New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-25
WOMEN IN ARMY LIFE.
THE PLEASURES AND TRIALS OF OFF,
GERS WIVES IN GARRISON.

MRS. CUSTER TELLS OF SOME OF THE Ex-
PERIENcEs THEY MUST uNDERGo-A LITTLE
SOCIETY. WITH IT'S OWN CUSTOMS
Mrs. Elizabeth y. Custer. whose books dealing
with military life at the frontier posts have fasc-
mated many thousands of persons wholly unfa-
mar with that life. possesses n charm OF NAV
when talking which makes what she says
rank even above ther literary style in interest
In speaking to the writer last week about the
peculiar conditions which govern the social life OF
women in the Army. she said. laughingly:
1T is really hard 10 find any points of likeness be-
tween social intercourse at military post and that
of civil life. You may judge how great the difference
is when / say that upon my first appearance So
cially in the States, after my years OF soldier
ing. I scarcely knew how to act or how to accus-
tom myself to the greater formallty all around
me. For that Is the keynote Of the matter. Army
life Is informal to the last degree. Why the Gus
OF using cards when calling Is only Of very re-
cent date among officers wives. When lived IN
garrison should never have dreamed OF such
thing. Our method of announcing ourselves was
to walk in al the door as II the house were our
own, and call until the friend whom We wished
TO see responded On the whole. this is stll the
most common practice. too
1T is only az few Of the larger posts, near the
cities where there is anything like the formality
OF civil life The people in a garrison are like one
great family Nothing that deeply concerns any
member is a matter Of indifference 70 the others
and the spirit OF good-felowship Is universal
Tha: great test OF intimacy among women-the
borrowing practice-is met with everywhere Any
article of especial service desirability which be-
longs 10 one household is practically at the service
of the whole post My sewing machine and my
piano went on many visit 70 other homes. and
in return I knew I could have anything my neigh
bors possessed from their best cloaks TO their
saucepans II wanted them
IN TINES OF SICKNESS
I'm times o. sickness the friendly helpfuiness
OF the women for each other IL shown strongly
In tho frontier posts trained nurses. or any nurses
at all for that matter. are impossible TO get the
responsibility falls upon the various officers wives
and they answer II noby, though without
shadow OF circumstances, feeling they are do
ing nothing more than their duty as women ana
friends Each has some suggestion as to the cook
ing Of dainty food for the invalid. or the relieV-
ing of her suffering In other ways. ana there II ~
ways some TO look after the duties OF the
house until its mistress is able to he around again
Many 4 time have known a number OF women 10
detail themselves. in regu1r military fashion. to
duty in the house OF sickness at certain hours. re-
leying one another through the day and nigh:
with absolute precision. so that the sick person
should never be left withou: attendant.
with all this close intimacy there is surpris-
ngly little friction ill-feeng. There are, OF
course, at every post rev people VINO are us
agreeable or hard TO get along with, but they
cause no moro trouble in general than they do In
their own households. They belong. we feel TO
our Army family. and their shortcomings must
be overlooked just should overlook the faults
OF husband or brother or sister Official Jeaouses
OF various kinds there may be. but every one In tho
Army or connected with 1t Is careful TO keep these
entirely apar. from the social life OF the post
Perhaps one leutenants wife feels aggreved be-
cause another lieutenant has been promoted to a
captaincy instead OF her own husband. Or II may
be that a captains wife Is dissatisfied with the
special service to which her husband has been
detailed But such cases are not allowed 10 inte--
fere with the garrison intimacy OF the FAMILIES.
When a group of women are talking together. and
one so far forgets herself to refer TO the for
hidden topics. will say good naturedly:
"'Oh no official matters Let us leave those
out and there is invariably a prompt recognition
of the suggestion.
THE COMMANDERS Personal EXAMPLE.
MANY things depend altogether upon the per-
sonal example of the post commander and his
wife Civilians have no idea whatever OF the ex-
tent TO which this Is true. For instance, II every
thing In the way of gossip is frowned upon In
the commanding officers house there will be little
of it anywhere In the garrison. General Custer