The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-01
Army Women in Alabama.

The following extracts from the New
York Times give an interesting picture of
army life at present in Alabama:
OF all the camps, the one at Huntsville
is the most beautiful; and here, too, there
is more happiness than at Tampa or Mon-
tauk At both of these places war was too
rear at hand, either in prospect or retro
prospect Now the sad features of war are
not present, and we feel in the mood for
enjoying life. To be sure, there are dea,-ls
occasionally, and, while the military fu-
.eral accorded each soldier is impressive,
he deaths are not particularly incident TO
ar.
have grown quite accustomed to liv-
ing houses while our husbands live in
tent indeed, by now 1t seems quite the
naturs way. Seven months have almost
made orget that we ever had the same
home, o,'~;,gh at first 1t was harder for us
than it W. ID have been for people in civil
life | thin an army mans life is so large
ly spent in lis horne. Some of us do not
nave more an one meal a week with our
husbands; ers not even that. Many
times it is H. ossible for an officer to leave
amp for mol than two or three hours at
i, time The mmanding officer of the
seventh cavalry i-nits absences from camp
. three hours, an, under no condition may
oae of his officers remain away all night.
t,he various reg n, ants are in all directions
.om town, at distances more or less great;
,nly a few are within walking distance.
here are hacks without number gathered
! ON all parts of the country so one has
: O trouble in finding way to ride. At
st the universal price was 10 cents, hut
low 25 cents is the least one can pay for
tide to camp, and the drivers charge more
when they think they can get it. If one
mails letter on the way, or stops to speak
10 friend he lil<Qly to he charged 25
cents extra.
The tents are very comfortable, and a
day In camp is far from unpleasant. Often
the ladies make their fancy work or spend
the time mending and darning. The tents
are heated by either wood or oil stoves,
most of the officers preferring these to the
Sibley stoves issued by the government.
Besides the stove. the tents have a num-
Der of other articles--cot, table, trunk,
bookcase, and chairs being crowded into
some, and still room left in which to move
around. Some officers have their tents as
1uxuriousy furnished as bachelor apart
ments could be, with Turkish rugs, sofa
pillows, and other knick-knacks.
Just now those here who have no chill
dren think themselves rather fortunate
than otherwise, for 1t has come to the point
where the army mother finds herself con-
fronted with the necessity of making a
choice between staying with her children
at a place where they can attend good
camp to camp If the children are not Of
school age, the matter is simplified. There
is an excellent boys school here-the
Huntsville academy-and several children
are being sent there, but only temporarily,
as the stay of the troops is so uncertain
Several children have been left with grand
mothers In other states.
Some officers high in command are trying
to discourage any of the wives from going
to Cuba with their husbands, pointing out
the dangers and difficulties that liz In the
way of a pleasant life there, but army
women are not easily discouraged. and al
most without exception every woman here
intends going with her husband to Cuba or
Porto Rico, or, IL she be not allowed to go
over on the troop ship, to follow at the first
possible moment. When a woman marries
an army officer she expects to go with him
everywhere that she can. We understand
that the government will transport both
families and household goods OF officers to
the foreign stations
Among the army women here are MrA