The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-12-06

'"S iVhp maICut5t Hdu many WtHiy
and lonely hours.
To pass this time pleasantly and
profitably, many Of them devoted their
leisure moments TO writing long letters
TO their various relations aud friends
at home.
Very many Of the soldiers letters
during this period bore rhymed ad
dresses, some of which were quaint
and witty, while Others were seutimen
tai in character and expressed tho
writer's feelings with greater or less
er degree of accuracy; and thougJ
sometimes there was struggle to
make the address "ft i'm nevertheless
it was seldom they failed to make il
clear enough to finally reach its des
tination.
The writer was connected with tho
New York general post.Of'ice during
the above period, aud at odd moments
collected a number Of these poe;ical
addresses-good, bad and indifferent
A selection of few Of these mayre
call .'old times" TO the veterans and
afford entertainment TO your younger
readers, giving them an idea OF how
some of the soldiers amused themselves
and their friends at home.
In order that the younger readers
may more clearly understand some OF
these addresses 1t should be stated
that the soldiers were permitted To
send their letters without prepayment
of postage, and lack Of funds oltco
compelled the acceptance of this priv.
ilege. However it was necessary that
the letter should bear the endorse
inent Of some regimental officer
and it was then duly for.
warded, double postage being collect.
ed from the recipient, who of course
chcerlully paid the fine"
II was well known tact that the
soldiers did not receive their pay very
promptly, small as it was; conseq uont-.
ly when they were paid the friendly
sutler claimed the lions share" to
cancel the account he had 30 kindly0)
permitted them To- hang up and frs
| quenily the insignificant balance was
soon quandereh in the same direction.
| Therefore we need not wonder that tho
boys were proverbially dead broke"
and the following extracts will show
the almost chrome financial condition
in which many found themselves;
| A soldier, down in Florida swamp
| Having spent all hi, money and used all
his stamp
| Requests that this letter may be put
through.
While he fights for the honor Of Red
White and Blue"
Soldiers letter Nary red "
Hardtact instead OF bread.
Postmaster, put this through.
Nary stamp, but nine months it,l
Uncle Sans TO me debtor,
That's the reason | "frank" thi, lie ter
II he would pay nv lawful due
then would stamp this letter thro'.
To be strapped in camp or else
where is sufficiently disagreeiDle
condition ofaffaiIs, even when you
daily expect the paymsstef; but when
oil hope is gone, as in the case ofthis
poor comrsde, he surely inertia our
sympathies, Listen to his lanent,-
ton:
Now is the hour Of our dscontent''.
The paymasters sloped
AID we've got not cent
II WAS often remarked, during THU
period, that the armies contained
wonderful array Of professional talent
and also all the trades were numerous
ly represented. Small wonder, then.
that we find naturalist" who ap-
pears to have been rowing about, and,
attracted by some charming music,
tells the story:
To Clara Redfeld, Madison,
New Haven county state OF Conn,
Who when she pours her music forth
(The sweetest tones OF all the earth).
The nightingale, that bird OF fame.
Stops short lis own, and sinks in shame
Again, we have a fair example of
the class ofpuzzles called anagrams;
To Hiram Allen. Oswego
Transpossi II readeth We-go 80,
Transposed again. and you will see
That thus it runneth, So-yo-ve
Transposed once more, and it will show
A common adags-So-we-goi
Once more, in a similar vein,w find
an effort to puzzle mail clerks:
wish was U. T. X.
where once used b.,
For there resides Miss K. I. j.,
And her | wish 2 &.
Surely, it needs no demonstration to
show that the loved ones at home very
anxiously and Increasingly awaited
the arrival Of letters from the dear alb
sent ones, and this feeling is somewhat
graphically expressed in our closing
selection of verses, written by sol
dier who, for awhile. was stationed at
Fort Schuyler, New York. They are
entitled
THE MAIL.
oh. what q world of destnies
Is composed by thy hand,
Thou bearer of the tidings
From the loved OF every land
And yet thou hast no sympathieA
While speeding on the way.
For those who pine and long for thee
With each returning day.
What care hast thou for those who stand
With half suspended breath.
To reed the missives borne by three