The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-05-07
RECRUITS FOR THE ARMY
ONLY HERE AND THERE 4 MAN
TAKEN AMONG THE APPLICANTS.


TAKEN AMONG THE APPLICANTS.
Army in Single Day at One Re-
cruiting Otlicc-Pcrhaps Only Dozen
Observation-Disclosures Of Recruits.
Old Glory flying from q second
story window shows that the tenant is
Uncle Sam. Over the entrance is the
legend "'U. S. Recruiting Office"
The Office is up one flight Of stairs, a
small, business-like looking room,
furnished with some chairs, two desks
and typewriter stand. At the main
desk sits the sergeant in charge. A
corporal sits at another desk working
steadily at ledger; another corporal
performs upon tho typewriter, and
Il third corporal goes back and forth
between the Office and the room for
medical examination, further down
the passage, where the surgeons sit in
secret state. Such is the place at
which they apply who wish to serve
their country in the ranks for $l3
month.
It is . very busy place OF present
Not infrequently 200 men apply there
in Il single day, Of whom, perhaps, a
dozen are accepted as soldiers and be-
come tho approved property of Uncle
Sam after it is certified that they are
good bits of machinery. At 6 o'clock
in the morning the corporal Of the
> ledger is at his desk, and two hours
y later the typewriter is clicking, the
other corporal is waiting for business,
the sergeant is in his place, and the
. office is open for the days work Of
. Transforming raw material into army.
. . Not uncommonly the raw material is
u waiting about the entrance for opera
: tons to begin, and as the sign, coffee
Open," goes up on the door they
shuttle, saunter, tramp and march in.
n The first to come in is, perhaps, q re-
l. spectacle, looking fellow with his coat
IS buttoned so tightly around the neck
e rs to suggest an absence of collar tc
d his shirt. The sergeant beckons tc
e him and he walks over to the desk. :
d "Do you want to enlist?"
II eyes, sir"
l. "How old are you?"
"Twenty- eight"
y "H'm; You look moro. Can yo1
le bring proof Of your age?"
II 81 was born here. They told me
" could get proof at the City Hail..
d "Have you got any references?"
y Ono, I didn't think of that. +"
Il. "Come back here tomorrow witt
n. references for the last six months"
1e That terminates tho interview
re- Three out Of four of the applicant
ly forget to bring references, Or exhibl
a. surprise at learning that the natio
ly requires certificates Of good characte
he of its employees just as any other en-
lie ployer does. Next in line comes a
ID eager faced lad, who takes off his hi
I'd as he approaches the sergeant Oh
h. says:
ng IT want to join the army" to-
$. elbow old are you?"
he "Twenty-one."
ed "When?"
re t'Next October"
n "Come back then. You're t
mt young"
ut "Won't you put my namo dow
TO- sergeant?' says the young fello
zee wistfully. ''I'd like to have my nan
Of on the list"
nd "That's all right, sonny" repli
the sergeant good-naturedly. eve
remember you when you come back
~. October"
H. tho "War'll be all over by then" MI
Wv WV ters the applicant discontentedly
o.s he leaves the place.
= o W Forward marches a short man wi
NV an Intelligent face and al alert ma
nto ner.
4 t1v "What's your height?" asks t
am am sergeant.
1;ns "About five feet four inches. I oil
vow very big" adds the man earnest
oe2 "but I'm strong and quick, and l c
~ stand more'n most big men,"
'"n wv. elm afraid you're under the heig
viii Are you five feet four as you stand
.Ai in your bare feet?"
GAS stand"
"Can't take you, then. That's
required height, and your shoes a
half an inch"
, tay' "Don't wish they did," excl:'i
ton inc mAn 10 10 iooA' "n w. {.