The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1895-05-11
SWEARING IN RECRUITS.
How Simply 1t Is Done Here and How
ImprcssiveiJ In Germany.

How Imply 1t Is Done Here and How
Imprcssiveiy In Germany.
1.-THE transformations manner in which
our national affairs are administrated
is we'll illustrated by the striking con-
trast between the ceremony of swearing
in recruits in our army and the same
ceremony in Germany" remarked an
officer who is stationed at Fort Wayne.
Here the recruit. after expressing his
desire to serve Uncle Sam. is usberea
into the room, q bare, dingy, rented
apartment, which serves as Office for
the enlisting officer of the army, and
then and there is called upon to repeat
after the said officer the following oath,
its solemn import marked by the cur
sorry upward tendency of the irrespec-
tive right hand: Il do solemnly swear
that | will bear true faith and allie
glance to the United States of America,
aud that | will serve them honestly and
faithfully against all their enemies
whatsoever, and that will obey tho
| orders of the president of the United
States and the orders of the officers APP
pointed over me. according to the rules
and articles of war. So help me God.
Signature to this oath makes him, with.
/ out more ado, a full fledged soldier.
How different is the following cere-
mony used in binding Germany's SOL
diers to, their kaiser: The young con-
script is conducted to the church Of the
parish In which he ~enlists, where he is
first addressed by the pastor On. the sa-
cred character and great import Of the
oath he is about to take; then, the flag
of his country and that Of his battalion
being placed ON the altar, the embryo
soldier is required to place his left hand
on these fags. and raising bis right to
repeat the following oath: I swear be-
fore God. who is all powerful, and who
knows all, that l will serve loyalty and
faithfully my very gracious sovereign
under all circumstances On land and
sea, IN peace and in war, and in all places
l swear, to seek only his good and to do
everything 10 prevent injury to him. |
swear to observe strictly the articles OF
war which have just been read to me-.
Ifswear to obey all orders and to conduct
myself as every courageous. honest SOL
der ought to do, delighting in fulfilling
the duties that honor imposes upon me.
Al surely as God will aid me in gaining
eternity through Jesus Christ. Ameni'
els it not a serious question whether
our simplicity in the administration Of
d sacred oath does not defeat its very
purpose? We in this free born American
republic are Justly proud Of our sim
pie, transformations ways, marked by
want Of useless ceremony, and we, by
our example. daily administer rebuke
to the old world of the vanity OF Its
ways. but let us not carry this feeling
too far. Human nature here. s else
where, 10 impressionable. and II an OBJ.
LEGATIONS is rendered more binding by
impressiveness we should not hesitate to
employ Its necessary accomplishments
even to the fuss and feathers employed
by our elders In the sisterhood of ma
tions. .
t"The average American, IMMERSED in
patriotic lore, woefully ignorant Of pa
triotio symbols. is constantly accused Of
want of devotion to his country, of too
great individualism, too little national
ism. Let us hope that this Is not SO;
that our patriotism but lies dormant,
awaiting the occasion which will call IL
into play and make its existent strength
emphatically evident to the world.
"In the meantime let the soldier
swear by his country's beautiful en-
blem. Furthermore, let the stars and
stripes be displayed more often and with
more reverence before the people at
large. Nothing will contribute further
to arouse our heterogeneous population.
our too large disorderly element. tho
product of sordid. selfish individualism,
to a realization Of other more worthy in
t~erests; Of q duty paramount to all 9TH
ers, yet 40 generally lost sight of, to q
country that exists, to q flag that waves,
on this side Of the ocean. "--Detrois
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