The J-TAC (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 23, No. 4, Ed. 1 Tuesday, December 7, 1943 Page: 3 of 4
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1943
THE J-TAC
PAGE THREE
What Is A Soldier's Furlough Like?
Here Is First-Hand Information
There Is Fun In Wartime Travel
The trip had been a nightmare:
for more than, fifty hours, I had
been riding trains—all of them
crowded, ancient, and almost un-
bearable. Every train had been late,
perhaps^ thirty minutes to an hour
• and a half; and I had made all my
connections only by the grace of
God. I was tired and dirty to the
point of desperation, for wartime
travel over long distances is like
fighting an actual battle.
But when I reached Florida, an
unbelieveable change took place.
As .soon as I arrived in the busy
Jacksonville terminal, I inquired
Compliments
VARSITY SHOP
VISIT
Western Auto
Associate Store
TARLETON'S
CLOTHIERS
J. C. PENNEY CO., Inc.
Your Favorite Store
LONGHOTEL
Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Long
CLAY BUILDING
MATERIAL CO
Phone 1 >
Better Homes
For y-
Better Living
about the next Seaboard train
going south. "The Silver Meteor,
exactly on time," was the reply.
My train was due at ten thirty-
five in the morning, and by ten
thirty-four it could be seen back-
ing into the Seaboard's section of
the terminal. When I boarded the
train, I was shocked to find many
vacant seats in the modern stream-
liner. I checked my reservation andj
found my comfortable reclining
chair next to a window as I had
hoped it would be.
Because I am, a devout railroad
fan, I am unable to sit still for a
very long time while I am riding a
train. After sitting in my reclining
chair for several minutes, I sud-
denly felt the urge to look over the
train. First I directed my attention
to the observation .lounge on the
rear end of the streamliner. When,
I reached the door, I noticed a
sign neatly fastened on the'glass
panel in the upper portion Of the
door. I read the printed words with
great interest: "Reserved for Male
Military Personnel Only." How
wonderful it felt to have a whole
car for only a half dozen soldiers.
First I placed an overstuffed chair
so that it faced the large glass
windows. Then I propped my feet
upon another chair and watched the
varying scenery flash by the win-
dows. First came lakes of a sk^-
blue shade, then orange groves on
the low hills of central Florida, and
everywhere were myriad evergreen
trees—white pines, straight and
tall as an arrow. Yes, travelling
can, be fun even in wartime; but
only in rare instances su<5h as this
will a persop find it so.
Chicago, Just Around The Bend
Imagine a" train. Imagine its
making every stop at every little
town along the line. Imagine a guy
who hasn't been home for about
eight'months.
' Train, leaving Fort Worth Sta-
tion at 11:07. Gotta hurry. Every
minute counts when you have such
a short time. Gotta hurry. "Which
gate?" Seven? Eight? Porter, Por-
ter. "Seven, thanks."
"All aboard. Fort Worth to Kan-
sas City' leaving on track seven.
All aboard."
Look at all the people. These
poor tvains really take a Jjeating.
these' days. People going to their
jobs, to their homes. Soldiers going
on furloughs, to new' camps, over-
seas.
Quit dreaming; you've gotta get
a seat. Hate to stand up for twelve
hundred miles. There's one right
by the window. Ah, I'm lucky. Now
I'll ride home in comfort.
We're pulling out. We're pulling
out. Chicago, here I come. Your
wandering son is coming home.
Won't the folks be glad to see me?
Boy, you betcha. Mum will be
smiling with teary eyes; pop will
have that "wolf-swallowed-sheep"
expression. He'll shake my hand
and probably say, "What kept yoi
AMERICAN HEROES
BY LEFF
I
sal
A B-25 was taking off somewhere in North Africa. It crashed
and burst into flames. Private Eugene A. Canter rushed forward
with three" other soldiers to aid the crew. The heat was overwhelming
but Ganter and his companions, drenched from the hoses of rescue
apparatus, rescued three crew members fropi the blazing ship. Then
Ganter returned to remove loaded 50 caliber machine guns. He won
the Soldier's Medal. Such are the men your War Bonds fight beside.
V. S. Treasury Department
7
FOR GOOD SERVICE
COLLEGE BARBER SHOP
Try one of our Special Shampoos
Press Hitchcock, Prop.
son?", and I'll answer. "Whistle
Junction All Out." Darn that con-
ductor. Now I forget what I was
thinking about. Oh, now I remem-
ber. He'll ask me what kept me so
long and I'll answer——. I don't
know what I'll answer; I'm too
sleepy.
