The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-07
PRETTY GIRLS Of ATLANTA
TAKE 10 SOLDERING
They Have Formed Regular COMPANY Tn
Is Known as Fosters Light Infantry.
Sergeant Fosters Story.

ATLANTA. Ca. New s-Wa have Nera
IN Atlanta. I am sure the only military
company IN this part OF ths country wh5en
is formed entirely OF girls. ! believe too.
that Il necessity arose they woaild know
how 70 Use the weapons with which may
have been thoroughly drilled have been
their military Instructor from tho hrst.
and thus my opportunity % judge has been
superior TO thar which has fallen 10 the
lot CT any ore else.
The organization OF the company was %
certain extent an accident. some q the
ladies % Atlanta wished 10 give concert
for the benefit OF the Grady hospital. I
happened TO be present a. q consultation
they held one day as 70 ways and means
and suggested that IL might be a good ldea
TO have a military 6rin BY girls. They
thought the matter ever ard approved OF
this plan. asking me 10 carry It oat.
That was the first step that led "a the or
SANITATION OF what is now called Fosters
Eight infantry. Il was several weeks from
the time the subject was preached 10 the
date OF the concert. I gathered the girls
into Il company as fast as l could ard
when the necessary number had been
reached started ia 20 drii them. I found
II no easy task and for two weeks hardly
seemed TO make any progress AZ ALL Then
the girls began 20 improve and gained pro-
nciency In the manual Of arms very rap
idly. In fact. I am convinced that they
are easier 70 drill in the long run than
young men.
Just as soon as we had gotten fairly
under way arranged temporary organ
ization like that Of A regulation military
company. which, owing 20 the success Of
the drlll, was later on made permanent.
We drilled two weeks. as I said. when
ever Wa could, and after that drilled three
times a week until September Is. Then
we drilled two hours every day until Oc-
tober 7. the date Of our concert. The con-
cert took place IN the Grand Opera house
here. and In the presence OF a very criti-
cal audience. among those IN attendaTTSe
being every member OF the Fifth regi-
ment OF Georgia volunteers. The officers
after the drill was over declared they had
never seen such perfection in drin and did
not believe that among all the Georgia
militia a company could be found which
would equal this.
These girls went through a regulation
military drill without making a single er-
ror. and they have done * since time and
again. They seem 10 know by intuition
almost just what they should do. and in
their drill their movements are almost as
IL Il were simply one person. / have often
been asked what difference l found be-
tween them and the regulation soldier In
point OF drilling. I think l can truthfuIly
say that the advantage lies all with the
just exactly what she should do.
/ found two grea: difficulties in drilling
the company OF girls One was making
them promptly and consistently obey the
command Attention. You see. women
find It very natural 10 look around when
any one speaks. and at first when l would
give command they would all look at
me instead OF straight ahead SIS they
should have done. They did not seem
able to grasp the necessity OF oheyins the
command. and at times thought never
could teach them. Finally they caught
the knack OF t, and TOW their 'auen-
ton" is superb
The second difficulty met with was I'm
Eettins them 10 keep their hands at their
sides IL seemed as If every individual
girl in that company thought each time
We drilled that her cap was crooked on
her head, or that something was the mat
Ter with her hair. Up the hands would
go. In spite Of all could say or do. and
they would be patting their hair and adj
justing their caps whenever the had a
moments leisure. / don't mean to say
that this was any sign OF vanity at alt
but some things are as natural % women
as can be. and they cannot be expected
10 break away from them without diff
Guilty.
Finally I told them that IT was neces-
sary for soldier 20 complete his toilet
before he took his place IN the ranks and
that anything that was wrong 30 his ap-
pearance had 10 stay so unless IL was
something frightfuL They thought tho
matter over carefully. and az last got SO
that they could leave their cans and their
hair alone during the drill Now not one
OF them ever thinks OF moving a hand at
the wrong time or in the wrong direction
don't believe there is a company IN the
United States army that drills according
10 Upto1's tactics as carefully as these
girls.
The equipment OF the company IA thor
ough and complete. There are two uni
forms. one Of white and one OF blue The
skirts OF the uniforms are about the