The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-09-14
PAGES 3 TO IL
UNCLE SAM ISPARTICULAR
1T is VERY HARD TO GET INTO THE
REGULAR ARMY.
Three-Fourths of Those who Seek to En-
list as Privates Are Rejected-There Is
No Discrimination on Account of Ma
tionality.

No Discrimination on Account of Ma
tionaIity.
Most people have an idea that it is the easiest
thing in the world to get into the Regular Army
as private. 1t is the general idea that Uncle
Sam is only too glad to get men for $13 month
to hold up his frontier posts. Such, however is
not the case The standard for admission to
the Army has been raised so high that probably
three-fourths of the men who apply for enlist
ment are turned away. There are thirty-one re-
cruiting stations Where men find an eotrsc to
the military glores, just at present, not fur
nshed by service in our Army. Washington has
of the recruiting stations, and it is generally
considered good one. 1t is situated on Tenth
street. At present Capt Gibson, who usually
presides is away, and his place is taken by Lieut..
Duvall, young man of thirty-five or there
abouts, who has been in the service for nine
years and understands exactly the qualities that
go to make up the good soldier. In speaking of
the class Of men that apply for enlistment the
Lieutenant said:
"We have men of all grades, qualities nation
alities, and conditions who wish to enter the
Army. The only requirements are that man
shall be Of sufficient age, must meet certain ply
scal requirements, must be able to read and
write, and of good moral character You would
be surprised to know the number of men who
course there are certain physical disqualified
tions which emphatically stamp the man as unfit
deformity of any kind for instance. There are,
however, great many men who come here hav-
ing defect in their vision or in their organs of
hearing. Tests to show the condition of these
senses always have to be made with the candi--
date for enlistment. AS for nationalities, we en-
list everything, think, except Chinaman A
Chinaman would be made fun of by his fellow
soldiers, and the result would be to unfit him
entirely for the life. They say that in France a
man is disqualified for extreme ugliness. The
requirement of good looks, however, does not
obtain over here.
''A man to enter the Army must be owe" six
teen years old and under thirty-ive. Between
the ages of sixteen and twenty-one lie must
have the consent of his parents for his enlist
ment lie must weigh over one hundred and
twenty-five and less than one hundred and
ninety; one hundred and sixty for the cavalry
His height must be at least five feet four inches
his chest measurement thirty-two inches, in
| creasing two inches upon expansion"
| "Of what nationaties do you find most of
the men who enlist? Is there any dscrimina-
tion made other than against Cinnamon ?''
more Americans enlist than men of any
other nation. After Americans there are proba-
bly, more Irishmen. Ii is very hard, though, to
say whether we have more Irishmen or Germans.
The other nations are fairly well represented
There is no choice made at all in the matter of
natlonalltles. Any recruiting agent who would
make any discrimination against men of anv
particular nationality would be immediately
court-martiaed."
''What proportion Of men who apply do Won
enlist at this Office ?n
sit is hard to say off-hand Last month
(August) we had fifty applicants. There were
Just twelve who came up to the requirements.
We are very careful in accepting man. as he
has to pass other examinations when he arrives
at the station to which he has been assigned
and in case he fails we are required to pay his
transportation both ways and his board so long
as he remains at that post"
sat what particular season do you find more
men anxious to enlist ?n
'During the months of July and August there
are more than any other. l do not know any
reason for this Possibly they get tired of hard
manual labor at their usual trade during the
hot season, and think 1t would be much nicer at
military post in the far West | haven't
doubt that great many men are influenced in
the choice of military life by of laz-
ness. Others want to provide home for them
selves for term of years, thinking to save out
OF their pay enough to start them in business
when their term of enlistment is over. Others
like the Army and go into it for the love of it.
The amount of pay received is rather small 1t
is $l3 month, but during the first year 81 of
this is retained by the Government in the idea
that 1t will prevent desertion. Then there is a
sum OF twelve and half cents per month to be
paid by all to provide for the maintenance Of
the Soldiers Home, to which those 90 who are
! disabled after twenty years service. AT the
| posts the soldiers have to do a great deal of
drilling, and at times have to be willing TO pick
| up u bpduG lOf Speclul service. Inc work III
reality is by no means easy, and knowing the
dissatisfaction which would arise among men
! pledged to an uncongenial task for five years,
! we are very particular to give every applicant
| correct idea of its duties and hardships
! Life at the posts is not so very disagreeable,
! though, even for the private. They have very
| good fare and plenty Of it. They have libraries,
reading and billiard-rooms, and numerous other
! luXuries. The proceeds of these conYeniences
| revert to the soldier in the way of food for his
| table, the amount received being divided proper
! tionately among the companies stationed at the
| post In addition, the private has chance OF
| rising to the rank of commissioned officer, and
this is not infrequently done. AS a regularly
| commissioned officer he has many more priYi-
| leges and immunities
at is against the regulations to recruit man
| who is married. In the first place, it would be
| impossible fora man to keep wife on the pay the
soldier receives. This, even in the case of re
enlisted soldier, frequently makes them miser-
| able and unit for attention to duty Again, it
| is very difficult TO keep married man at his
| post and not infrequently he becomes dseour-
| aged with the seeming impossibility of being
| happy as soldier with wife and he deserts.
| This would be much more the case with Il man
| who had just enlisted, so we never take them.
We cannot refuse TO take man resnlisting be
! cause he is married.
To Close Earlier.