The Evening critic., 1884-02-14
THE MARINE GUARDS.
An Interior View Tho Way IL II
Conducted.


Conducted.
"Sbout how many men have you here now2" /
CRITIC reporter asked OF Sergeant Schwartz,
OF the Marine Guard, stationed at the Navy
Yard.
sNearly seventy" he replied. "There's
about that number all the time. or course,
they come and 60, according to tho demands
OF the service. About as soon as all the boys
become well acquainted, lot Of them are
ordered to sea-"
~ suppose you don't have any clubs-read-
ing, literary, or debating clubsG" the reporter
Inquired. .,., ,u,,,,,
son have stated. The men don't stay long
enough TO make any such organizations of any
value to them. We gave ball several weeks
ala not know at the time whether they would
DO here to attend It. However, we have read
ing.room upstairs. Our library" he added,
with laugh, sis open to contributions from
Accompanied by the Sergeant and ex.ser-
geant Casey, a tour OF the building was made.
This huge, gray structure has been made In
side most comfortable and inviting place.
For years It was dreary, barn.iike hablta-
tion, but with the advent Of the present com.
was impaired to the men and encouraged by
his interest, the walls and ceilings OF all the
apartments have undergone
Remarkable and Gratifying Change.
Instead OF tho barren, barracks.like walls the
Visitors eye meets neatly Hated walls,
frescoed in tasteful designs. The dado OK.
tending through the ha,s ana an me rooms,
late, the designs In the border and frieze be-
ing Of the same shade. The ceilings are also
colored to harmonize, and tho effect Is de-
cidedly pleasing. AS was remarked, not many
residences can boast OF prettier walls and cell.
ings. And this decoration, the reporter was
informed, was done by two of the men. On
CHANGING at one of the transoms, he saw one
engaged In adding the finishing touches OF
varnish.
ing ofIlcer to go all over tho quarters,
The Guard-ROOm
| was first visited. This is large room, about
thirty feet In extent and nearly twenty In
width. Along ono side extended rows OF iron
bedsteads arranged in tiers OF two IN each tier.
| on the opposite side of the room were several
innocent looking doors, but which were found
| 10 open into cells.
Confined ON u Serious Charge.
One of these doors was opened, disclosing
| three men, who appeared glad to see the light
| They were the three men who were brought
| to the yard on Sunday charged with robbing
| bodies cast up from the wreck OF the City OF
| Columbus. The speedweli was In the Vicinity
| vessel. They are honest-looking men aud
stoutly deny the charge. The case viii shortly
| be brought before a court-martial. Their
| names are Patrick Morgan, George Contine and
| Charles Boswell. All conversation with them
is forbidden, so the way by which they came
10 be suspected OF such O dastardly onense
just across the hallway from tho guard room
| is the First Sergeants room, comfortable
| little place, containing couple OF desks aud
| chairs, but otherwise bare OF furniture. In
the rear are the Mushrooms, etc.
| In tho second story long
| Mess Room
| .is located over the guard room on the south
| eide OF the building. Several long tables ex-
| tended lengthwise, and appeared no different
from those ordinarily seen In Government bar
"But they diner In what is put on them," re-
marked the Sergeant. "oome out into the
want any better sugar-cured ham than that 7"
| he exclaimed, pointing TO one that was being
cutup. On tasting 1t II was found to be OF OK.
"Just compare our bill of fare" the Sergeant
| said, with that furnished by the Government
and you will ind we live much better than we
would on Government rare.'
. How the Table Is Managed.
show DO you manage to do IT? the reporter
asked, having had the impression that soldiers
had to eat what was given them.
| "Why, by taking what Is given and utilizing
| TO tho best advantage, instead OF dealing II
| out directly TO the men. Now, for instance, the
Government allows man daily twelve ounces
| OF pork, or one pound four ounces of either
| beef or mutton. Now, we dispose OF this pork
and get sugar.cured shoulders instead. We
| don't use pork at all. Then we combine the
other things In way TO make them palat.
able. The Sunday breakfast usually fur
nished by the Government consists OF cold,
dry beef, bread and coffee. Instead OF that
i we have nice, warm meat hash or stew, and
plenty OF 1t, too. For Sunday supper the Goyorn'
ment gives only cold bread and cofreei no
meat, mind you. We have good, warm stew
of meat and potatoes. For dinner we have
bacon, bean soup, turnips and potatoes-quite
layout compared with the Government din
days dinner. Wo have roast beef and pota.
toes. Here's Saturdays ,breakrast-fried
sausages and baked potatoes. Now, this fare
costs no more than that furnished by the
6overnment-s4.40 for each man month"
swell, that seems little enough" the re-
| porter remarked.
| the Sergeant added. "They manage TO save
| some out OF their food money and subscribe &c
papers. Let's go upstairs to the reading
| ROOM"
ON the third floor wero found several
Large Rooms Containing Iron Bed
steRds
| similar TO the ones on the first floor. ON those
| men were seated engaged in various occupa
| lions. For the most part they were writing
| lettera, holding a wooden box containing pape
| and writing materials on their knees ant
crouched In tailor.fashion; Others were en-
| gagged In the feminine employment OF sewing
| up holes or otherwise mending. Few wer'
| comfortably snoozing, while one was engaged
| in making out OF square piece OF canvas
| what sailors term swabs. This canvas he un
| raveled, the stouter ravellings being for
! ''deck swab" and those extending the othe
| Way for "hand Bwab."
II appeared q long and tedious task, makini
one tired TO watch him, 80 a peep was takel
into the reading-room. This Is one or tn
front rooms, and commands an excellen
view Of Eighth street southeast and tho Capt
tol In the distance. on the solitary table wer
A Few Periodicals,
but the shelves OH the walls were bare o
I books. Some enterprsing phllanthrophls
i would perform an act that would BIO highly az
| preclated, and one that would DO productlY.
OF good results, II he endowed the place Will
, | well selected collection OF books.
Next to the reading-room Is tho orderly's room
large apartmentfor the use Of non.commls
. | stoned officers, Beyond desk it had no otho
| furniture. on returning 70 the first sergeant
l room n schedule was found containing tn
Government allowances TO It's man per diem
According TO II a man has tho option Oh II
ounces OF hard bread, or pound ounces o
: | nour or bread; he can have 2.f ounces or bean
or peas, o ounces OF green coffee, rice or hon
| my, or 1.2S ounces OF ground or roasted coffee
| he Is allowed d Ouncea OF RugAr, .32 gill o