The sun., 1896-09-22

Good men not only stand by the colors them
selves, but advise acquaintances to Join them
The lot OF Uncle SANS soldiers has Ger
tainly been bettered OF late years in many
ways. Gen. SHERMAN once said that, during
the transition period between the civil war
and more recent days, the troops at the from.
tier lived in holes in the ground, In houses
made of green cottonwood logs infested
with vermin, and in temporary shanties."
All this has long been over; in fact, what
used to be known as the Indian frontier
has itself vanished. More and more the
troops nre concentrated at new. large, and
admirably constructed posts, on healthful
sites, supplied with the modern conveniences,
often in the neighborhood OF large cities or
towns Some forts are still isolated and
some suffer the fierce heats OF Arizona or
the blizEards OF Montana; but as whole
garrison life has become far more comfort
able than of old.
The food has been improved and greater
variety added to the ration; more suitable
clothing has been provided for hot climates;
the bedding in barracks is better; the pay,
which Ia higher than that of the private
soldier in foreign armies, has been aug
mented by an increase for extra-duty
wages and skilled labor, and there is
hope of further increase for on-commis-
stoned officers. There are also we'll paid
stah billets for the latter, including those
OF post quartermaster sergeant. ord
nance and commissary sergeants, and
hospital steward. The cooperative can
teen allows the soldier many little
luxuries at the lowest price, while reading
rooms and gymnasiums are established, and
open-sir athletic sports and indoor amuse-
ments are carefully provided for. Instead
of the old arbitrary punishments there
Is fixed code. The term OF enlistment
has been reduced from flv. years to three
thus making 1t less formidable, while the
purchase system opens way of getting out
Of the army to the man who does not like it
or has chance OF bettering himself
elsewhere. Each year some men mount from |
the ranks to the eshoulderstraps, and for those |
who serve thirty years there is retirement |
On three-fourths pay, besides commutation
of clothing and rations Finally, the dimi-
,uton In Indian hostilities makes calls to
endure the hardships of campaigning rare
There are certainly less attractive occupa-
ions than that Of wearing the army blue
1t is not strange, therefore, that there
hould be many applications for enlist
nent, In such times as these, and also that
nly men who appear we'll fitted for the
ervice should be chosen. There have been
lso some recent restrictions on choice
made by the law, such as those In regard
o the exclusion Of aliens and those who
annot write and read English. But, in
ddition, the recruiting officers can afford
0 take only the men who are very promis-
ng in all respects. The returns for August,
Or example. show that. although of the
len applying at army posts for enlistment
l the line more were accepted than rejected,
ct in the cities, while 521 were enlisted, no
'wer than 3,010 were rejected, or at the
,te of nearly six to one.
II Secretary LAMoNT's bill for moderate
lcrease of the enlisted strength should be
ade law during the coming winter,
lere would be no trouble in promptly fill
e the ranks.