The Dickinson press., 1884-08-30
HOW SOLDIERS B mad
What . Recruit Has to Undergo to Get IN.
to the Army.

What . Recruit Has to Undergo to Get IN.
to the Army.
An erect aud good-looking young fell
low of stalwart pro portions and muscu-
lar appearance presented himself on
Saturday at the recruiting Office, No.
1919 Market Street, for enlistment in
the United States Army. Captain h.
Il. Humphreys, the officer in charge,
was favorably impressed with the gen
eral appearance of the young man, who
was of Scotch birth and about twenty,
eight years old. The applicant passed
the physical examination creditably.
No defect in his anatomical structure
was discovered to operate against his
desire to become a soldier. In giving
the final instructions Captain Hum
preys noticed that the young man did
not seem to comprehend their import.
II didna ken" was his explanation. He
vas rejected an account of his imper-
feet knowledge of the English language.
The general supposition would be
that reflections on the ground of imper-
feet knowledge of the Eglish language
were very rare, but the books of the
recruiting officer show to the contrary.
An average of one in fifteen persons
fails to pass on this account. The rec
ords show that reflections on account of
defective teeth and myopia exceed all
others. It is required that the applicant
shall have not less than eight good
molar teeth, in addition to q fair number
of incisors, which are considered neces-
o0r nv RI q 1,ronor n,oc%foofSo,, &c orpo,
fare.
The process of enlistment is Of inter-
est. When the applicant presents him
self, the recruiting officer asks him q
number of questions concerning his
health, habits, and occupation. If the
nswers are satisfactory, the examina-
ton begins. Commencing with the
head, which is closely examined for de-
pressions, the examiner inspects the
eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.
The would-be soldier then disrobes,
and his body is thoroughly searched
for physical defects. Every test Is ap-
piled to learn the condition of the heart
and lungs. The arms, hands, fingers,
legs, feet, and toes are all infinitely
scanned. Stiffness in the joints of any
of these members is fatal to
the chances of an applicant for enlist
ment. After undergoing the examin.
alton, the aspirant to militaryfame is di.
rected to jump as high as he can and
alight fairly upon his feet. Ifhe winces,
the indications are that he is trou-
bled with corns on the soles of his feet,
which is a cause of rejection, as an
afliction of that sort would be an obsti-
Gle in marching. If the applicant sue
cessfully passes the physical require
ments, he mounts the scales. His
weight, in order to be eligible, must
not be under 100 and not over 1870
pounds. He must not be less than five
feet four inches high. He is then TAX
en- into an adjoining room, where he
INDUCES in a bath.
After taking the oath and signing the
papers, he is supplied with an outfit.
This consists of a flannel shirt, cotton
flannel drawers, o dark blue blouse,
grayish-blue pantaloons, q pair of sus-
penders, woolen socks, shoes and a
blush cap. Under the escort of two
soldiers the new recruit is taken to
David's Island, w., where he enters
upon his five years. service to the Gov
eminent. OF the persons presenting
themselves for enlistment only about
eight out of a hundred succeed in pass
ing the physical examination. About a
year ago an applicant was discovered
to have winged shoulderblades. The
bones projected in shape of wings near
ly two inches. He was considered en-
tirely too angelic for the military SER
vice.-Philadelphia Record.