The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-08
THE SOLDIERS RATIONs.
wouldn't Suit Dyspeptics But All
Right for Well Regulated stOmachs.

wouldn't Suit Dyspcptics But All
Right for Well Regulated stOmnchs.
AS soon as the tents were up and the
camp had begun to take on a ship-shape
appearance, preparations were begun Tor
dinner Each company has square cook
stove, which can be packed up compactly
and which does good service. Probably
all of The companies have a negro cook
along. 1t was not long before the savory
odors of coffee, onions and baked beans
began to fiji the atmosphere. The dinner
was one not calculated to arouse the APP
petite Of a dyspeptic, but was thorough
ly satisfactory and highly appreciated by
men who had been at work in the open
air for some hours. 1t consisted of lib
eral allowance of canned beef, or canned
tongue, Boston baked beans fried onions,
soda biscuit wheat bread (baker's) and
strong coffee. The men of each company
lined up, facing the cook, each carrying
his mess pan, cup, knife, fork and spoon.
A pint of coffee, or more, was poured into
the cup, the plate was heaped high with
the solids, and the hungry soldier gave
way to his equally hungry comrade in the
rear and made himself happy on the
ground or standing, as he saw fit. There
was a thoroughly democratic air about
the dinner officers standing by munching
sandwiches and informing Private Bill
! Jones that the bread was good or that
| the onions were done just right. In fact
! there IS a degree of familiarity in an
! American volunteer regiment that would
| paralyze a European army officer accus-
toned TO the strict caste lines that there
prevail. And perhaps that may be one
reason why American soldiers follow their
officers with such enthusiasm. There is
a bond Of comradeship between privates
and officers that counts for much when
| the hour of trial comes.
BY 2 o'clock the camp was In running
! order. Up to that hour there had been
| probably 200 visitors. Many had gone
| over to the site announced as having been
| selected and finding no soldiers had re-
! turned to the city. Later in the afternoon
| the road TO the camp was almost impassa-
! BILE with vehicles. bicycles and pedestrians.
! 1t was harvest day for the street hacks.
! Fifty cents each way was the fare and a
| lucrative business was done. Every per-
! son who had a buggy seemed to have
| decided to visit the camp and the mem
| bers of Company 1, which is mainly made
| UP of SaVannahians, were busy shaking
bands with friends. Camp restrictions
| were considerably relaxed in view of the
near departure of the men, and there
was a greater degree of freedom than is
customary.
Right up to dusk there was a stream of
visitors, and to-day will doubtless see a
/
showed every courtesy, and many who got
their first glimpse of camp life found the
| visit one full of surprises. The size of
the tents was the subject of most frequent
remarks. the general impression having
been derived from pictures of tents of the
size of a large room. There was curious
interest in every detail of a soldiers life.
and the camp was somewhat of an edu-
eational institution for civilians.
do you get any medicines when you
are sick?" asked a lady of one of the
privates.
"Oh, yes" was the reply. eve have
pills of all colors, and each day there is
a change in the color of the ones you
! take.
"Why, how strange" said the fair visit
| or, sympathetically.
Yes continued the soldier when you
so in the first day the surgeon gives you
a white pill. which is sweet and palatable
The next day you get pink pill. Then
on the third day it is yellow and some
what bitter. on the fourth day it Is brown
and on the fifth 1t is black and big"
and what then, inquired the lady.
Then, well, then you either get well OIL
die"
Vendors of pies and other dyspeptic sup
plies did some business In the morning
hours, but the taste of the men for thai
kind of provendor is apparently easily sat
istied. Baked beans and hard tack seem
to beat sweet meats in their estimation
There was quite a demand for milk and
nearby dealers were quite literally patron.
lied. There Is such. good provision mode
for satisfying the appettes of the men thai
there is really little reason for one to spend
much change on outside food.