Evening journal., 1898-08-18
LIFE OF "A SOLDIER.

ne 'OIlltu OldlVS army. NOulu lue4
SnOw fully, as we know, the benefits OF
he service to young men. they would
approve of their sons enlisting, rather
han object to it.
The general opinion that people
have of life in the army is erroneous
in the extreme Tn army is not a
rough place, nor is the service, except |
on the far frontier and in the Winter,
a rough service. Young men, even
hose who have acquired vicious habits
in civil life, come out of the army after
five years of service, better men, unless
they are utterly incorrigible and bent
on life Of evil. The service and the
discipline develop all the good qualities
of the man. He knows that dis
obedience of orders or violation Of any
Of the unwritton laws which should
govern society meets with prompt and
merited punishment, and that makes
him suppress and govern what may be
vicious in him. This discipline gives
him a manly courage, an assurance he
might not otherwise possess, a better
respect for law and order, and he
learns to obey without questioning,
which is, unfortunately, something
young men do not learn in civil life.
"There is another thing to be consid-
cred about service in the army, ana
that is the habits of economy and pru-
dence that are generally acquired
True, the pay is not large-$1S a month
but in addition to this the men have
home, food, abundant clothing, medi-
cal attendance. and, in fact, everything
necessary to a comfortable existence.
They do not have the luxurles, to be
sure, but such as they may require or
desire, for that matter, are obtainable
from the commissary or quartermaster
at just what those things cost the gov
ernment to purchase at wholesale. The
men are paid once in two months, and
If they are provident and not extrava-
giant, the greater part of their wages
may be saved, and, if the soldiers sc
desire, the money can be deposited
with the government When the
amount of these deposits reaches $5I
interest at the rate of per cent. be
gins to accumulate. This money, onc'
deposited, cannot be touched until thu
soldiers time is out and he gets mi
discharge, when he hands in his de
posit book and receives the amour
due him.
During the third year Of service tn
government allows the soldier 81
) month extra; during the fourth year
81, and during the fifth year, sS Thi
accumulation, S72. is paid the soldie
when he receives his discharge II
may also save during his fve-yea
term as much as $500 on the singl
item Of clothing If he is careful Of hi
uniforms. All of these methods of saw
ing allow him to accumulate a snul
capital to start him in life with whsi
he leaves the army, if he cares to leave
Moreover, wherever he may be at tn
time of his discharge, he receives hi
transportation to the place Of his en-
listment at the rate OF days pay 70
every twenty miles Of distance, and a
additional allowance of 80 cents a da
for rations. Thus, should he happen t
be in Montana at the time Of his dis
charge, and be entitled to transports
: ton to New York, he would receiv
$3.50, or s75 more than the actual cos
Of the transportation, or an entiy
profit of $50 if he chose to remain
Montana. Very many soldiers who hav
served their time on the frontier hav
, settled down there and become pros
: porous and Influential, citizens, and tn
frontier has many prosperous farmer
? to-day who became rich from the say
ings Of a term of army service, tha
enabled themto take upclaims and max
! happy homes.
"There are great many goo
phases TO army life II people only l1ne
it. In all the Western posts there an
regularly established libraries an
reading rooms, containing the dali
papers and the best current literatur
Then there are schools, under the 81
pervision Of regularly appointed goY
ernment teachers. where the best kin
Of common and practical educaulon
given without expense. If a soldie
desires to pursue his studies furthe
officers are willing to assist him. B'
sides that he has plenty Of leisure tim
to educate himself. The drill and guar
duty is not severe, and, taken all !
+ al, the work required is much less cor
fining and onerous than that in man
of the pursuits the soldier would %
low in civil life. And the service
heaNhful, and there is very little
might almost say no-opportunity I
cultivate or contract the vices SO raj
idly acquired in our cities and towns.
'"The opportunity to a soldier, aisi
for making money are many, especial