The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-10-29
ssGOin, for To BE a SOger.,,


Uncle Sam must be doing some tall
hustling these days in order to catch recruits
for the regular army. Almost every paper
one picks up nowadays has some comment
to make on it. especially the country papers
in the towns which the recruiting officers
have visited. Heretofore the efforts of
these officers were confined chiefly to the
large cities. but they are now invading the
country towns and villages in their efforts
to secure men for the army. How they are
succeeding in this work am unable to say,
bat there is one thing certain, and that is,
that after securing men they are not able to
retain them. 1t is we'll known fact that
the majority of the men who enlist in the
army desert before they have been in the
service two years. The occupation is re-
spectacle enough, but most people seem to
think that the man who enliSts in the army
in quiet times, does so because he is too
lazy to work. If there are any who enlist
with this intention they have my heart felt
sympathy-their disappointment will be
complication if there is any class of peO-
pie Oh earth who earn what little they get,
they are the regular army soldiers. 1t
might prove interesting to those who have
not been ''through the mill" to know how
they initiate a recruit when he enlists, so
will give short description of the examina
ton recruits must go through ere they can
become ''Uncle Sans boys"
When the would be soldier enters the re-
cruiting Office he is taken in charge by a
commissioned officer who interrOgates him
in the following manner: 'HOw old are
A ro
you married or single?" Ever been in
jail?" Ever been in the army before?"
The foregoing are only few of the quess
tions the recruit is called upon to answer,
and after doing so to the satisfaction of the
officer he is ordered to strip for examina-
ton. After doing this he is requested to
hop across the room on one foot and back
again on the other. this being done to test his
legs. He is next put through a series of
cOntOrtiOns that would turn cOntOrtiOniSt
green with envy to behold. This examina-
tion is pretty sure to bring out his weak
points if he has any, and in case he has.
he is invited to put on his clothes and
travel. 1t he passes this examination. his
eyes are the next point tested. and it he is
near sighted or color blind his chances of
becoming soldier ends right there. In
testing his eyes the recruit is stood up at
Ou0 CIlU VI tIlC IOOlIl, d SCduG SOCo W CuO
other end and holds up common playing
card: the officer then covers one of the re-
cruit's eyes and requests him to name
the color and the number of spots the card
bears. If his eye proves sound the other
is tested in the same manner. but with diff
ferent cards. and this ends the examination
at this Office.
The officer now informs him that it is not
vet too late to withdraw if he is so inclined,
but if he is still determined to be "sOger''
he is sworn in. The sergeant then hands
him uniform which consists of pair of
sky blue trowsers. dark blue blouse and
shirt. cap and pair of brogan shoes. He
is not soldier yet, however; he must 60
through rigid medical examination after
he has been transferred to the barracks be-
fore he can claim the title of soldier.
In conclusion l will say that the majority
of the men who apply at the recruiting
office fail to pass the required examination.
and good many of those who do pass here
fail to pass the medical examination at the
barracks. Elk SHAVETAIL.