Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1886-10-23
Regular Army Recruits.

~
side of Pennsylvania avenue, near
Tent, street, is not palatial in APP
pcarance, and there is nothing
about it to impress one with Uncle
SAINTS wealth, power or military
renown, except the sight of blue
coats and brass buttons. Outside
OF thetfoorway of the shabby build
ing during business hours stands a
private soldieron guard duty. AT
one side of the doorway is hung a
poster embclli>lcd at the top with
acut OF the American eagle, with
out stretched wings, holding in Its
beak a wreath Of laurel. This vic
tors crown, it is supposed, awaits
the recruit. Underneath this eagle
the letter text OF the poster is very
mattcr-of fact. announces that
tAere are .swanted for the United
Safes army able bodied men be-
tween the ages of twenty.one and
thirty.tivc years. Then it goes on
tn prescribe physical requirements.
No patriot less than five feet four
inches high, and weighing less
than 1910 or more than 1870 pounds,
ncell aspire to serve his country i'll
infantry OF artillery. In the cavalry
thu limit of weight is 165 pounds,
an no man over five feet ten inch
es will be taken. The six footer is
not wanted on horseback. Facts
about soldiers pay and allowances
and the Soldiers Home in Wash
ington are set out. The private
soldier, whose payis SIS II mouth,
beside rations, clothing, bedding,
medicines and medical attendance,
may hope to become a Corporal at
SIS n month, Sergeant at 81, %
FIRST Sergeant ut $40, a Sergeant
Major orregimental Quartermaster
Sergeant at S23, or even post
QualtermaStcr Sergeant at S34.
The recruit, when he first APP
lsearS. is examined as to his name,
age, nativity. occupation, and so
oil. The recruiting officer will also
ask him some questions as to his
moral character, whether he has
ever been convicted of crime, etc.
He will ask also whether the would
be recruit can real or write
White men that cannot read or
write are not taken, but in The case
of colorcd men this lule is not ap
piled. Many who apply for enlist
mrnt are rejected upon this pre-
lim:nary examination. If this tx.
am nation is satisfactory the re-
.cruit lstaken to an upper room and
prepared by means of a bath for
the mgeon'S examination. He
is taken before the surgeon, DIR.
Skinner, naked and clean. An en-.
Try is made of his height and
weight, his chest measurement, the
color OF his eyes and hair, and his
complexion.
The surgeon first tests his eyes.
On the wall at one side of the Of
fee is suspended a black square
having IL round white sphere paint
ed in the centre. The recruit is
seated at Il able on the opposite OF
the room and requested to look at
the white sphere through little
hole in an iron frame. In this hole
is set glass lens, (which revolves
lis the surgeon turns pointer or
index hand on the apparatus
Wnen tile recruit first looks through
the hole he is amazed TO discover
two white spheres instead of one.
As the glass reyolves he likely dis
covers one of these spheres tapping
over he other. The surgeon asks
him questions as he turns the
hands and makes note Of the points
where the spheres seem to lap, OF
where they separate or just touch.
From this data he makes a report
OH the recruits syesight. Then
the recruits lungs are sounded and
his body thoroughly examined for
defects. A very little defect, such
as a bunion, is apt to cause a
mans rejection, for in peaceful
times the government takes its
pick of the men who offer them
selves for enlistment. The day The
Star reporter visited the Office six
men were examined, two were re
jectcd, one declined TO enlist be-
c.use his brother was rejected aud
three were accepted.
The recruit has his choice rs to
the arm Of the service he will en-
t.r. II he expresses 10 choice he
i assigned to the infantry. If he
wants to zine" the cavalry he
must pass much higher cxamina
ton than for other arms Of the ser
vice. The superintendent of the
mounted recruiting service has PIE
scrlbed qualifcationswhicii amount
practically almost to stopping ell
li,tments. He desires that Amerl-
Gus under twenty four years 0fage
and above the average intelligence
who seek employment, not on ac-
count of want of circumstances, but
p rely from military ardOr be ;lc
copied. There are not many such
young Americans who seek to ell
lit for five Years in these piping
times Of peace. When the recruit
his passed his examination and
been accepted the articles of war
are read to bin and the oath is al.
Ininistered to him. He is then is
sued anew suit Of clsthes5 With7;F
my shirt, socks and shoes. lie has
IL Get upstairs on which he makes
bic bod ,yhi1a remaining ot thp II,