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2.

That is still my feeling, and I believe that the war of 1917 was as justifiable as any of our wars. 

In April, 1917, I was not moved by any high feeling of patriotism to rush to arms. I considered the matter cold-bloodedly. I had a reasonably secure job at teaching for $75 a month, but I saw no hope of advancement. I was in debt, and getting out very slowly. The war was sure to shape up our social system, and if I entered law (as I wished to do) a veteran would have certain advantages. I was risking my life, but it wasn't worth much to me under existing conditions. The only credit I can reasonably claim is that I went later, by deliberate choice, into a dangerous branch of the service and stayed in it at a time when my chances of living three months appeared about even.

Early in April a recruiting sergeant appeared in Carthage and signed up several young men. I had a talk with him, thinking that I might enlist at the end of the school year in May. He advised me to wait, saying that there would probably be officers appointed directly from civil life and that I should be able to get a commission. I waited. Meanwhile the draft was being proposed, and I knew that I was sure to be called, being unmarried and 23. I was not sure of the physical examination, for I had never been strong and had been forced to give up a West Point appointment in 1910 because of varicose veins and a bad scar. My teeth were also bad, but I had them put into the best possible shape during April.

Late in the month it was announced that training camps for prospective officers were