Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-17

come from all over
the country, is located at the marine bar
racks, in this city, and is under the super
vision of Col. Haywood, with Professor
Fanciulli as instructor-in-chief. The num-
Der of boys at present in the service is not
up to the full capacity of the training
school. and more boys are wanted to toot
horns, blow flies and pound drums.
These boys are needed to furnish the mu-
sic and the calls for the marine barracks
in this city, and at other naval posts over
the country. The majority of them, how
ever. are ordered for duty on the warships,
where they are sent all over the world. On
account of the fine educational facilities of
the training school, and the pleasant mode
OF life on board ship, the training school is
usually well filed Inasmuch as tuition is
not only free, but the boys are paid for
their services, it seems strange that the
number of buglers should ever fall below
the limit. The boys enlist in the Marine
Corps when quite young, learn the duties
that are expected of them, pass through
and when they have attained what is
known as rating are sent away on
vessels or TO posts In the United States If
a member. of the corps shows especial apti-
tude in the musical line, he is given an op-
portunity to become a regular member of
the Marine Band.
Candidates for Enlistmeut.
The ages of candidates for enlistment
must be between fourteen and sixteen
years, and all boys must have the written
consent of their parents or guardians be-
fere entering the service. When the appli-
cant Is first approved of, he is ordered be-
fore the nearest examining physician. If
the slightest physical defect Is discovered
he is rejected. Uncle Sam thinks that as
the tuition he is going to give the lad is
entirely gift to be returned by the serv-
ice of the boy in the future, he has a right
TO accept only those whom he thinks will
turn out well. The physical examination
beng satisfactorily completed the candi-
date is fully accepted and is required to
sign the papers which bind him to the gov
eminent until he is of age No mental ex-
animation Is necessary, though a bow of
fourteen, noticeably ignorant for his age
would probably fail to gain admttance
When the boys arrive in Washington and
REPORT 10 the barracks. they are put
through the active course of exercise and
dlsclpllne that immedia tely breaks them
into the rigors of life in the army or navy
Ihey are required to fulfill all the duties of
d ;lesu'ariy enlisted marine, to salute all
oHcers, and even to do quart duty This
latter duty is not quite as strict for the
boys as guard duty usually is, as some al
lowance is made for their age
When the boy first enters he is not SUD-
posed to understand anything about the
duties OF the Marine Corps. The course of
il struction is SO thorough that before the
candidate has been there many weeks, he
understands every detail of the service
The first few weeks are devoted almost en-.
urely 10 the Settng-up exercises of the
army tactics, which are designed to give
the boy military appearance and a
slrons, nealthy body. After the first few
weeks these exercises are made q less
prominent feature of the training, though
they are continued for years, for a few
hours week only. After the settinpun
In
there are three separate schools TO mass
through. ~ pass
Course of Instruction.
Every day except Saturday and Sunday
from $50 until 11:3O o'clock the boys arc
given instruction in the use of the buele
The instructors are in all cases members
OF the Marine Band detailed for this special
duty. All the garrison. ship, navy and
skirmish calls are taught, and In short
time the boys become proficient in them
In the afternoon from 30 until 2:l5 the
boys are taught to handle the drum sticks
A recess Of fifteen minutes is then allowed
the boys, and at 2:3O the school com
mences. This is in many ways similar to
the course of instruction in the public
schools Of Washington. Instruction is given
IN reading, writing, history, geography,
mathematics and the ordinary branches of
tuition. The boys are graded when they
first enter the service, and the branches
taught are In proportion to what they
know already.
The boys draw salary from the govern
ment of s13 a month. OF this, however
they have each month to pay 81 for in
struction with the bugle, 81 for instruction
with the drum and 81 for school tuition
The only other expense is 81 month for
washing. This leaves 50 month, and, as
their clothes, lodging and board are all fur
nished by the government. they are not
placed in hard circumstances. They are
allowed two suits of clothes year, and it,
by economy, they are enabled to make one
suit do for the twelve months, the value
of the extra suit thus saved Is placed down
on the credit side of their account. They
draw the money only as they need it. and
usually the greater part of It is retained
until the expiration of their term Of serv-
Ice at the school, when it is paid over to
them.
But Few Fall.
After being in the corps long enough to
master the calls and other duties, each boy
is examined by the leader of the Marine
Band, Prof Fanciulli. The examination is
entirely of a practical nature, the pro-
fessor merely having the boys stand up be-
fore him and give the calls as they are
read Off. Passing mark on this examina-
ton is 20 per cent, and. according to the
record made. the boys are given the rating
of "fifer" or drummer" The boys MAX
ing the highest records are given the
preference when it becomes necessary to
send detachment to some ship. This de-
tail Is usually the ambition Of the boys
who are attracted by the chance to see
something Of the world. The rating of IS
per cent is not hard to obtain, and few
boys fail In the examination. while those
who do fail are given another opportunity
to retrieve themselves later on by the.
kindly professor.
If at any time boy desires to leave
the service 1t Is necessary for him to make
application. stating a sufficient reason for
the change. In case this Is approved, he
Is then allowed to buy bis discharge, the
price paid being IN proportion to the length
Of time he has been In the service. The
price is regulated by the value of the cloth
ing that has been issued to him, and II he
leaves before attaining his majority. he
is paid for the suits he may have saved,
and in addition the money that may have
been saved for him by the disbrrsing off,
Ger. This IL subtracted from his pay in
service, and whenever he leaves, there
is always some money due him. In the
second year. 81 is held back. in the third
year $2 and in the fourth, fifth and sixth
years. s.. This Is done so that he may
never be cast adrift without a cent.
Their Fortunate Lot.
Three times a week the boys have leave
Por flro hr,v mol tine, -,