The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-09-06
"THE REGULAR ARMY, o."
Something About the Men Who Want to
Dive on Beans and Hard-Tack.

Something About the Men Who Want to
Dive on Beans and Hard-Tack.
What Il Recruit has to Pass Through to Get
in the United States Service.
Several years ago congress limited the mum
Der of men to serve in the standing army to
Is, 900. At present the service is about 2,ooc
short. The securing of the men is difficult.
for, although the applications are numerous,
the successful ones are very few in compari-
son. With the rigid rules governing their en-
listment and the physical examination they
have to undergo it takes an Apollo or Her
cules to pass the ordeal without trouble. The
applicant must be in good health and fret
from all physical blemishes. An overlap
ping toe, chronic corn and bad teeth are
sufficient to disqualify him from five years
enlistment moreover he must be of good
moral character, and an applicant guilty Of
violating any of the civil laws cannot find Sc
cmity in the regular army Should fugitive
from justice mar; &c, by false statements, to
pass the examinations he would as soon a:
the facts were discovered, be discharged and
delivered into the custody of the proper au-
thoritles
For the infantry all recruits must not be less
than five feet four inches in height and weigh
not less than 10 or more than 100 pounds. FOi
| the cavalry the minimum height is the same a.
| for the infantry, and the weight ranges from.
laO to 1G pounds. The required age is from 81
| to IS years although exceptions are made il.
| cases of minors when the consent of the parcn,
or guarding is given. Many parents take ad-
| vantage of this exception to induce their re-
fl,,ctory sons to enlist, hoping that Ave years
service under the strict discipline of the rcgII-
ar army will be enough to bring them to IL re-
| lliZing sense of their duty.
| An enlisted man is not absolutely prohibited
| from marrying, but he is never officially know n
| us IA married man. nor will he be rc-cnlistcd
| The service was not always so strict in this IT.
| gard. Years ago soldiers were allowed to EN-
bark in matrimonial ventures, and their wivr
| were recognized to the extent of being mad,
| aul,ireSScs and furnished with trlIspOrta
| ton.
| nnc the life of soldier is now practically
| that of Il celibate, his comforts and privilege
| have been dOubly enhanced under the Strcl
| discipline, and he is far better cared for than il
| former years. The government now issue.
towels, brushes, backing, knives forks, spoons
| &c, and the recruit may buy tobacco, needle
| and other articles at the cOmmisSOry stores al
cost instead of being obliged to purchase of I'm
| prncplcd dealers at rxh0rbtant adv anccS oven
| their true value. At some of the posts ON the
| western frontier, where the vast eXpanse OF
unclaimed land will permit it, large garden,
are cultivated by the soldiers, and thus in adj.
| ditinn to the regular IatnnS issued by the gov
| ernmcnt, they are able to provide themselves
! with vegetables.
| Af.er the applicants hayc successfully passcu
| the examinations at the local posts they ar,
| sworn in and at once bec0ne servants Of the
| United States. Each Of these posts is provided
| with sleeping apartments, furnished with army
| cots, where the embryotc soldier is cared fOl
| as long as he stays, which is generally about
| four days, when, in com any with Il number
| of other ambitious warriors, he is removed to
the regular depot for recruits, that of the cav v.
| llry being located at jefferson barracks, on
| the Mississippi river, ten miles below st. Loii>,
md the ren"czvonS for infantry at Columbus,
/ O. BY law upon the statute books a premium
| of 81 per heal SalOw'd for recruits. 1t - vir-
| lualiy dead le.ter, however, rs no such Il
premium has hoen paid for number of years.
| The deficiency OF iwu thousand men
has been materially decreased by the
efforts of the posts In this city. Many
| mechanics and not 4 few professional men
| with promising careers in civil life before
with the romance surrounding it, has IL pLrti(-
lliiir fascination to men dissatisfied with their
| calngs or disappointed in business or love nf-
| fairs. The recruits represent nearly al nations
The American element predOminateS, however
| as about twO-thiris of the candidates are "Ol
the native heath, and to the manner born.
| The Irish follow next, with Germany Il good
third. France, Norway, Sweden and othc,
| countries are occasionally represented.
| The physical examination is under tfe super
vision of regular practising physician. OF
| some one of the recruiting corps CONVEX
| SAINT with the requirements of the ser
| vice. As stated before, it is a tryin4
ordeal. The candidate is compelled to dives
himself of all his garments. and appears bcior,
| the argus-eyed Inspector in mans most print
tive state. He is weighed and his height taken
| His chest IS then measured, and the expansion
and contraction in inspiration and eXpi GtiOl
| noted Should the difference hatwuGn thes,
| two be less than three inche pc is at once re-
| jected: He is then required to move the joint
in his arms ana legs separate y,and asked to hoi
| across the room. Ii he succeeds in passing on
| these points to the satisfaction of the surgeon
| his eye-Sight is then tested and he is pu
| through u m'liRr of Inquiries to ascertain
| whether or not he Is color blind Having pasSc,
this examination, he is sworn in. Afte' arriv
| ing at the respective post to which he is as
| sgned he is taught the manual of arms and al
the ruiiment of drilling. After he has becom,
sufficiently proficient, he Is assigned to some
| company in which he il likely to become al
| eqcelient target for an aboriginal sharp
! shooter.
Important Railroad Changes Announced
Palestine, September s.-The announce
ment is made here that ON the 18Th inst there
will be change In the management of the
system of railroads controlled by Mr.. Gould
Capt. X. S. Hayes, now senior vice-president
With headquarters at St. Louis, is to proceed
to New York, from which point he is to havs
the management of all the roads operated by
the syndicate. Mr.. Hoxie, now general man.
ager of the I. Il p. and l. & G.. N. roads, is
to succeed Mr.. Hayes as vice-preSident at ST.
Louis, with full charge of all the southwestern
lines, including the Missouri Pacific and
leased roads. A. A. Talmase, who is al
present general manager Of the M. X h T.,
Is 10 succeed Mr. ltoxie as general manager,
including within his Jurisdiction all The roads
south of st. Louis. This latter change is OF
most interest to all the employees alone nc
lines Of the |. & G.. N. and the Texas and Pa.
cihc, as Mr.. Talmage is to have exclusive