One Man's Initiation

"Yes.... I never used to think that at nineteen I'd be crossing the Atlantic to go to a war in France." The boy caught himself up suddenly and blushed. Then swallowing a lump in his throat he said, "It ought to be time to eat." "God help Kaiser Bill! O-o-o old Uncle Sam. He's got the cavalry, He's got the infantry, He's got the artillery; And then by God we'll all go to Germany! God help Kaiser Bill!" The iron covers are clamped on the smoking-room windows, for no lights must show. So the air is dense with tobacco smoke and the reek of beer and champagne. In one corner they are playing poker with their coats off.