The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-08
SCENES AT TAMPA.
Soldiers Enjoying Themselves, and
Not Worried by Fears of War.

Soldiers Enjoying Themselves, and
Not Worried by Fears of War.
Staff Correspondence OF the Journal.
PORT TAMPA, Fla, June 4-The heavy
gloom of war had its silver lining tonight
at Tampa, where it was almost ION with
the dance, let the joy be unconfined." 1t
was night in Brussels again, with gay
music and the overwhelming presence of
uniforms fair women and perfume laden
breeZes blowing from the flower gardens,
lights cleaning everywhere and the night
tingling with the thrill of festive scenes.
Not a soul but knew that the conflict was
little further than the morrow and yet all
hearts seemed lightened with the philoso-
ply, paraphrased, sufficient unto the day
is the terrors thereof" If history would
fain repeat itself, God avert the Waterloo
Tampa Bay Hotel, a leviatnan among
hostelries, was ablaze from end to end, its
five minarets each holding high up in the
darkness the yellow star of an incandescent.
Down to the rivers edge extend the trop-
ical gardens, their fronded shade making
the broad white paths inky at night, while
their huge cactus plants and shrubs bear
flowers that burden the air with fragrance
heavy as incense. Broad piazzas and gall
leres, roomier than metropolitan streets,
were crowded with the well-dressed officers,
lavish with their little gallant attentions.
Lovely women in airy gowns and coiffures
bedecked with brilliant flowers chatted and
laughed as the military band played class
ical themes. Here in one corner sat a
group Of gray-haired men, each with stars
his shoulder straps, talking not of the
grave problems of war while it was yet sea-
sonable to dwell on the lighter topics that
.,I
A German officer, with his typical father
land cap, sat conversing with little
Mikado chap, Japanese officer whose uni
form appeared just a trihe grotesque as
one involuntarily compared it with the
modest Yankee blue. Correspondents in
white helmets, orderlies with their hats
carried respectfully in their hands, fashion
able young neutenants in the picturesque
new drab uniforms, cavalrymen in brown
canvas, all thronged the immense hotel
corridor and heightened this most unusual
American picture.
Out in the streets of Tampa was another
scene. a rare one too. Each sidewalk had
professions Of men whom the eye found to
be countless Thousands jostled each
other. and, save at infrequent intervals,
every passing form wore the blue The
gard of the 81 soldier has practically lost
its identity in the evolution which has pro-
duced the uniform of SO. A coat is as for
eign to the makeup of the soldier in Tampa
as an overcoat would be. The blue flannel
shirt is the distinctive badge of Uncle
Sans warrior, and the trimness of it is
unmarried by the gawkishness of suspenders.
A strap around his waist helps keep his
trousers to their proper hang and his leg
gings act as an important auxiliary in this
respect. The light colored campaign hat,
dented with a sombrero effect is worn
rakishly on the head. To say that the vol
unteer of 9S swings as he walks gives an
intended contradistinction to the tramp of
the men of 1851
Husky fellows are the regulars, and to
see these compactly built men, intrepidity
stamped on their faces, swinging along.
their whole make up suggesting military
trained cowboys. convinces one of the wise
order to send them to the front first to bear
the opening shock of land warfare. 1t is
unfair to charge the war bureau with send
ing these men out in advance just because
they have been under government paw asI
soldiers. They are undoubtedly the best toi
send, however brave and valiant be the