100 years ago today: Enlistment (into Army) Pleas
By AmberLynn
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
United States
February 24, 2021 5:39pm CST
This was borrowed from The Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, February 24, 1921, Image 1 found on chroniclingamerica.loc.gov
I found this to be interesting. This paper lists a few examples of mothers, fathers, and in one case the boy himself, asking for more information on enlisting in the army after being sent pamphlets via the mail. All three of the cases listed involve children that were not yet of age to enlist.
One mother (not shown in this picture) asked that the age limit be waived because she's afraid her son isn't associating with the right people while she's away at work. At the time, the army sent out pamphlets talking about educational opportunities for enlisted men.
What do you think of this?
**OFF TOPIC**
Anyone want to guess how much a $6.00 order from dollar tree cost me? It wasn't $6.00. $17! $6.00 for the item itself, 90 cents for handling fees & the rest for the shipping of the item. No stores near me had them though, so...
9 people like this
8 responses
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
25 Feb 21
So much has! I love little articles like this.
Yes, crazy! I probably should have bought a case of 24 and had it shipped to the store. I'd have paid $24.00 instead for 24 boxes, instead of $17 for 6 boxes.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
25 Feb 21
@CarolDM Unfortunately, dollar tree was the best deal this time. I usually do try to find the best deal not only shipping wise but product cost wise too.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
25 Feb 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum I shop around for free shipping.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (120917)
• United States
25 Feb 21
There was a man on our church whose son kept getting into trouble so he "made" him enlist. He really turned around, and 12 years later is still in the Army. Personally, I'd rather straighten up than go into the military. I'm too chicken.
That Dollar Tree tidbit is maddening.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
25 Feb 21
Wow, well it seemed to work out well for him at least.
My uncle enlisted and was discharged for desertion if memory serves. He had some mental problems that weren't taken care of at that time.
Yeah it was a crazy amount to pay for sure. I probably should have bought a case of 24 and had it shipped to the store, I'd pay a little more but it would even out.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (209017)
• United States
25 Feb 21
Yikes, I would have tried to find some place to find it..
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
25 Feb 21
I called all but one of the dollar trees around me(and I doubt the one I didn't call had it because of the area it's in).
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (209017)
• United States
25 Feb 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum Couldn't you find the product in another store? Anyway, my congressperson sent out a survey asking about our concerns with the post office. Boy, I bet she will get an ear full. I know I plan to respond.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
25 Feb 21
@snowy22315 I'll have to see if ours did, but I kind of doubt he did.
I just compared with amazon and I'd be paying about the same that I did on dollartree.com, or more money for less blocks depending on which listing I chose.
1 person likes this
@Tina30219 (82978)
• Onaway, Michigan
25 Feb 21
I think the mother did the right thing I think she is trying to teach the kid a lesson. As for your order that is not a bad deal.
1 person likes this
@Tina30219 (82978)
• Onaway, Michigan
25 Feb 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum You did the right thing. You have to pay your bills first then fun stuff.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
25 Feb 21
@Tina30219 Exactly. There's been a few months over the past two years where I've forgotten to pay or haven't been able to pay as much as I wanted to, so I need to pay as much as I can while I can.
Besides, I'm hoping that the dollar tree will continue to carry the mini tower blocks and other things.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
25 Feb 21
You're right. The mother just wanted what was best for her son.
The amount I paid could have been worse, that's for sure. If I didn't need to pay my cellphone bill, I would have bought a case of $24, but that would have ate into the amount I pay my credit card too.
@Deepizzaguy (122222)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
25 Feb 21
I found this story very interesting to learn that many persons wanted to enlist in the military.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
25 Feb 21
A lot of them were parents, but there were so many other letters the article didn't cover.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222534)
• United States
25 Feb 21
The attitude toward the armed services was quite different in those days. That shipping charge will always get you!
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
25 Feb 21
It really was a lot different. I think people had a lot more trust in the army than they do now. Now there's a lot of questions a person wants answered before they think of enlisting.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222534)
• United States
25 Feb 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum The attitude was very devoted to America at that time. They took great pride in defending their country and were more apt to enlist during war time because of that.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
25 Feb 21
@LindaOHio You're very right. Pride of country just isn't the same anymore. Recently we've seen more pride of / devotion to a person instead of the country as a whole. That prospect (person worshipping) is scary.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
25 Feb 21
Yeah, but it's also the best value. I've looked around at just buying jenga blocks, and I wouldn't get even close to the same deal. I'm getting 208 blocks for $17 basically.
@RasmaSandra (98033)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
25 Feb 21
Very interesting article, Thanks for sharing, That is a lot for shipping,
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
25 Feb 21
It is, but I had to bite the bullet since it doesn't seem they carry the bigger blocks in stores.
1 person likes this
