Polly came in to-night and I kissed her on and off throughout the evening on the strength of my departure. This infuriated father, but mother thought it was very pretty. However, before going to bed he gave me a handsome wrist watch, and grandfather, pointing to his game leg, said: "Remember the Mexican War, my boy. I fought and bled honorably in that war, by gad, sir!" I know for a fact that the dear old gentleman has never been further west than the Mississippi River. _Feb. 28th (on the train)._ I have just gone through my suit-case and taken out some of mother's last little gifts such as toilet water, a padded coat hanger, one hot water bottle, some cough syrup, two pairs of ear-bobs, a paper vest and a blue pokerdotted silk muffler. She put them in when I wasn't looking. I have hidden them under the seat. May the Lord forgive me for a faithless son. The departure was moist, but I managed to swim through. I am too excited to read the paper and too rattle-brained to think except in terrified snatches. I wonder if I look different. People seem to be regarding me sympathetically. I recognize two faces on this train. One belongs to Tony, the iceman on our block; the other belongs to one named Tim, a barkeep, if I recall rightly, in a hotel I have frequently graced with my presence. I hope their past friendship was not due to professional reasons. It would be nice to talk over old times with them in camp, for I have frequently met the one in the morning after coming home from the other. [Illustration: "THE DEPARTURE WAS MOIST"] _March 1st._ Subjected myself to the intimate scrutiny of another doctor this morning. I used my very best Turkish bath manners. They failed to impress him. Hospital apprentice treated me to a shot of Pelham "hop." It is taken in the customary manner, through the arm--very stimulating. A large sailor held me by the hand for fully fifteen minutes. Very embarrassing! He made pictures of my fingers and completely demolished my manicure. From there I passed on to another room. Here a number of men threw clothes at me from all directions. The man with the shoes was a splendid shot. I am now a sailor--at least, superficially. My trousers were built for Charlie Chaplin. I feel like a masquerade. [Illustration: "HOSPITAL APPRENTICE TREATED ME TO A SHOT OF PELHAM 'HOP'"] [Illustration: "I FEEL LIKE A MASQUERADE"] A gang of recruits shouted "twenty-one days" at me as I was being led to Mess Hall No. 1. The poor simps had just come in the day before and had not even washed their leggings yet. I shall shout at other recruits to-morrow, though, the same thing that they shouted at me to-day. Our P.O. is a very terrifying character. He is a stern but just man, I take it. He can tie knots and box the compass and say "pipe down" and everything. Gee, it must be nice to be a real sailor! [Illustration: "THIS, I THOUGHT, WAS ADDING INSULT TO INJURY"]