. R.

  ODE TO A LADY IN WHITE STOCKINGS                    29
      Robert Cutler, Co. 2, 1st P. T. R.

  "AVOIRDUPOIS"                                       31
      D. E. Currier, 2d Battery, 1st P.T.R.

  GO!                                                 35
      J. S. O'Neale, Jr., Co. 4, 2d P. T. R.

  THE PLATTSBURG CODE                                 36
      R. L. Hill, Co. 5, 2d P. T. R.

  A CONFERENCE                                        38
      Donald E. Currier, 2d Battery, 1st P. T. R.

  SUNDAY IN BARRACKS                                  41
      Anch Kline, Co. 1, 1st P. T. R.

  THE BALLAD OF MONTMORENCY GRAY                      43
      Pendleton King, Co. 6, 2d P. T. R.

  GIRLS                                               51
      Robert M. Benjamin, Co. 3, 1st P. T. R.

  A LAMENT                                            52
      H. Chapin, Co. 2, 1st P. T. R.

  THE MANUAL                                          53
      George S. Clarkson, Co. 4, 1st P. T. R.

  THOSE "PATRIOTIC" SONGS                             55
      Frank J. Felbel, Co. 2, 2d P. T. R.

  SATURDAY P.M.                                       58
      Harold Amory, Co. 5, 1st P. T. R.

  HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED                             62
      C. K. Stodder, Co. 9, 1st P. T. R.

  ARMA FEMINAMQUE                                     63
      W. R. Witherell, Co. 7, 2d P. T. R.

  OUT O' LUCK                                         65
      W. K. Rainsford, Co. 7, 2d P. T. R.

  SHERMAN WAS RIGHT                                   69
      Joe F. Trounstine, Co. 4, 2d P. T. R.

  TROOPSHIP CHANTY                                    70
      Harold Speakman, Co. 4, 2d P. T. R.

  THOSE RUMORS                                        71
      F. L. Bird, 2d Battery, 1st P. T. R.

  WAR'S HORRORS                                       72
      Kenneth McIntosh, 2d Lieut. O. R. C., Co. 4,
                 1st P. T. R.

  THE CALL                                            73
      Allen Bean MacMurphy, Co. 2, 1st P. T. R.

  BEANS                                               74
      Charles H. Ramsey, Co. 8, 1st P. T. R.

  FORWARD "?"                                         77
      John W. Wilber, Co. 5, 1st P. T. R.

  CHANT OF A DERELICT                                 78
      Ed. Burrows, Co. 3, 1st P. T. R.

  PREOCCUPATION                                       80
      Charles H. Ramsey, Co. 8, 1st P. T. R.

  INOCULATION DAY                                     83
      Morris Bishop, Co. 8, 1st P. T. R.

  DON'T WEAKEN                                        85
      R. T. Fry, Co. 5, 1st P. T. R.

  THE THREE                                           87
      Harold Speakman, Co. 4, 2d P. T. R.

  TO THE LITTLE BLACK DOG                             89
      A. N. Phillips, Jr., 3d Battery, 1st P. T. R.

  WHEN EAST IS WEST                                   90
      W. R. Witherell, Co. 7, 2d P. T. R.

  TO MY SWEETHEART                                    92
      Every Rookie in Co. 2, 1st P. T. R.

  PLAY THE GAME                                       93
      E. F. D., Co. 2, 1st P. T. R.

  THE STADIUM, PLATTSBURG                             95
      Harold Speakman, Co. 4, 1st P. T. R.

  RUBAIYAT OF A PLATTSBURG CANDIDATE                  96
      W. Kerr Rainsford, Co. 7, 1st P. T. R.

  DREAMS                                              99
      L. Irving, Co. 2, 1st P. T. R.

  A 2D REGIMENT "WHO'S WHO"                          101
      J. Elmer Cates, Co. 2, 2d P. T. R.

  EUREKA                                             105
      E. F. D., Co. 2, 1st P. T. R.

  FOURTH COMPANY, N. E. SONG                         106
      George S. Clarkson, Co. 4, 1st P. T. R.


  PART II--SONGS AND PARODIES

  LONG, LONG TRAIL                                   109
      G. Gilmore Davis, Co. 10, 1st P. T. R.

  WILLIE'S PA                                        110
      J. Felbel and L. H. Davidow, Co. 2, 2d
        P. T. R.

