The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-05-25
COURSEN BRIGADIERED

foraglng expedition. 1t occurred TO the
sergeant that some wicked soldier
might "confiscate unto the state" the
strayed chicks so, out of the good
nees of his heart he began to gath
er them in with the intention of pre-
venting such a possibility. The far
mer saw the operation from a distance
and misconceiving the eergeants pur-
pose, ran into the house and secured
his gun.
When the sergeant saw the farmer
making towards him with gun, he be-
came frightened and ran. In his fright
and flight he forget to drop two of the
chickens, which he had succeeded in
carrolling and the farmer attributing
base motives to the sergeant, opened
fire. Luckily the distance was too
great for the guns range and the ser
geant reached the cover of the woods
in safety. He is in a sore predicament,
however, for he fears to go back with
the little chicks that he thoughtlessly
carried away in his Excitement He
proposes to keep them until they are
big enough to find their way home
and then release them--providing, of
course that nothing happens to them
before he can carry out his laudable
intentions.
The "old veteran" who drank out
of that same spring thirty years ago"
is on the ground in large numbers.
He invariably adds that he has since
reformed.
1t is remarkable how quickly a man
can accommodate himself to his sur
roundngs, particularly military man.
one would think, to look at the con-
tented miens of the soldier lads rising
from a refreshing sleep on a pallet or
straw and eating his meal from Il "tin"
on his knees, that he never even read
| of springs and hair mattresses or
china, cut glass and silver. Boys who
| when home would grumble at a damp
| napkin. unconcernedly pick up from
the grass the hunk of salt pork that
accidentally slid off their tin" and
| after brushing off the accommodations
of the contact with Mother Earth pro-
ceed to nut the truant on the right
| track.
The Thirteenth is utilizing its re-
cruits entirely for guard duty, DEEM
ing this actual experience the best kind
of drill. Another innovation is the Sc
| lecting Of orderlies from the COM
| panies in rotation, the captain of the
| appointed company making the seleC-
| ton. This it is expected will increase
the rivalry for the honor of being
named for orderly as it Is more of a
distinction to be picked out as the
Eeatest man in company than in
| a guard mount squad
Several of the Thirteenths young
| officers have their caps set for a place
on General Graham's staff, or per-
manent place at division headquarters,
| in a general capacity. Down at Chat
tanooga, the volunteers are receiving
| their full share of these much coveted
| hOnors and it is felt here that General
| Graham will likewise make use of hie
opportunities of making a hit with the
| volunteers. There is only one sub
| ordinate position more desirable than a
snug berth on a major generals staff
and that is commissary with a carte
blanche in these days of big contracts
and confusion.
Although the water here has cloudy
appearance, and, it is said, a brackisf
taste, the surgeons of the various regi-
ments who have examined it find that
it is in no way unwholesOme and arc
perfectly satisfied that if it does not
become contaminated there will be nc
dangerous results attending its use
Their only present fear is that the
sources are not deep enough to escape
the surface and sink drainage, but the
fear will be Obliterated with the com
pletion Of the water marks now under
way as the reservoir is to be on higf
ground a good distance from the camT
and the artesian wells will be sunk
to a good depth. The authorities are
to be commended on the manner ir
which this work is being pushed, espe
cially in view of the fact that th'
greater the haste the more open tn,
confession Of previous mismanage
ment.
The beautifying of the camp will
young fir tress, out of the neighbo,
ing woods and set up in front of tent;
and in recesses of the company streets
continues to be one of the faVOrit'
killing indulgences. In addition
to being ornamental they are fragran
and ON hot days help keep off the rec
hot rays of the southern sun. If tn,
transplanting process continues at tn,
rate it began and the regiment remains
here for the summer the camp will b,
very picturesque place.
1t has rained here every day 50 ia
but it was a shower in each instance
rather than a storm and consequentl,
had no accompanying i'll effects, ex
cepting that it brought into existenc
along the much-traveled pixies tha
early generated and world famous ar
NfElE y vs..g.,