The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-17
SHERIDAN WOMEN BRAVE.
Wives and Daughters of the Fourth
Oficers Facing War Calmly.

hho =
Oficers Facing War Calmly.
Brave is what every woman at Fort
Sheridan is trying to be i'm these days.
sometimes in the face of war news and
post gossip this is a difficult thing, but
when the women remember that they
are wives and daughters of soldiers
they make every ef1ort to be as heroic
as the women belonging to heroes
should be. Ever since the report on
the ain disaster came north these
mothers, wives and s~weethearts have
realized that their turn might be next.
But when gathered in the dainty little
drawing rooms on the Three Loops
they have smiled il the tears were near
at what their heroes would do If the
order to go to the front came. This
order to the women means much more
han 1t does to the men, as the elderly
matrons tell the younger ones over a
cup of tea. Many a brave woman at
Sheridan knows what fighting is, for
their sba have on more than n
occasion gone out to quell dancing
Sioux and warning Cheyennes. These
women declare that the agony of sus-
pense If their husbands went against
the S~paniards could never be what 1t
was when a call was made at night to
quiet the red man, n their husbands
went out and they did not know when
they would return. The uncertainty
of h return would be. of course, as
great, the officers wives say, If the
Fourth was sent to the front, but they
could know by telegraph the exact To-
cation of every officer day and night.
while in the West long days and nights
were passed in anxious waiting for the
courier who came back with news.
The women at Fort Sheridan are
daily praying that there will be 10 war.
But they are quick to add that If IL
comes they will bear themselves as
soldiers wives. They say that when
they entered the service they realized
the uncertainty of their husbands
lives and that he nearness of war
only means what might come at any
moment. To the men they keep UP
wonderfully brave faces and say that
they do not believe that there will be
any trouble. but that a fortnight will
not have passed away before the Cos
sip Of the garrison will have settled
down to the routine drill and dress pa |
rade.
But when the women are alone their
talk is not always OF this peaceful ma
ture. They run across from one house
to another to inquire IL any late news
has been received. The young wives |
beg that the older matrons tell them
how they have stood this horrible sus-
pense all these long years. The wives |
of the young lieutenants say that their
husbands are continually telling them
of the glory of war and that in death
can come promotion. But their wives
cannot see where the compensation
comes in. for their husbands are as
likely to be killed as their next-door
neighbours.
Then these brave young soldiers as
sure their better halves that. as death
can come but once. II is far more glori- |
Gus 20 come on the battlefield than in
a bed. AS yet they have not been able
TO convince the young women where
the glory comes in at all. They declare
that when they went to the altar to
become the wives of soldiers the hor-
rors and cruelty of war seemed afar
Now that Ii Is so near they would
much rather remain the wives OF Sec
ond lieutenants with no bloodshed than
their husbands become the COM
mande in chief with all the terrors
that are implied.
And the older women sigh as they
remark that the home and family are
not considered in eth department."
The pretty homes at Fort Sheridan,
they say. are the most comfortable
they ave known for a long time, and
they should dislike to give them I'D.
Not. they quickly assert. that they are
sure that this would come. but Their
in army circles such a possibility ex-
II their husbands went to the
front they n their children might. |
Of course. be left In possession OF the
little houses on the north shore.
again they might not. Another
might be called to take its
and that would mean up and
for the women. for the houses
are Officers quarters. and o~ficers' wives
children are not remembered.
SO the women al Sheridan have an
added anxiety to conceal from their
lords. for II would not look well
their heroes are going 20 suffer
md perhaps die hat they should know
the women OF the most are think
Of the material side Of the ques-
Yet some one has to think OF II.
and the women are planning where
they would 60 and when, n they are