The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1884-08-28
HowsoLpiinRs ARR MADE.



TO the Army. ST.
An erect aud good looking young fell.
low Of stalwart pro portions and muscu-
Lar appearance presented himself Oh
Saturday ct the recruiting Office, No.
1919 Market Street, for enlistment in
the United States Army. Captain II.
81. Humphreys, the officer in charge,
was fayorably 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 soldier. In giving
the final instructions Captain Hum
preys noticed that the young man did
not seem to compre their import.
" didna ken, z was his explanation. He
was rejected an account Of his imper-
feet knowledge Of the English language
The general gupposition 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
falls to pass on this account, ID The rec
ords show that reie cions on account Of
detective teeth and myopia exceed all.
others. II is required that the applicant
shall have MT less than eight good
molar teeth, in addition to q fair number
of incisors, which are considered neces-
sary to . proper mashcation Of army
fare. sX5 p 54f5sS VI,
The process Of enlistment is Of inter-
est. When the applicant presents him.
sell, the recruiting officer asks him a.
number of questions concerning his
health, habits, and occupation. IL the
answers are satisfactory, the examine
ion begins. Commencing with the
head, which is closely examined for de-.
pressions, the examiner inspects the
eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. Is
The wonld-be soldier. then disrobes,
and his body lis 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 applicint for enlist
ment. After und ergoing the examin-
alton, the aspirant to military fame is di-
rected to jump as high as he can. and
Ealight fairly upon his feet. If he wiinnces,
/ the Indications are that he is trou-
Sbled with eorns on the soIes Of his feet,
which is cause Of rejection, as. an
affection of that sort would be an obsti-
ole IN marching. H 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 100
pounds. He must moi: be less than five:
feet four inches high. He is then talk
en- into an adioining room, where; he
indn1ges ii q bath. 5.57 ],
After taking the oath and signing the
papers, he is supplied with an outfit.
This consists Of flannel shirt, cotton
flannel drawers, a dark blue blouse,
grayish- blue pantaloons, q pair Of sus...
penders, N oolen socks, shoes and q
Ebluish cap. Under the escort of two
soldiers the new recruit is taken to
sDavid's Island, N. Y. where he enters
upon his five years service to the Gov
Eernment. OF the persons presenting
themselves for enlistment only about
eight out of 4 hundred succeed in pass
ing the physical examination. About q
year ago an appli cant was discovered
to have winged should blades. The
bones projected in shape of wings near
lslytwo inches. Hetwas considered en-
tirely too angelic for the military SER
vice. p hiladelp hia Record.