Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-07
SERVICEIN THEARMY
IMPRESSIONS OF a RICHMOND BOY
AFTER THREE YEARS EXPERIENCE.
soeh n Life Agreeable to Those Who Fancy
soldering. Bot Not to the Ambi-
tious or Actively Inclined.

The letter printed below viii prove both
interesting aud instructive TO young men
who contemplate enlisting in the United
States army, and Is well worth being read
Inv the average citizen, as il gives good
de.l ~ information coupled with the i'm
pressions of young gentleman from this
c,ty who has been in the army service
three years.
The writer is Mr.. Kenneth s. Burr, who
IA we'll known here and is a brother OF Mr..
David j. Burr. He has been attached TO
fore his experience has been more rosy
than the average He retires under a
snecial order of General Schoheld's, which
nernnits a certain length of furlough and
Inc choice at the end of that time Of retiring
permanently or returning to duty.
NOT AN UNHAPPY LIFE.
Mr. Burr writes from Fortress Monroe
under date of June 4th; ...
1.-THE period of my emancipation draws
nigh. Only five weeks now, and my fur
| Tough will commence. My plans for the
future are necessarily vague, and uncer-
tain, as 1 have nothing TO rely upon but
my own exertions, and the result OF these
the future only can determine. will not
be without some regrets at severing my
connection with the army. / have by no
means been altogether unhappy during
NV stay here-on the contrary, have spent
many happy DAYS. In fact, to ono who
prefers placid, ambitionless life the army
offers an almost ideal existence. IL is very
sweet and pleasant tor awhile, when one
has been buffeted about aud asks only a
quiet haven IN which TO rest, out wren
the nerves are strung once more, and the
pulse of life beats strongly the old restless
ioupings and unsatisfed aims return, and
the sense OF stagnation and isolation be-
comes simply intolerable. For man who
Lies what is termed soldering there is
Cas the army 10 constituted today abso-
lutely no cause TO grumble. For that pc
culiar class of men who adopt the army as
a means of livelihood it is simply pic
nic.'
WHY MANY DESERT.
In every respect it is an improvement
on their former condition, but sgood many
fail in appreciation, become restless and
Discontinued. and in many cases desert.
This discomfort does not proceed from any
cravings of a higher nature, but results
simply from an inability to settle down and
abandon rowing habits. Taking one thing
in consideration with another man who
can be happy with the qualification OF his
mere physical wants Is very well oil IN the
army. but for him who demands something
more than mere animal existence 1t Is
well. not the place. Therefore L nave re-
solved TO once more breast the tide OF ac-
tive life, taking my chances OF being swept
away rather than eddy around IN q placid
pool the rest Of my days. Soldiers have a
great deal of leisure time, and perhaps 1t
NAV interest you TO know how they amuse
themselves when of duty
POPULAR DECORATIONS.
1.-THE most popular recreation just now
is pool and billiards. though baseball has
many ardent supporters.
Each battery has a pool and billiard
table. and when / inform you that am
considered the most expert player IN our
battery you can infer what the standard OF
proficiency,is among soldiers.
The 'C3nteen' has also pool and bill
lard tables, and those who prefer the at
mosphere of beer and stale smoke resort
there.
Another form of amusement (my pre-
ference) is boating We have several
sailing-boats in our battery, and nothing,
| think, is more delightful than to take O
run down the bay in the cool OF the eve
ming, Bicycling also has its devotees.
| There are at least twenty-five wheels in
| the garrison. Next comes football, which
| is rather too warm work. more so even
| than baseball. OF course card-playing
| holds its own. We have just completed
our annual rlhe-practlce, and my record
was 26O out of q possible 400-very good
| for a scrub shot. The Chamberlin Hotel
| Gust opposite the Hygeia) is fast ap.
preaching completion, and is most i'm.
| posing building, extending 800 yards along
| the waterfront and five stories IN height.