It was not very long before we began to realize that soldiering, after all, was no snap.  There was the deuce of a lot to learn, and the deuce of a lot to do.

To the rookie one of the most interesting things are the bugle calls.  The first call, naturally, that the new soldier learns is “the cook-house,” and possibly the second is the mail-call.  The call that annoyed me most at first was “reveille.”  I had been used to getting up at nine o’clock in the morning; rising now at five-thirty wasn’t any picnic.  This, especially when it took a fellow half the night to get warm, because all we had under us was Mother Earth, one blanket and a waterproof.

It was the second day at camp that we started in to work good and hard.  Reveille at five-thirty A.M.; from six to seven Swedish exercise, then one hour for breakfast when we got tea, pork and beans, and a slice of bread.  From eight to twelve saw us forming fours and on the right form companies.  From twelve to half past one more pork and beans, bread and tea.  Rifle practise, at the butts, followed until five-thirty, and ... yes, it did ... pork and beans, bread and tea appeared once more.

Neither officers nor non-coms knew very much at the start, but they were a bunch of good scouts.  And we were all very enthusiastic, there is no doubt about that.  Soon we began to realize that if we would put our shoulders to the wheel and work hard we would certainly see service overseas.

[Illustration:  (C)_Famous Players—­Lasky Corporation.  Scene from the Photo-Play_

The sons of democracy.]

[Illustration:  Souvenirs brought back from “Over there.”

The enemy calls the Canadian a “Souvenir Hunter.”  It must be remembered the author is a Canadian.]

As a private soldier and no matter how humble my opinion may be, I must give the greatest praise and credit to the organizer and founder of Camp Valcartier, at that time Colonel Sir Sam Hughes ... the then minister of militia for Canada.  We had about three miles of continuous rifle range; and good ranges they were, considering they were got together in less than two weeks.  I will admit that the roads leading to the ranges were nothing to brag about, yet, taking it all in all, even they were pretty good.

By this time the majority of us had received our uniforms and our badges, and had been given a number, and instructed to mark this number on everything we had.  Mine was 18535.

We had no “wet” canteens at Valcartier, so we were a very sober camp.  Each battalion had a shower bath, and there was no excuse for any man to be dirty.  Even at that it was not very long before those little “somethings” which are no respecters of persons, be he private, non-com, commissioned officer or general, found their way into the camp.  I’ll never forget the first gray-back I found on me.  I cried like a baby, and old Bill sympathized with me, saying in consoling tones that I’d soon get used to them.  Bill knew.