Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-28

Now, however the whole system is changed
and when a man makes up his mind to join the
army he has plenty OF time to think I all over
and decide whether he really desires to be a
soldier and undergo all the difficulties and
hardships of soldiers life for five long years
before he takes the decisive step that makes
him a member of Uncle Sans army. SOL
diers life, of course. has its compensating
pleasures and advantages, but these are not
given an undue share OF attention when an APP
plicant Is before the recruiting officer. He is
shown fairly and squarely what is expected of
him, what sort OF work he must do, and is made
to see that a soldiers life is not altogether a
happy ON. If after that he is firm in
his intention of trying for the blue uniform and
brass buttons he Is subjected to q thorough ex-
animation to determine whether he is a suitable
candidate for the place. 1t frequently happens
that a man who has gotten the idea that all
soldier has to do Is to wear a natty uniform and
parade before admiring audiences changes his
mind completely and withdraws all claim to the
position when the conditions of his future life
are explained to him. These men as a rule are
afraid Of work and are only on the lookout for
an easv job. Such men would never make
good soldiers, and it is first rate thing for the
standing of the army that they have chance
to Withdraw before it is too late.
There are in all thirty-one recruiting stations
in this country at each of which is stationed a
commissioned officer, who is known as the re-
Yates.
THE WASHINGTON RECRUITING OFFICE.
There is one such station or recruiting rem
devious in Washington. located on 10th street
between D and E streets 1t is under the COM
mand of Capt F. NJ Gibson and sergt. E. Fl.
Akeman. and is in many respects model sta
ton. It occupies the second and third floors
OF the Beneficial Endowment association build
ing and ID appropriately fitted up and fur
nished for its uses. At the street door q no.
tice is posted on the wall stating that it is a
recruiting rendezvous and that suitable men
are always wanted for the army. sentry in
full uniform is stationed on the front door step
and gives the whole place quite military air.
STAR reporter called q few DAYS
ago to see what would be his chances
for enlistment and when he found
how rigid was the examination for applicants
gave up all hope and was forced to content him
self with staying around to see how it Jared
with other would-be defenders of the nation,
The second floor OF the building, to which he
was at once invited by the sentry on duty, con-
talns two large, well-lighted and handsomely
furnished Office rooms, one Of which belongs to
Capt Gibson the other to Sergt. Akeman. On
the same floor with these are bath rooms a
large store room and the private room of Sergt
Akeman, who has been recruiting sergeant here
for the past four years and who Is on constant
duty at the station. He is quite a musician az
well as an efficient officer and has in his room a
small organ with which he amuses himself and
the four enlisted men who are on duty at the
station. The third floor is taken up mainly by
one large room, which is furnished with chairs
tables and a dozen comfortable-looking iron
cots which are placed in rows against the walls.
This room is used as domitory for the regular
soldiers on duty at the station and for the re-
cruits who have been accepted and who are
awaiting transportation to one or other of the
army posts where the new soldier is schooled
in his duties.