  COMPANY 2, NEW ENGLAND                             112
      Paul J. Field, Co. 2, 1st P. T. R.

  TO THE RESERVE CAVALRY                             113
      F. E. Horpel, Co. 9, 1st P. T. R.

  WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO DEUTSCHLAND                    114
      Lieut. Fletcher Clark, O. R. C., Co. 10,
                1st P. T. R.

  I WANT TO BE A COLONEL                             115
      F. E. Horpel, Co. 9, 1st P. T. R.

  I WANT TO BE A DOUGHBOY                            116
      Kenneth Bonner, Co. 10, 1st P. T. R.

  OUR BATTLE HYMN                                    117
      James C. McMullin, Co. 5, 1st P. T. R.

  NEW ENGLAND WILL BE LEADING                        119
      Lieut. Cyril C. Reynolds, O. R. C., Co. 10,
                1st P. T. R.

  ON THE BANKS OF THE RIVER RHINE                    120
      J. J. Riodan, Co. 3, 2d P. T. R.

  "THE SIMULATING OF THE GREEN"                      121
      Lieut. Joseph Gazzam, Jr., O. R. C., Co. 2,
                1st P. T. R.

  DON'T SEND ME HOME                                 123
      E. M. Anderson, Co. 2, 1st P. T. R.

  COMPANY NINE                                       124
      O. W. Hauserman, Co. 9, 1st P. T. R.

  WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO EUROPE                         126
      T. L. Wood, Co. 9, 1st P. T. R.

  COMPANY 5 SONG                                     127
      James C. McMullin, Co. 5, 1st P. T. R.

  DOUBLE TIME                                        128
      W. J. Littlefield, 3d Battery, 1st P. T. R.

  THE 8TH NEW ENGLAND                                130
      Anonymous, Co. 8, 1st P. T. R.

  MARCHING ON THE RHINE                              132
      Lieut. Cyril C. Reynolds, O. R. C., Co. 10,
                1st P. T. R.

  EGGS--AGERATED                                     133
      Robert B. House, Co. 8, 1st P. T. R.

  WITH APOLOGIES TO KIPLING'S "THE VAMPIRE"          134
      R. E. Hall, 1st Troop, 1st P. T. R.

  FINIS                                              136




ILLUSTRATIONS


  COVER ILLUSTRATION, C. L. Yates, Co. 1,
      1st P. T. R.

  LET'S GO!!                                  _Frontispiece_
      Lieut. P. L. Crosby, O. R. C., Co. 2,
        2d P. T. R.

  THE FIRST TIME                                  _Page_ 21
      R. K. Leavitt, Co. 2, 1st P. T. R.

  RIGHT DRESS--MARCH!                               "    24
      C. L. Yates, Co. 1, 1st P. T. R.

  A TEST OF DISCIPLINE                              "    27
      C. L. Yates, Co. 1, 1st P. T. R.

  WHAT'S YOUR NAME?                                 "    33
      R. K. Leavitt, Co. 2, 1st P. T. R.

  A CONFERENCE                                      "    38
      R. K. Leavitt, Co. 2, 1st P. T. R.

  ALWAYS WITH ANOTHER FELLOW                        "    49
      Mr. Sleeper, Co. 9, 1st P. T. R.

  THERE'S A HUNGRY SURGEON WAITING                  "    58
      R. K. Leavitt, Co. 2, 1st P. T. R.

  A SHADOW-POINTIN' BOCHE                           "    63
      R. K. Leavitt, Co. 2, 1st P. T. R.

  S. O. S.                                          "    67
      Mr. Baskerville, Co. 4, 2d P. T. R.

  A MISS AT 5 O'CLOCK                               "    75
      C. L. Yates, Co. 1, 1st P. T. R.

  MESS? YES!!                                       "    81
      R. K. Leavitt, Co. 2, 1st P. T. R.
      Title by Anch Kline, Co. 1, 1st P. T. R.

  WHEN EAST IS WEST                                 "    90
      R. K. Leavitt, Co. 2, 1st P. T. R.

  WITH THE ROOKIE TO THE END                        "   139
      Mrs. Gertrude Crosby, Wife of Lieut. P. L.
        Crosby, Co. 2, 2d P. T. R.

  THE END OF A PERFECT DAY                       _End Papers_
      Lieut. P. L. Crosby, O. R. C., Co. 2,
        2d P. T. R.




