The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-02
SALVATION ARMY COUNTING.
Regulations Governing the Pursuit
of the Gentle Art In That Organi-
zafiOn.
From the Chicago Tribune.


From the Chicago Tribune
The girl who wishes to become an Of
ficer in the Salvation Army must, first
of all, make up her mind to keep her
heart well governed. She must promise
to remain single for three years She is
generally in her teens, often pretty, and
just like other girls only more enthusi-
astic and determined TO make the world
better. Her training lasts at least six
months, and during this time the worst
ottenSe she can commit, and the one
that will soonest cause her expulsion in
disgrace, is TO fall in love. Should Prince
Charming appear during the fatal period
II makes no difference. he must not be
encouraged or even looked at. In fact,
he must coldy be told to go about his
business. The object Of his affection is
as far beyond his reach as did she wear
the veil of ap riestess of Vesta. So all
the SWeet-faced cadets who stand upon
the street corners preaching or selling
their war cries, or go soliciting charity
through the downtown buildings, no mat
ter now pretuly they smile or how coyly
they blush, carry stony little hearts I'M
der their flannel guernseys.
Even when she becomes an officer and
has her commission, her heart is still
subject to certain regulations, and they
are many in number and strict in char
acter. She cannot be 'courted'' until she
is one year in the field service, and then
1t is another year before she can become
engaged" and she must be engaged one
year before she can be married. Then
her heart must attach itself to another
officer, or one who is willing to go i'm
mediately into training to beome one.
The statement of the army show that
nearly all who leave its ranks do so
through love affairs, and this does not
seem Strange when the regulations are
read. THE Field Book of Officers" lays
down the law governing love and mar
machines that worked with screws,
cranks, and levers. With the army it is
not ''ask papa" or ASK mamma" 1t is
TASK division officer" and the division
officer is in most cases, some one who
lives In another city and can know very
little of the state Of the lovers feelings.
But the Field Book says assuringly:
Many officers are young and inexper-
fenced, and they require some older per-
son to give them counsel in such mat
ters."
When a girl applies to be allowed to en-
ter training she Is asked many questions
to gauge her fitness but most of all she
Is questioned regarding her affections and
any ENHANCEMENT into which they may
have led her On the subject of court
ing" the laws are:
candidates must pledge themselves to
abstain from anything of the kind Court
ingl when in training, and for at least
twelve months after being Commission
na or s or a i 0Pe division Of feenT and
must in some measure interfere with the
discharge OF duty, and is therefore, to be
defR 6eS mast not fall in love with one m
the same place, for the laws are: "Ofi-
GERS must not be allowed to carry on any
courtship in the town in which they are
appointed. Their influence is destroyed
when II Is known that they are engaged
to soldiers" The laws add that officers
50 situated should ask for removal when
surrounding influences are found to be
too strong"
In everything lovers are told that help
mates must be chosen for the war" and
consent win never be given TO any en-
gagement or marriage which would take
the officer out of the army.
In explaining the object OF the last law