The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-06-16
WITH THE FOURTEENTH.
Improved Copdit ion of the Men From
the SanitMry Standpoint.


the Sanitary Standpoint.
Camp Thomas, special Correspondence,
The general health of the companies
here is better to-day than it has been
for long time. The boys are becoming
acclimated, evidently, and are learning
to take proper care of themselves. The
food is better, too, the fresh meat ration
almost entirely suppla 1tirg pork and ba-
con. Speaking of the latter fare, it is
surprising the amount of fatty food the
natives Of this state consume. One would
think that in a country so hot as this, the
less fat one would eat the better it would
be for him, and that no stomach would
crave it. But the residents stomach is
constructed on a wonderful plan and he
absorbs bacon ard salt pork with the
gustO Of an EsquimO. However. their
refusal to recognize the common laws OF
hygiene may account for the feeling of
lassitude which seerls to overwhelm al
most every one here.
The first battalion, which was vacci-
mated first is showing more men in the
ranks as days go by. Company K, which
got the worst Of the vaccination. to-day
has Only seven men on the sick list, and
none of the cases are serious.
Orders were issued to-day forbidding
the use of water from the pipes for bath
ing purposes. We had a nice shower
bath house all planned and were about
to begin work on it when the word came,
and we are now writhing in the dust CT
despair and disappointment. The only
place here we can battle is in bend of
the creek about a mile from here. and
as the banks of the stream are covered
with POISON ivy and the mules and horses
are washed and watered in it, it is not
very desirab BILE place for US to practice
the virtue placed next to godliness. And
de we need a bath? One look at us
. would answer the question. There is no
sod in the park an6 where the ground is
ont Ct ,l1~ no ,,,%h I>or !,
our feet is yellow clay. To the depth of
two inches it is like ashes, and perfect
cloud envelOps the marching troops. At
night when we retire from drill our faces
are furrOWed with all sorts Of grOteSque
bitches caused by the erosion OF the
streams of sweat through the coating of
dust. A sponge bath, is little more than
an aggravation, as the effect is merely to
remove the later strata, and we sink into
a dreamless slumber cursing the picayun-
lsh policy which deprives us of the one
necessary of life which would cost the
government nothing.
To-day the first division of the profits
of the canteen W as made, each company
getting SIS as it's share. This is a pretty
good record for one week, and most OF
the money comes from outside the regi-
ment, for our boys are nearly all
'broke."
Some big-hearted Anoka man, who pre-
fers not to be known to the public, to-day
sent Company B a check for 500.
All days look alike to US now. II is not
a continual round of pleasure, but there
is enough rest interspersed with the work
to make life worth the living, and there
is a pleasure in being part of regi-
ment which is growing rapidly to be one
Of the best in the service. The routine
would become monotonous If it were not
for the fact that every day there is an
opportunity to acquire knowledge. The
men are deeply interested and in every
way display evidence that they are of
the stuff from which soldiers are made.
Private Kemp's trial occurred to-day.
He was defended by Private Henry Har-
ris, of Company G. The complaining wit
ness was Maj. Bidwell, who discovered
the man asleep at his post. The major
has a part of his work the inspection
and instruction of the guard. and on last
Friday night about 10 o'clock, he was
making tour of inspection. He discov-
cred Kemp asleep and called the atten-
ton of sentry near by to the condition
Of affairs. Then he awOke the man and
had him arrested. Kemp's defense was
that he was overWorked, and that he was
expecting to be relieved in a few min
utes He sat down on some sacks of oats
near his post and must Immediately have
fallen asleep, for the sentry on the next
post says that he knows positively that
he was awake five minutes before the
major called to him. 1t is said that
kemp's sleepness is practically disease,
he having often slept under most I'M
favorable conditions. The result of the
trial is secret, and will be for some
days.
Red cedar sawdust is a luxury which
few in the North have enjoyed It is not
used here as a food. but it contributes to
our comfort as much as the most palata-
BILE product of the kitchen could. We use
it for carpets in our tents and sleep the
sleep of the just unmolested by the flies.
bugs, ants, worms and spiders which at.
tack one in a tent unprovided with the
cedar floor covering. Insects stay out
side The sawdust also makes the in
terror of the tent more attractive and
clearly, as it covers the dusty ground
with bright and clean carpet. The dust
is the product Of lead pencil factory
near here, and costs us 25 cents for three
baskets. "r--. Il A. CaSWel.
Cervern and CeIveza.
A