Page:The history and achievements of the Fort Sheridan officers' training camps.djvu/194

192 to say the time consumed thereunder was not immense. Milder weather brought milder showers. By July they were really hot. Some bothered not with indoor spraying. The open lake held more charm, so down the bluff they would romp, across the sand and into the chilly deep, a few, absent in mind, still with a wrist watch on.

There is nothing like a chill lake for refreshment. This, combined with a day of open air and action, was responsible in part for the great canteen popularity. There were two such places of chocolate bars, crackers and "pop" — one in the permanent barracks and one in a little shack beside the bridge on the Illinois side of the ravine. Between 4:30 and 6, and even after supper, there were patrons massed there, buying. Of course, everybody was not there. Many indulged in indoor or outdoor baseball, while others amused themselves playing "Leap Frog" and "Duck on the Rock." On July 9th a large throng was entertained by an exhibition ball game between the Sox and Athletics, in which the Sox were defeated, 5 to 1.

Some few of the candidates whose homes were but a short distance from the Camp would occasionally hasten away to enjoy a home-cooked supper and rush back to be present at the 7:30 assembly for study. Such a treat was not open to all. Over the week-ends, however, there was more of a chance. Saturday mornings were devoted principally to policing, inspections and the making up of back work. At noon the day's work ended. The War Department well realized that relaxation was an absolute necessity and that work at a high pitch could not continue with benefit even through the whole of Saturday. Rapid training was necessary, but not training to a point of complete exhaustion.

The siding, leading from the main line of the "North-Western" to the quartermaster storehouses, had been extended to a point beyond the guard-house. This extension was appreciated in no small degree by the majority of those fortunate enough to secure passes over the much anticipated week-end, for when bedlam broke loose at 12 o'clock there was always a lengthy line of yellow coaches on this recent extension, waiting to swallow up the seekers of diversion from the military.

Many of the men had homes to go to. The families of others lived too far away to make a week-end trip possible. It was for the sake of these latter that many families of Lake Forest, Highland Park, Glencoe, Winnetka, Kenilworth, Evanston and Lake Bluff offered the hospitality of their homes. It meant a great deal to the men to be so generously entertained. These people of the nearby towns who were so kind will have the everlasting gratitude of the men who, in their own misfortune, were fortunate enough to have been the recipients of this hospitality.

Recreation and entertainment were by no means entirely of an impromptu nature, nor was the planning for them left wholly in the hands of the candidates. The men themselves were responsible for a great deal of the fun and sport, but the general direction of organized sports, planned entertainment