Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-05-16
COUNTRY BOYS CAN FIGHT
They Make the Best Soldiers Talk With
Recruiting Officer.

They Make the Best Soldiers Talk With
Recruiting Officer.
Lieutenant c. p. Ierrett returned to
Augusta Saturday night after having
spent couple of days i'll Savannah.
tall shing the rendezvous post here, and
will open up for the examination of ap-
picants and reception of recruits to the
army on his return to Savannah next
week
A notice appeared. which stated that
able bodied unmar led men between the
ages of 81 and 35 uars were wanted for
the United States "tmy.
The advertisemc calls for able bod
led men, and no o,iier kind is wanted.
Uncle Sam takes only the best class of
men, physically, for his army, and there
are some moral requirements, too Buns
and touGhs stand no chance whatever
with United States recruiting officer,
and the average saloon loafer might as
well attempt to crawl through the eye of
the biblical needle as to pass the strict ex-
animation required Of all candidates for
admission to the army.
There is belief among some people
that Unc'e Sans army is composed of
the rffrff of the earth, and of tough
characters generally. Lieutenant Ter
rett is frequently accosted with some
such remark as this by prominent
citizens: with o,r large floating popu-
of recruits in Savannah. There are a
great many sailors here, and a large
CLASS of the II ug e ement.
The lieutenant quietly smiled when
ever this remark vas made. He had
heard it so often before.
"No," he would reply, "the floating
clnss of population furnishes very few
recruits. A man has to be able to give
some local reference as to his character
to get into the United States army.
Our largest class of recruits and the
best class are the country boys from 81
to 2S years of age. They are strong and
healthy, have few bad habits, and are
readily trained, and they make the best
so diers
Now, in time of war. if were going
to raise a regiment ,f soldiers, / had
rather have a regiment composed Of
tuughs and fellows from the cities who
are used to sitting up all night, drinking
whisky, and play IS cards. They are
already toughen, I, and they can stand
night watches and marches and the il
regular army life better than the coun-
try boy who has always kept regular
hours. In about two years, however,
al tn nd ha r
telly worthless. Now, we take these
country boys, who, notwithstanding
their country life, are very tender at
first, and break them gradually. They
are trained to the work, and III a few
months they become tough and hard
and able to stand any amount of ex-
posure. In about two years they are
thoroughly toughened to the work, and
can stand fatigue like an Indian.
"Yes, think shall get a large num-
ber of recruits at Savannah.
Are you going to enlist negroes,
too?"
"Oh, yes; we have negro troops to
recruit, too.
you can get all you want here,
then.
well, I enli very few colored re-
cruits, about one out Of every 100 ap.
plcants, / suppose. When negro
comes in and says he wants to enlist l
don't trouble to examine him until l
find out whether he can tell where he
was born, what his age is, whether he
has any relatives dependent on him for
support, if lie is married, and whether
he can give any references as to his
general good character. A man must
be hand free and foot loose to get into
the United States army. Most of these
negroes have one or more matrimonial
complications. Very few can answe
the questions and consequently very
few of them are examined.
This section has never been canvassed
for recruits for the army, and doubt
less large number of applicants will
await Lieutenant Terrett on his return.
-[Savannah (Gi.) News.
a little girl III one OF the neigboring
towns is the author of number of
bright remarks. One Sunday not long
ago she was visiting friend, and went
with her to church. The pastor is ad-
dicted to very long prayers. Several
days later the line of conversation at
the breakfast table fell upon funerals.
The little girls mother said she wanted
her funeral to be as simple service as
possible, She said she would like a
certain clergyman to make few re-
marks, and Rev. Mr.. - to utter q
prayer.
Rev. Mr.. - was the clergy man
the young Mss heard the Sunday be.