I've gotta wake up now. I'll pro-
bably be late for reveille. Captain
McCullough will have me'walking
for sure, Hey, buddy, got the time'?
Where am I? That's funny; I
thought I was back at. school...Won-
der what time it is? Four "o'clock?,
We're due in at seven. In three
hours I'll be home. Good ole' Chi-
cago, here I come. 4
I've gotta shave and put on my
new uniform, I can't let the folks
see me like this. I've never shaved
on a train before. I wonder how it
feels.
That wasn't so bad. I cut myself
only four times. I do worse than
that back home. "Peoria! All out
for Peoria." Peoria ? why that's
only eighty miles from home. The*
way this , engineer's going, we
should make it in an hour at the
most.
Look at all the lights. Eighty
miles- from--Ghieago> • and - it-already
outshines that perpetual Texas
dimout. What do you mean, eighty
miles? Seventy, sixty, forty, twen-
ty, ten, five, four, three, two, one.
Hi, Mqm. Hi, dad.
4-
♦
■f
■f
♦
♦
♦
•f
♦
X
Front Our
Exchanges
Chow Time Popular
At Dining Hall,
Boarding Houses
"The Men in My Life"
From "The Lass-O"
Servicers our business; Our quality is supreme;
Ecoiiomy that surpasses; Friendliness is our theme.
CROSS DRUG STORE
"Famous Fountain Service"
STEPHENVILLE EMPIRE-TRIUNE
Printing—All Kinds—Office Supplies
, - Phone 198
POMPANI
North Graham Street
STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS
Phone 266
It was Saturday night. And I
£as in, town—a-l-o-n-e. (Gasps)
yself: "Come on, Philips—you
aren't scared. Why, millions of
people go to town alone." Me:
(Striking a dramatic pose against
the street light.) "On Saturday—
night?" Myself: "Of course! Come
on now—let's buy the Iawnmower
and go home and pluck your eye-
brows." Me: (climbing the post)
I've changed my mind. Not
'gonna do it." Myself: (furiously)
"I'll divorce you for this!"
We were arguing "family-style"
when a voice below coo'd "Hi
yaa, Babe." Us: (Ignoring each
other and sliding down the post).
" Y oumustbemistakenmynameisn't
'Babe' — it's Champe." Man:
(taking our hand) "Champe, huh?
Well, well, well—Champe—(tak-
ing our other hand) well, well."
Myself: "Careful—careful." Me
to self: "Keep out of this. I'll fix
him." Me to Man: "Oh, you poor
thing,. I didn't know you were
blind." Man: (abashed) "But I'm
not!" Me: "Then—(tugging at
our hands) —stop—acting—like—
it. Mean ole man, ole bad thing.
Shame on you for picking on, a
poor little defenseless girl!"
(hitting him with the lamp-past
and running wildly.)
I awoke to find my roommate
crouched in a corner and punch-
ing me with a ver' long pole.
"There, there, Champe," she said.
"It's only a dream. You can get
off the wall now."
Moral to dream: When you
flirt (as all women will)—be
sure you know him. And, re-
member, "There's safety in num-
bers."
Me leave her raging at the door,
Me wish she wasn't quite so sore.
Me go to kiss her, but O my, O
dear,
She move her head—me bit her
ears.
Dining Hall
Some five hundred and fifty
Tarleton students eat each day at
the Dining Hall. They wait outside
for the commanding officer's order
"Bring 'em in!"; then they rush
in formation to their tables. At
the order "Seats!" they begin to
consume without wasted time their
consume ■ hastily their turnip
greens, corn, string beans, roast
beef, and ice cream. The shuffling
of chairs, the clink of dishes, the
rattling of silver, the swinging of
doors, the loud voices of the stu-
dents, and the hurrying of those
who work in the Dining Hall to
and from the kitehen blend into a
confusion of sound which dies
away as t he students leave the
hall one by one.
West House
Arojmd six-thirty o'clock in the
evening cadets begin to assemble
at the West House for the even-
ing meal. There is a dash for the
evening paper to' see-'whether
Smiling Jack has married Joy, or
whether the home-town high school
team won the" big game. Dewbart
Noel and Ted Payne start pound-
ing on the piano. Gray comes in,
and everyone persuades him to beat
out the latest boogey-woogey. As
the music begins, the whole house
starts shaking under the rhythmic
patting of feet. The savory odors
of food drift into the room; the
music is forgotten.' All forty-eight
boys make a dash for the dining
room. Some thoughtful senior
braces himself in the door and the
rush is stopped. If everything is
ready and Mrs. West gives the
signal for the crowd to come in,
the rush is resumed. In the room
someone is designated by Tripp to
return thanks. Then B. R. Noel
makes a grab at the meat platter.
