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Origins of the Cootie |
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Origins of the Cootie |
| The name Cootie originated during World War I
when the different armies were massed together on the battlefields of France. Each country
represented in WWI contributed to what is known as the Cootie, by amalgamation of lice.
The common American Greyback, the Black Algerian Schinnels, the great Blue Louse from
India, the British Blue Bloods, the Belgian Gold-Striped Heneckers, the French Grey and
the Gold Parisian Cooties were all thrown together in the trenches and at once began to
increase and multiply so that by the end of the war we had the most intelligent Cooties
that could be produced. They were known to bite the soldiers at just the right time to
save the soldier's lives; for often when a shell left the German trenches the Cooties
would bite the soldiers, causing them to stoop and scratch at just the exact time that the
shell would pass over the place where the soldier's head had been. Many soldiers, lying in
their shell holes, were saved from death when the highly intelligent Cooties, knowing that
a shell was coming in their direction, would bite the soldiers, causing such agony that
they were forced to retreat to the trenches or other places of safety for "shirt
reading" and "seam running" while the shell burst harmlessly in the places
they had just vacated. The Cootie Organization of today carries on in the same degree of
usefulness. The Military Order
of the Cootie members
work for their parent organization, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and continuing to do good for all whom they come in contact with.
They are always ready to help their Comrades, the Comrades' widows and orphans, and
contribute generously to the maintenance of the Orphanage at Eaton Rapids, Michigan. At
this orphanage a swimming pool and playground known as Cootie Field, a complete and modern
fire department has been built and financed by the Cooties. The spirit of Comradeship
and good will that exists in the Cooties is beyond comparison in other organizations, for
in the Cooties, Fun is King and the willingness to help in any cause for the betterment of
humanity is their goal. Hence
the Cootie slogan,"Busier than a Bee", and "Closer than a Brother". |