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

Five years is long time in a mans life"
said Capt Gibson, especially when he is not
In position which suits him, and you must re-
member that when you are once in you have
no way OF getting out except by an honorable
discharge at the completion of your full term
OF service" This was putting it rather
strongly for the young man, but what finally
induced him to drop all his hopes Of a soldiers
career was yet to come.
GOOD REPUTATION REQUIRED.
In answer to the captains questions he said
he could furnish plenty of recommendations
from his former employers and from others
who knew him at his former home Now that
the standard for admission to the army has
been so raised recommendations are required
OF all applicants and these must be complete
and satisfactory to the officers in charge. Be-
lore man Is enlisted the recruiting officer
writes himself to ali persons whom the appli-
cant has mentioned as willing to speak a good
word for him and if the results of his inquiries
as 10 the man previous career are not entirely
satisfactory the man is Immediately rejected.
In the case OF the young man from Norfolk it
was not necessary to 60 so far for as soon as he
learned that the captain would write to find
about his past record he seemed very much en-
oarrassed and Immediately withdrew all claim
TO chance to serve in the army. He remarked
AS he left the room, that he guessed he not
SO very anxious to be a soldier after all and did
not care to have his friends put to so much
trouble on his account for he had never sup
posed 1t was necessary for man to have his
whole history made known III order TO get a
Sl3-dollar position at shoeing horses in a cav
airy company or carrying musket at all hours
OF the day or night.
AN APPLICANT REJECTED.
The other applicant was not so sensitive. 1t
seemed that he was seagoing man by profess
sion and had last served on board private
yacht but was anxious to take turn ashore for
a FIRST a tas ia IF
his eyes Then his mouth was pried open to
see whether he was likely to be able to properly
care for his share of the rations provided by
Uncle Sam for his boys in blue. His bearing
was found to be quite satisfactory and he was
able to repeat verbatim all remarks made in an
undertone at the farther end of the room,
though when the officer remarked that Wash
Ington was the capital of North Carolina and
three twelves were thirty-nlne he endeavored
to show his superior learning by insisting
However, private is not expected to
have very thorough knowledge OF
higher mathematics, providing he can
read and write and this slight error was not
considered against him. He was then weighed
and measured and subjected to thorough
physical examination. Here it was found that
he dld not come up to the required standards
IN one or two points, sufficient, however. to
cause the immediate rejection of his applica-
ton. I'm fact, said the recruiting sergeant,
You would be greatly surprised l am sure at
the number OF men, to all appearances per-
fectly built, who are found on subsection to a
rigid examination to have more than enough
defects to bar them from entering the army
Out of the last thirty who have applied
only three have come up to the required stand
ards"
1t is not necessary that man should be a
citizen of the United States in order to enter
the army, providing only that he have a suffi-
cient knowledge of the English language and
can read and write. In this requirement rather
more is expected of the white soldier than OF
his colored cOmrade in arms