PUBLICATION COMMITTEE


Edward F. Dalton, Chairman Co. 2, 1st P. T. R.


1st P. T. R.

          W. Dyar, Co. 1
          P. J. Field, Co. 2
          G. B. Blaine, Co. 3
          A. F. Woodies, Co. 4
          J. C. McMullin, Co. 5
          R. T. Frye, Co. 5
          M. B. Phipps, Co. 6
          D. Loring, Jr., Co. 7
          C. H. Ramsey, Co. 8
          W. W. Webber, Co. 9
          S. S. Gordon, Tr. 1
          R. B. Leake, Btry. 1
          D. E. Currier, Btry. 2


2nd P. T. R.

          W. J. Littlefield, Btry. 3
          T. C. Jessup, Co. 1
          E. E. Henderson, Co. 1
          F. J. Felbel, Co. 2
          Lieut. Kenneth McIntosh, Co. 4
          Capt. Richardson, Co. 5
          Pendleton King, Co. 6
          H. MacKay, Co. 7
          Herbert Clock, Co. 9
          E. S. Murphy, Btry. 1
          C. G. Shaw, Btry. 2
          M. N. Kernochan, Btry. 3




FOREWORD


          _River that rolls to the restless deep
             From sylvan-born placidity,
           Stained issue of the undefiled
           By your own wayward will exiled
             From the crystal lap of a land-locked sea,_

          _Read me the meaning of your mood.
             The waters murmur as they flow,
           "Strife is the law by which we live;
           Stagnation, our alternative:
             This is the only truth we know."_

          _The tides of mortal toilers meet
             To merge their rhythms in bloody fray,
           And, wave to wave, their armies call--
           Nay, summon us that we shall all
             Assume the role we choose to play._

          _So, at the cry, in loyal breasts,
             As smaller self-concern recedes,
           Still burns the old Achillean fire,
           Still eager questing souls desire
             Not life but living, not days but deeds._




PART I

POEMS




STANDING IN LINE


          When I applied for Plattsburg I stood for hours in line
          To get a piece of paper which they said I had to sign;
          When I had signed I stood in line (and my, that line was slow!)
          And asked them what to do with it; they said they didn't know.

          And when I came to Plattsburg I had to stand in line,
          To get a Requisition, from five o'clock till nine;
          I stood in line till night for the Captain to endorse it;
          But the Q. M. had one leggin' left; I used it for a corset.

          We stand in line for hours to get an issue for the squad;
          We stand in line for hours and hours to use the cleaning-rod;
          And hours and hours and hours and hours to sign the roll for pay;
          And walk for miles in double files on Inoculation day.

          Oh, Heaven is a happy place, its streets are passing fair,
          And when they start to call the roll up yonder I'll be there;
          But when they start to call that roll I certainly will resign
          If some Reserve Archangel tries to make me stand in line.




[Illustration]




THE FIRST TIME

          My legs are moving to and fro
            I feel like a balloon;
          How my head swims, first time I go
            To boss the damn platoon.

          My throat and mouth are full of paste
            There's nothing in my hat;
          My belt is winding round my waist
            But where's my stomach at?




ONWARD CHRISTIAN SCIENCE


          Our Christian Science Battery
            Without a gun or horse,
          Is just a simple oversight,
            That will be changed, of course.

          But while we're waiting patiently,
            And longing for the day,
          They have a funny little game
            They make us fellows play.

          Bill Hallstead _simulates_ the gun
            He's sort of short and fat
          And doesn't look much like a gun,
            But he's pretty good at that.

          And they've elected me a horse,
            Off-horse of the wheel pair;
          I tie a white cloth on my arm
            So they can see I'm there.

          Then when the battery is formed
            With each man in his place,
          They line the "pieces" in a row
            Just like a chariot race.

          Bill Barnum's "Greatest Show on Earth"
            Has not a thing on us;
          We tear around the old parade
            And kick up _clouds_ of dust.

          For it's gallop all the morning long,
            They never let us walk.
          Why, it gets so realistic
            That I whinney when I talk.

          I wouldn't be a bit surprised
            If I should hear some day
          That instead of mess they'd issue us
            That 14 lbs. of hay.

          And so I'm looking for the man
            The one who said to me:
          "You don't want to be a 'doughboy,'
            Go and join the battery."




[Illustration: Right Dress--MARCH]




THEY BELIEVE IN US