Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-25

11:30 the camp was very
CLEANING UP. lively place.
The number of visitors down added largely
10 the population aud also increased the num-
Der of little gatherings In certain tents. where
the men would come out wiping their mouths.
The STAR reporter did not understand
what this meant, but tent post
could see that no stranger could get in any
single company camp without being roped in
to some tent and Immediately jingle OF
glasses would follow. In fact an atmosphere OF
hospitality surrounds Camp Washington, which
Is charming and explains in considerable
Men visiting other camps are received in q
glorious manner and everything possible done
for them
NIGHT IN CAN'T.
As the last visitors were leaving camp last
night and the lights began to shine through
the canvas of many tents the camp was also a
pleasant place. The band playing in its
best manner at Headquarters, while many
a song went up from the threats OF
the hastily formed glee clubs scattered over
the camp. At the first regiment an improvised
band was playing some striking music on
banjOs and drums consisting of tin buckets.
Early rising is the order of the day at camp
and it is really almost worth while to get up at
o'clock in the morning to see the sleepy look
ing ones turning out. The other morning at
the rising call one unfortunate cavalryman was
detected trying to tie his belt around his neck
for a crayat.
sALUTISG THE PAJAMAs.
Gen. Ordway's attention will be directed this
evening to the conduct of member of his
staff, who amuses himself in the gray dawn by
walking around in the vicinity of Headquarters
clad In nothing more substantial than S.
suit OF ''pajamas." The men who do sentry
duty on the headquarters post object very
strenuOusly to being compelled to salute man
who is too lazy to put his uniform on before
mai MS ma fYltIn mol frI1. to no 1inin
chest in the headquarters Office building.
This morning the sentry at headquarters ex-
ecuted very clumsy salute as the animated
palamas passed and was promptly called to
order by Aide-de-Camp Hine, whose only pro-
lection against the morning air was gauze
undershirt, pair of trousers and a couple Of
socks.
1t is only justice to state that Capt Hine was
not out for tine purpose OF inspecting the guard.
but was hunting for long-lost and diminutive
pieceof soap.
SOMETHING LIKE LAST YEAR.
It looks and feels and sounds like Fort
Washington now. 1t is once more the same
old damp spot that seemed last year to have
such sponge-like affinity for moisture. 1t has
had good long course of training for this
having been ground for days into fine search
ing dust tina. Is now being rapidly churned into
thick, cllnging mud. 1t is a return to the
old times. but this change has not been well
by the National Guard, now enjoying the de-
lights OF a rainy day in camp there. There
have been no parades, or celebrations or
torchlight professions to welcome the rain,
however much it may have been needed in the
adjoining counties.
A TIME FOR REST AND QUIET.
Coming as it did on the heels of the Presi-
dent, whose appearance here was the signal for
the greatest military enthusiasm among the
men, the wet weather has had a decidedly re-
dictionary influence. 1t has brought the great
est quiet to the camp, food Of rather disa-
greeable memories as well as of water 1t
brought back the camp fires. with their pleas
ant crackle and roar. and thus, in a negative
way, made the encampment appear brighter
after supper call than it has vet this year.
There Is another thing that the wet weather
brought, and that was day and night of rest
Drills and parades were suspended yesterday
on account of the rain and there was much ioy
thereat At night the passes asked for and
Issued were few, as the men had little inclina-
ton to make their usual excursions to
River View. The consequence was that most of
them had a good nights rest. aided by the
drowsy steady, disgustingly constant rat-a-tat-
tat of the rain on the canvas. The rain took
courage when the fires that lit up the color
lines died out, and after the moon had given
up most hopeless effort to break through the
clouds. and all night long and all this morn
ing II beat down on the encampment in SEEM
ing attempt to make the boys feel at home
Beyond the consequent rise in the market of
profanity there was little mental effect
VISITORS KEPT AWAY BY THE RAIN.
The bad weather had a most depressing in
fuence on the attendance yesterday. Instead
OF the 1000 visitors who came to see the camp
Tuesday and the 700 of Wednesday there were
only about $50 at the camp all day long. The
Manchester brought down nearly three-fourths
OF these on her 4:30 trip, and as the sky prom
lsed no better things Capt Blake decided to
alter his schedule to suit the weather and he
held the steamer at the wharf until $50, when
ne made his only "trip up the river. The small
crowd looked very disconsolate especially az
the dress parade had been abandoned and
there was nothing to see but a lot Of damp
tents fringed by scores OF woe-begone militia
men
THE PoScHo APPEARS.
There is still another effect Of the rain. 1t
has caused the instant and universal reappe ar.
anee Of the rubber blanket or .poncho. /"
which formed such unique, if not pictur-
esque, feature Of the camp landscape In SO.
me ponchooe IL known to the uninitlated, is a
piece Of rubber backed by canvas about siI feet
square, furnished with eyed holes along the
edges, through which tapes are laced Ii ia
used Tor great variety Of purposes but most
frequently Just as an overcoat or cape tied
around the neck on one of the edges. the cor
ners hanging down around the knees in a style
suggestive of the bandits of Italy and Spain.
Ii Is not a particularly comfortable garment.
nor Is II unusually effective as a waterproof
except when the rain happens to be coming
straight down, as 1t persists in dong now at
the fort
TALES OF The FLOOD
The recent recruits are being hourly regaled
with tales Of the food which descended upon
the camp last year. As these stories have los,
no emphasis or points of interest during their
WE'VE months OF Information the effect on the
new men, who have been calculated at abou,
one ulrd OF the entire command, Is not alto
gether unhappy. They now seem to take the
moisture as a sort Of heritage, a regulation ac-
eouterment, while the others like to svagper
as veterans. This has tendency To keen the
camp cheerful, even under the dispiriting cir.
eumstances visiting it now.
ALL IN GOOD HEALTH
Friends Of the soldier boys can rest easy a,
70 their health. as in this regard every one /,
especially well fixed. Post Surgeon Leach re-
ports the health OF the camp as unusually
good This is not the time for malaria alonS
the river, and in this respect the boys are for
tunate. The ambulance corps have plenty OF
work 20 do, however, even If they do not pe
many patients, as they accompany the troop on
all the parades in case something should han
pen 10 somebody.
THE POST oUARTERMAsrER-
The lsbors Of Captain Parmenter, DOS
quartermaster. have been materially lightene,
during the past couple Of days. and that genia
officer Ia breathiu0 rnora fraalv r. - a.. :