Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-12-09

| so 1ar as INC Cnah&o HULL th9 PAe'AH
ordinary man into the soldier Is concerned
OF course we cannot follow him through
him first, second or third engagement ant
tell of what sort Of stuff he is made. TIA
is left for future history to tell. Some
times the most ungainly, awkward, raw
recruit makes tina best soldier, so if yor
should chance 10 see new recruit walking
down Market Street some fine Afternoon
airing his new ''sojer" clothes, don't jump
at the conclusion that their is nothing il
him. You may get badly fooled. HI
may have bullets in him some day, and
all because he was in the front ranks fight
ing for the CAUSE he espoused. But now
let us look a. the requirements necessary
in q man to
BECOME A SOLDIER.
Some time since Capt. Allan Smith o.
the U. S. Army came to Wheeling for the
purpose of opening recruiting rendezVou:
at this point.
After some difficulty had been expert,
enced in finding suitable quarters, the
Captain at last secured the building, No.
1919 Market street and put it into shape
for the purpose. About three weeks ago
the station was opened with Captain Smith
in charge. He has four assistants, who
are old soldiers, having served three o!
four enlistments.
An applicant for admission to the ser,
vice, if his outer appearance indicates tina;
he is qualified to become soldier, is first
informed by the Sergeant the amount of
money he will receive for the five years
term of service and the conditions are ex.
planned. He is first asked if he is married
or single, if any one is depending on hin
for support, his age, &C., &c.
If all the questions are answered in o
satisfactory manner the examination be.
gins. First his eyesight is tested by means
of card containing differant letters of the
alphabet. He stands off q distance Of
twenty feet from the card and must be
able to read all the letters at that distance
Both eyes are first tested and then each
one is tested separately. If he passes this
examination bis hearing is next tested. He
stands of at distance of twenty feet with
his back to the recruiting officer, who
whispers questions to him, which he mus
hear plainly enough to give an Ineligible
answer. This proving satisfactory an ex'
animation is made of his teeth to see what
condition they ara in, aud what amount Of
dental attention they need or may here
after need.
THE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION.
The candidate for military honors il
then stripped and thorough examina
tion is made of his physique. Tne move
ments of every joint in his frame ie tested
to ses that they are all in good working
order. He must be sound in all parts, af
ter which his height aud weight are
taken. He must weigh two pounds TO the
inch, with five pounds more added to the
total. For infantry man cannot be less
than feet inches tall, and from that OF
up to almost any height. For cavalry he
cannot be taller than 5 feet 10 inches, but
may tall short of feet 4.
If all these examinations prove satisfac-
tory he is accepted ana is then required ia
take the oath, after which the declaration
of recruits is read to him, which he sigus.
He is then sworn into service He then
receives thorough bath and the necessary
clothing is issued to him, after which he
is full fedged 'sojer boy"
he is then kept here along with any
Others who may have been accepted until
at least five have been secured, when they
are sent in batch to Cincinnati and from
there
TO THE JEFFERSON BARRACKS
at st. Louis. Then their discipline be-
gins. They are drilled and instructed fer
four or FIVE months, taught to groom and
take care of horses generally, after which
they are drafted off to the different regi-
ments ss they may need them. There are
generally four or five hundred on band at
the Jefferson Barracks all the time.
The men are we'll fed, and besides the
regular rstions they have company gar
dens, and when all the product of these
gardens is not used, which is generally the
case, the surplus is sold and the proceeds
turned into the company's fund, from
which varsity of articles for the table are
purchased, and in this manner soldiers are
enabled to have better food than many of
than ever dreamed of having before they
went into the service.
Every post has a library for the use Of
the men and all the daily papers and mag,
azines are taken. The government allows
SD per month for that purpose, and the
library is also kept up by the post fund,
besides which every company or troop has
la library or reading room of its own. So
in this manner the soldier is kept posted
on all the news of the day, and if he de-
sirss can acquire quite an education, or if
he already possesses fair education, he
can improve it wonderfully.
THE SOLDIERS
also receive first class medical attendance,
and any man disabled in line of duty,
when discharged for that cause, recsives a
pension besides being entitled to the
privileges Of the Soldiers Home at Wash
ington. After thirty years term of ser,
vice man is retired on three quarters pay
allowances, besides which he receives a
pension from the Washington Soldiers
Home if he does not desire to remain at
the Home. This institution is very rich.
and to support it every soldier pays twelve
and half cents out of his wages. All
court martial fines also 60 the support of
the Home.
Eligible men must be between the ages
Of twenty-one and thirty-fye years, un-
married, and with 40 one depending upon
them for support. In about the three
weeks the Wheeling station has teen open
fourteen men have been enlisted and sent
to Jefferson barracks. Eight Of these were
sent week or 30 ago, and six more left
on Friday evening. Capt. Smith says