The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-06
ONE OF ROOsEvELrs RECRUITS.
Jnrxpected Enlistment of Ciubman
Who Mist0ok the situation.

~NE" 1cEh sun
One member OF j fashionable club who
has enlisted for army service was not
lacking in patriotism, although his mo-
tive in joining a regiment came from .
wager rather than any sense Of duty. He
was sitting in the restaurant OF the club
after luncheon ore day last week. With
him was another member whose threats
10 go 10 the war had been received with
the suggestion that beyond furnishing
good ballast for a torpedo boat he would
probably not be appreciated. The CONVEX
sation at this time had passed the mere
~ facetious stage. The question OF the
ordinary New York club members use
fulness had been reached. II was after
luncheon, and possibly the matter was
viewed with a warmth and fervor that
would not have been manifested at other
times.
II tell you you're not wanted" said one
Of the men, who is slight and muscular.
with reputation as an aIl-round athlete
and cross-country rider. I'VE would be
a hindrance rather than a service to the
companies. We are not used to the work
or the discipline, and they would rather
have lis stay at home than embarrass
them by insisting ON enlisting."
The fat man demurred. He thought that
athletes, whether they had experience or
military training behind them or not,
a man, because he happened to belong 10
a good club, was in the habit OF follow
ing the hounds, and was not merely a
farmer, shouldn't be as good a soldier as
the next man. The question was discuss
ed with the length and colubeiity that
good cigars. liquors and comfortable
luncheon after morning at racquets
could not fail to inspire. 1t might never
have reached a climax 4 In thoGghtiess
1ny1f r$ ha hot r,afy
tanned that ciubmen were not wanted
had not made this threat:
I'm tell you what I'll do" he said I'll
go to the telephone and call up Teddy
Roosevelt in Washington. I'll ask him
10 answer the question we've been talk
ing about. II he says yes I'll join his
cowboy regiment on the spot. II he says
no. the lunch is on you. He's my cousin
and he'll talk 10 me-
The young man went TO the telephone
booth. The news of the discussion and Of
his wager had spread through the club.
and members congregated outside the
booth to hear the answer. The interval
OF waiting was not passed without con-
siderable wit at the expense OF both par
ties to the transaction. After a while the
messenger told the waiting disputant that
Washington was on the wire. Carefully
closing the door behind him. he entered
the booth. After a few minutes he step
ped out OF the booth. Without a word
he marched 10 the table at which his
friend was seated. The crowd was increas-
ed now by a few messengers and walters
whose curiosity got the better OF their
training.
I've lost" said the cross-country rider
land didn't have a chance for a minute.
Want you? OF course we want YOU he
said. Come over now and join my cow
boy regiment He told me where to get
uniform. and I'm going over tonight.
Ned. Old man. l never was more of in
my life"
The man who lost did se. his uniform
that afternoon and leave town that night.
But he did not get out of the club before
the occasion had received some sort OF
appropriate celebration. He IL going to
be u member of the cowboy brigade.