The Iola register., 1891-02-13
UNCLE SANS SOLDIERS.

Recruits for the United states Army
Must Pass "a Rigid Examination.
The United States army is small 1t
is painfully small. The constant de-
mand for men to go into the cavalry
and infantry often goes uuheeded.
There is an office on Clark street, be-
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 16l men have
gone, climbed up the stairs, filled with
a hankering to become Grant,
Hancock, or Logan. But strange
to say, during these later days,
the private has to pass as strict
an examination, physically and moral
", as does the aspirant for commits
sion from West Point As conse-
ouence, the chances are about one In
ten Of his getting through.
The applicant is taken into the ser.
geant's room, where he gives his name
and place of residence. Trembling, he
is led into hack room, where, divest-
ed of civilized covering, he is passed
under the observation of the examiners.
He 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 days of grace in which to
prove that he is worthy of the shelter
of Uncle Sam by producing letters of
recommendation. This six days is also
a period of probation. and a time in
which he is at liberty to read the arti-
cles of war, the soldiers guide and va
rious other literature tending to show
him the vigorous laws governing the
army, and what is expected OF him
should he take to the blue.
He lives we'll, quartered at the re-
cruitfng station and fed at the St
Charles Hotel. He proves to the salts
faction of the Government that he is
honest, faithful, of passable habits, un-
married and unincumbered and he is
put On the list for FIVE years service in
the wi d and unsettled parts of the
American continent.
Very soon he finds that his home will
not always be Chicago, for he and
several others drawing S13 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 he is de-
tached from St Louis and put 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
to his S13 If he is laborer he draws
35 cents for driving wagon or handling
spade. BIT if he desires to be true,
bonny-blue soldier he will not stoop to
such employment, but will put his
standard high and apply himself to the
noble art of war. He may consider that
his salary will come regularly and that
whatever other privations he may have
to endure he may surely count upon his
daily rations.
1t is a lazy lie, Is a soldiers, one OF
subsection, which for days will have no
other excitement than that incident
to playing draw poker, and then it will
be days in the saddle, hard work for
any man and wearing on the best.
He may purchase a discharge if he
wishes and has the money, or he may
serve his five years out and at the end
of the time draw nice little roll and an
honorable discharge.-Chi cago Globe.