The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-12
PElIMI|ASTER'S ADVENT
iow His Very Welcome Visits are
Made to the Army
Posts.
NJ hat the Humble Private Does
With His Thirteen Dollars
Month.
OCCASIONALLY He Get. Modicum of Good
Adv1os to Boot, Which He some
A times HeedA

that is pay day. Formerly this day Of hap
py dlsbursement came only once in two
months; nov, however, the private has q
chance 70 pocket his monthly stipend with
monthly regularity. It is not much he gets,
only $18, provided he has not committed
any o8en6e against the canons and pro-
vlnms Tor the government of the army,
ana s.r e consequences y docked q portion as
blind" Still il is the dav of all the month
the bsAt. when he roce ives substantial as
surance that be is not forgotten by a sur
pulsed government, says the New York
Times.
\ Il y in the west and south, in portions
that yet remain wild and woolly. that the
paynaster is not stationed at the post, but
ct some centrally located railway point,
Whenoo he makes monthly excursions by
rail, stage and ambulance, with HIS strong
box BY his side. The day of his arrival is
discussed and theorized upon; his coming
Affects the whole garrison, not alone the
enlisted men, but the officers, whom he will
also pay. and the wives and daughters, upon
whom he will call. His visit is social fac
tor Of importance in the little, narrow world
commanding officer Of the garrison will ex-
poet him 70 stop at his quarters and make
them his home for the time being, and will
feel hurt if he doesn't.
All the officers will call upon him in the
evening, regarding him as q blessed mes
civilization; thus they will pay their re-
spects to him and pump him about army
matters at headquRrters-as to what pro-
motions are talked Of and if there is any
chance of more in the spring. They will
unite in condemning their present station
and wish they were back at the previous
one. Then some one will comment on the
irresistible tendency of officers to grumble,
and the others, while they good naturally
admit it, will contend that that is one right
doned the delights of civilization and
plunged into the wilderness to uphold the
government. So the evening will pass after
the paymaster arrives. The day closes
with the adulation due to 80 distinguished
. person. For did ever Roman victor enter
which he comes into the little post? He has
q guard that has been sent to meet him at
the nearest railway station, and the guard,
alive to their Importance, look grim and
forbidding; they sit in the ambulance or
saa %s ea o. with belts
convenient ready. The driver lashes his
mules into semblance of spirited activity,
and, in cloud of dust, they come in, rat
tie down the officers line, while every one
runs to note the cause of the unwonted
connection. The paymaster comes near
being the only man in the army whose mer-
its receive due consideration-suchi is the
power of money.
Behold him next day at the disbursing
table. He is clothed in his best uniform
and bank notes. So open display of
wealth can only be seen in one other place
"a successful gaming institution. On one
side sits his faithful accounting clerk and
on the other the commander of the COM
pany being paid. He reads the names Of
his men in loud voice from the roll before
him and each man steps up and gets his al
lotment or is accounted for in absence by
some cOmrade.
Murphy calls the captain.
Murphy is working in the garding, sor,"
announces the first sergeant, whereupon
Murphy's pay is handed over to his captain.
who gives no receipt, but in due season
hands the money to its owner.
Not uncommonly does the captain volun-
teer bit of advice to the man who draws
ssNow. Callahan, you had better take that
money straight to your wife; don't stop at
the suffers" or, Patterson, this is the first
time in ten months you have drawn your
full pay. Keep on doing we'll" Alas poor
Patterson! Before nightfall he is sleepina
be conduted to the court of high justice
that will cinch him for his misconduct.
Although the soldier gets only pittance
he is generous with what he has. Often q
little frontier town springs up under th'
protection of the post. Here are sure to b.
charitable institutions of more or less pro
nounced character, and the Sisters of Merc,
are among the pioneers. 1t is no uncom
mon sight to see them sitting at the door o
the barrack in which the payment is bein
mere presence, and always with gratifying
results. The soldiers warm heart recog
nizeS their mission. and responds to it.
Pay dsy is always a day of cessation
from routine drill and parade, as the re
ceipt of his months pay is supposed to b
Aor3 fpr Cnl6Jnr Nr
in some convenient place there are sure t
be found all the necessary means of quick
gambling away what the man has left b.
the time he reaches this popular resort. l
may be poker or it may be roulette, an
happy is the crowd that congregates abou
the table wnereat some comrade is dealin
faro. Sometimes the man make
lucky strike, and then it is no IN
common thing for him to go straightway
his captain. and ask him to keep the roll q
thought of any written acknowledgment
from the officer. This arises, not from is
nOrance, but from a faith in the officer
honor and fair treatment of men that h
has never seen occasion to question. Som
of the men will prefer to spend their none
steps hither. The keepers of saloons
veritable shanty hells-are ready to receiv
them. and make bids for their enter
tainment on this day. So-called orchestra
grace du elevated pOSlIlOn against the wall
and frequently discourse music with NOR
strength than skill. Gamblers are there
gathered like yultures after battle, witt
no mercy in their hearts, intent upon gain
ing the last possible dollar before the vic
tim, stupefed with vile whisky, is cast lat
the outer darkness from the door of tn
saloon. Women lend their presence, toe
and are not one whit more merciful tha
the companionable gamblers. They al
banded together for the one purpose of &c,
ting the soldiers money away from hin
while each has particular axe to grind an
pocket to fill, the grindstone is the same fe
all. Woe to the blue-coat who puts himse
in the power of these harpies; he is indee
of that class that rush in where ange
fear to tread"; by the same token he new,
learns by experience, but in month q, tin
will be ready to 60 all through it again.
The succeeding day is always one of +
action, and, action and reaction beiI
equal, the depths into which the garrist
now sinks correspond to the previous elev
ton. The paymaster leaves, bound for a
other post on his route; the social excit
snant is over, and, although thoroughly ca
vassed, it doesn't appear that the-paymast
told any exciting news or even whisper
any gossip that could be turned over to a
vantage. The soldiers turn ont for dri
but the companies are thinly filled out a
those IN the ranks present more or /
rocky" appearance. The drill is listl,
and dIaas wearily through its hour. /
mail cosnes in and brings nOthing-it ne,
does, coming on the heels of the paymast