The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1890-02-21

ssTattoo"-The sr- lay Mornlng Inspee-
tion : ThiRg ~ tho rast-The csnteen-
The Post TrAnsformed Prom : frlson %
Paradise Under The ADMINISTRATION %
Colonel HernArd.
Sr. LOUIS. Feb. 1O.--Satnrday night
the first Of the army reforms lately i'm
stituted was inaugurated At jefferson
Barracks-and for that matter AZ all tho
United States army posts This reform
was company inspection.
Heretofore, farther back than tho
memory Of the oldest soldier reaches.
on each sunday morning at $50 each
company Of infantry. each troop Of cav.
airy and each battery OF artillery would
assemble on the margin OF the plaza
in front OF their inspection quarters.
and pose for half hour or SO while
the company commander and his stan
examined each soldier from top to too
with the utmost minutcness- A bit Of
dust OF stain on q garment. n spot OF
rust on the weapon. was sufficient 10 Sc
cure the hapless soldier a reprimand or
Incarceration in the guard-house. After
this personal inspection there was fur
Their one OF the quarters. to which tho
same penalties applied. Then for one
third or so OF the garrison there was
guard mount. and when this was all
over and the accom- anying martial
music Tor they do every thing in the
army TO music from peeling potatoes to
burying the dead-had died away. the
enlisted soldier was ready 20 follow
the scriptural Injunction and rest on tho
Sabbath. But the best half Of the Sab
bath was gone. besides which the sol
der had been awake nearly all night.
and with blankets over the windows 70
hide the forbidden lights. had been
cleaning his kit" that il might be found
irreproachable at the inspection.
Owing TO the recent agitation. how
ever. this inspection has been ordered
held on Saturday nights. to allow the
soldier an actual Sabbath. from which
all sacrilegc should be hanishcd.
The first Of these inspections was held
Saturday night, and reporter who
mingled among the troops as soon as
they broke ranks. caught many ex-
Nessions Of approval.
But the march Of reform swept away
the last vestige Of another time-honored
institution Saturday night. This was the
tattoo" roll-cali. which. though it was
expunged from the English army-upon
which the American was planned
fter the Crimean war. has been pre-
served in this country until last night.
Simply being roll-call at which names
must be responded TO 1t means little 10
the civilian, but much 10 the soldier.
The latter was required 70 FALL in" to
ranks before his company's quarters and
respond TO his name as called by his first
sergeant three times -''reveille"
at sunrise. retreat az sunset. when
the colors we're hauled down. and tat
too" at p. m. thirty minutes after
which TAPS" were sounded by tho
bugle. after which no light would ue
allowed to shine from the quarters As
guide TO the enemy" Failing to an
swer any Of these calls. the soldier was
absent without leave and IL
two more calls" elapsed without re-
Spouse he was reported deserter and .
reward Of $50 offered for his apprehen-
ion. But at intervals soldier could
get pass that permitted him to be alb
sent from one or more Of these calls;
ii were not safe for him to
ret out Of hearing distance OF that
buglc.
In accordance with this new rule. tho
last tattoo" was answered last night
From this time on the soldier is free 70
rave his post as soon as retreat sounds
Ind be absent until II p N. The bugles
will sound the tattoo call just the same
II nine o'clock. the lights must be out
At 9:15. taps will be sounded at eleven
and then the trumpeter will arouse the
orderly sergeant who will make tho
rcunds through the quarters and check
absentees. This will account for the
larger number Of soldiers who will 10
seen in the city during future evenings.
The canteen Is another thing that il
already making its beneficent influence
felt The old chapel has been brought
into use for this purpose. and where tho
jefferson Barracks recruit was wont to
receive spiritual food he will receive
material sustenance- he has the spare
change. lie can get good cup 81 coffee.
four eggs to order and ham for twenty
cents. II there is profit il will 20 to
the general mess fund and the soldier
will get the benefit Of IL. instead Of tho
private trader As an instance 81 the
benefits accruing from this change. the
reduction in the price Of a kit is quot
able. The kit" includes various ncccs-
sary incidcntals which the Governments
does not supply as IL does clothing. etc.
This reduction is from - TO 81. 40.
This transformation" was found to
be the case. The commanding officer is
Colonel Z. Il. Bernard Of the Eighth
Cavalry. who relieved Major David Perry
last fall. Colonel Bernard entered the
army before the war as private. and
rose through the various degrees 10
Cclonelcy. He IL very humane and
pleasant man. and key to his character
was found by the reporter who. when
he called. found Colonel Bernard en-.
crossed in reading Gems Of Religious
Thought" lie explained that on
his accession he began complying
with the regulation which allows but
one soldier TO be quartered for every 500
cubic feet Of the air space. This made
II necessary TO reduce the garrison 10
s63 men Of the line and some twenty
five other clerks etc. who occupy other
quarters. When there Is danger ~
crowding from other recruits being sent
IN Cn1nuai Itnrna~l x.ts~ca ". ty..L.