The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1891-03-07
~ SANS SOLDIERS.
Recruits for the United ststes Arm,
Must Pass a Rigid Examination.

Recruits for the United states Army
Must Pass = Rigid Examination.
The United States army is small. 1t
is painfully small. Tie constant de-
mand for men to go into the cavalry
and infantry often goes UNDECIDED
There is an office on Clark street. he
tween Lake and Washington streets,
where the Stars and Stripes almost flap
IN the faces of the passers-by. At the
hall entrance are pictures of the coun-
try's defenders, dressed in the blue and
brass, mounted on horses or on foot,
fully armed 1t is there that during
the past three months l6l men have
gone, climbed up the stair, filled with
4 hankering TO become 4 Cant a
Hancock. or a Logan. l'ut strange
to say, during these later days,
the private has TO pass as strict
IN examination, physically and moral
ly, as does the aSrirant Tor a commits
sion from West Point. A. q conSe-
quencc, ;he chances arc about Il in
ten of his getting through.
The APP lirant is taken into the SCI
gcant's room, where he gives his name
and place of residence. Trembling. he
i led into n hack room, where. d vest
cd Of civil.zel covering, he is passed
under the observation OF the examiners
lie is weighed, his height measured,
his eyes tested and his whole physical
condition inquired into.
Should he pass the required standard
in height, weight and soundness, he Is
given SIX Gays of grace in which to
prose that he is worthy of the shelter
of Uncle Sam by producing letters of
recommendation. This six days is also
4 period Of probation. and 4 time in
which he is at liberty tc road the arti-
cles OF war. the soldiers guide and va
r.ous other literature tending 10 show
him the vigorous laws governing the
army, and what is expected of him
should he take 10 the blue.
lie lives well, quartercd at tho re-
cruitIng station and fed at the st
Charles Hotel. lie proves to the salts
faction OF the Government that he is
honest, faithful, OF pa$sable habits, un-
married and u~nincumbcred and he is
pun On the list for five years service in
the wi d ard unsettled parts of the
American continent:
Very Don lie finds that his home will
not always be Chicago. for he and
several others drawing rs a month
and rationS are sent to jefferson
Barracks, just outside St Louis. 1t is
at these barracks that recruits are
trained in the duties and exercises Of a
soldier. In about six months hc is de-
Tackled from 81. Louis and Iut into his
permanent regiment
Should he desire TO exercise in the
trade of which he is master he can draw
SO cents for each days work in addition
10 his Sl3 II he is a laborcr he draws
IS cents for driving a wagon or handling
a spade. But If he desires to be a true, I
bonny-blue soldier he will o stoop to
such employment, but will put his
standard high and apply himself to the
noble art OF war. lie may consider that
bis salary Will come regularly and that
whatever other privations he may have
to endure he may surely coun upon his
daily r~ations-
1t is a lazy life, is a soldiers, one of
subsection, which for days will have no
other excitement thar that incident
to paying draw poker, and then it will
be days in the saddle. hard work for
any man and wearing or the best.
lie may purchase a discharge II he
wishes and has the money. or he may
serve his five years out and at the end
OF the time draw a nice little roll and an
honorable dischGrge.-Chi cago Globe.