Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-17

owing to abandoned, isolated small postsl.
ne has TO perform guard duty only one day
In from eight to fifteen dHys. The War
Department orders prohibit guard duty Ct
tener than one day in five, except In emer-
gency. Fatigue duty is occasional only and
fatigue hours. during the six days when
fatigue is permissible, last usually from z
or $50 till IL 80 a. m, and from u: 80 or I
till $50 or p. m. There may be morning
or afternoon drills, or BOTH and evening
parade five days in the week, but, as stat
ed above, there are practically. as a rule,
two holidays in each week, extending from
Saturday morning after weekly IN spection
! TIL Monday morning following. when, un-
DER stated conditions, the soldier is free TO
use his time as he elects in the tursllit Of
individual happiness.
But perhaps the greatest advantage Of q
term of enlistment in the army is the edu-
cational opportunities. There is at nearly
every post good library and reading
room, where books and current literature
periodicals, etc, are at all times accessi-
bic. There are also good post schools,
where every soldier can, free OF cost &C
quire a fair education. Then. besides the
school room. he has ample time 20 study in
barracks, or library, any special course.
! Indeed, he can take up medicine, law, or
what not, and when he leaves the army at
the end of three or five years, he may be
better equipped than If he had been In civil
life working hard by day and studying by
night. He will have acquired methodical
habits, and, possibly, will have gained
what so many rudderless, restless and aim
less young men in every-day life need most
discipline of mind and boly--ne will be
able to begin lite with $500, or. possibly, 81
600. accumulated under the fostering meth
DDS prescribed for his benefit. and that, too.
with a vigorous, educated mind, a healthy
body, which army life tends to develop and
strengthen. And yet, should he like the
military and prefer to continue in Il he
can up TO the age OF thirty years enjoy
hA hsa aNaA fRrfx -
missioned officer. whose fullest rank and
highest pay ultimately may be enjoyed by
him as by any other. But even should he
fail to- be among the fortunate commission
ed ones. his lot as a soldier is not without
its advantages.
The Non-Commfssioned Goal.
He will. undoubtedly, become a non-com-
missioned officer, and the non-commission-
ed officer, like an Indian chief. is beyond
the pale Of work, except TO direct and con-
troll. There is no limit to the time Q
private soldier can be awarded the chew
rons OF a non-commissioned officer. He
may in six months. more or less evince that
degree of military vim and soldierly snap
which will at once commend him TO his SUI
periors. Vim and snap are needed in nom
commissioned officers, and company COM
manders are quick TO discern and avail
themselves Of IL. The efficiency of O COM
pany depends largely upon a good and eff
ficient on-commissioned corps. and from
year to year the individ aal powers ard re-
sponsibilities of corporals and sergeants
ara being more fully recognized and set
forth
When a soldier is discharged on account
of sickness, or at the expiration of service
his travel pay is amply sufficient TO carry
him TO the place OF original enlistment
Finally, the soldier who becomes infrIn
during twenty years service. or who may
be discharged on account OF disability con-
tracted ia service, may avail himself OF
the comfortable Soldiers Home beautiful
ly situated in the suburbs of Washington
city. where, for the remainder of his life
he has only to draw his pension. smoke the
pipe of peace, and live the balance of his
days iii he is SO constituted without
another stroke Of work by hand, except 70
eat, drink and be happy.