The, clanking of forks and the
scraping of spoons is clearly audi-
ble to anyone who may still' be up-
stairs. The cries of "Deal One'
from different members at the
table cause bread to fly everywhere.
Amid discussion of football games,
hard lessons, and the show, the
meal proceeds. A shout of, "Be sure
to leave some for me," is heard as
Breedlove takes his third piece of
pie. An argument starts between
Leonard Jones and the rest of the
table as to whether the Army Air
Corps or the Merchant Marine is
the best branch of servics. After
the shouts of "Deal a rag," napkins
are thrown to everyone. The boyh
then "btt^i" cigarettes and stroll
over to the Campus Corner
Spell Boarding House
At eleven-thirty out? jolly land-
lady whistles a signal to her first
round of boarders' to "come and
get it." Everyone hurries to the
table, for there are awaiting him
the huge bowls of vegetables, plat- j
ters of meat, meringue-covered pies
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS,
To
Soldiers and Students
SERVICE DRUG
!or yellow cakes "with peppermint
. icing that have made the Spell
Boarding House a popular eating
place for students and teachers.
| The conversation of the four large
; tables covers various "types of sub-
jects, and everyone participates.
Eubye Kennedy, Jean Bailey, and
;Kay Hicks, all of Dublin, fight a
verbal feud with Mary Lu Wisdom
j and Billy Moore of Stephenville
\ over the qualities of their rival
i football teams, and Coach "Flash"
Walker acts as go-between. Alleen
Johns sits placidly watching her
roommate, Virginia Bickley, as the
latter reaches for a third piece
I of pie, benevolently offering half of
jit to Camille Lester. Marcy Kuhn
i laughs merrily at her ofn moron
| jokes while Pauline Loudder, Le-
;nora Sykes, and Ouida Rogers join
in. Marylu Killebrew and Eloise
Clonch suddenly surprise everyone
by boldly appearing with coal-black
hair. "Rufus" Neal and "Fish"
Janice Coonrad say little and eat
lots, Bessie Pemberton, and Eliza-
beth Scarborough discuss dif-
ferent jmtried methods of keeping
a room- .clean. J, W. Huston and
John Alexander don't get to talk
mi}ch in this Crowd, but they arei
polite in listening to all the fem-
inine chatter around them.
The teachers' table is as noisy'-
as the students' with. Miss Glover
leading the conversation1 and Miss
Mahan contributing;* clever anec-
dotes. Mr; and Mrs. Crijdnse laugh
gaily with the rest/forgetting for
a moment that they are a school
ma'm and prof and just thoroughly
enjoying themselves. Miss Lillai'd
does her share by telling the latest
gossip. Miss Marrs in one of her
attractive hats offs'ets the dignity
of her dress by tho humor in her
jokes. Helen Mohan and Aleen
Figg discuss West Point between
themselves.-
Each person—freshman, senior,
teacher, or high school student—
contributes to the conversation and
has fun while eating. More than
tl)at, few fail to tell Mrs. Spell how
enjoyable the meal was.
SHOP WITH US
For Your
CHRISTMAS GIFTS
The Ladies' Store
STEPHENVILLE
PRINTING
COMPANY
Club Printing a Specialty-
Just Phone 91
Have a Coca-Cola = What's the good word?
nw)m
i
... or Bow to get along with folks
tiave'q "Coke", says the returned soldier and his friendly gesture is
■ understood ia Newport or New Zealand, at home or in far-off
places. Around the world Coca-Cola stands for the pause that re-
freshes,—has become the gesture of good will, saying Let's befriends.
BOTTLED UNDER AUTHORITY OF THE COCA-COLA COMPANY BY
TEXAS COCA-COLA BOTTLING CO., Stephenville
6.
u
u
It's natural for popular names
to acquire friendly abbrevia-
tions. That's why you heat
Coca-Cola called -'Coke".
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The J-TAC (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 23, No. 4, Ed. 1 Tuesday, December 7, 1943, newspaper, December 7, 1943; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth140915/m1/3/?q=music: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Tarleton State University.