Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-16

age of manhood that you're not drunk,
and all that. Bring these affidavits in and
I'll talk to you"
The tough's eyes were sticking out of
his head by this time.
Aw, say, young Teller. cut dat out. will
YEP said he when he came to. 'Wot We
givin' me? Afffdavits me eye. I don't
know no ore in dis burg, anyhow. Hully
de outside If 1 want to. without gittin' no
affidavits-'
why don't your calmly inquired the
sergeant.
davits fur tirteen plunks mont and he
went out with an expression of deep dis
gust on mis- solder face.
No Vacancy for Him.
A strapping buck of colored farmer
from the Old Dominion walked hesifating-
ly into the arsenal recruiting Office soon
after the announcement was made that
more soldiers were wanted for the army.
Boss" said he alphabetically tc the SER
geant behind the enrolling table. "Ah's
radey, subj"
The sergeant grinned. regretfully.
Ready for what, Zeb?' he asked.
suits. boss. Ah'se pow'ful stout nigguh,
suh."
well. you certainly look the part, Zeb,
but I'm afraid We can't rig you out here
just now" and the recruiting sergeant ex-
planned to the crestfallen citizen from
"Fahquah Kaounty" that, while there are
four regiments of colored men in the Unit
ed States army, two of infantry and two OF
cavalry, the arsenal recruiting offices was
not examining men for those regiments.
which are nearly always full, but was only
looking over white men for the heavy ar
tillery branch. The big black man looked
very much disappointed.
kin yo' all tell me, boss. wheah Ah'se
got to mex TO to fin de place wheah dey
lists de men whut pack shotguns round
on boatS?" he asked.
"Oh, you m,an the Marine Corps? Well,
unfortunately, they don't enlist colored
men in the Marine Corps. You might get
through sailor, but you'd have to go
to Brooklyn to try that on.
"Ah guess ah'll go back t de fahm an
tex to plowin' ag' in, was the wise conclu-
sion of the huge black applicant. "Ah dun
Eoofed it all de way up heah, laik uh fool
nigguh, an all guess OATS all de exercise
ah needs jes' fo' de presen'. boss. 'Bleeged
t. yo, sub, all de same" and he departed.
A large number of very young men-too
young-have applied for enlistment at the
marine barracks recruiting office. These
were told that they would be taken on to
fill vacancies as 'musics'-that is, as APP
prentice fife and drum musicians-but they
one and all stuck at this proposition, and
declared that IL they couldn't get in as
rife packers on the decks of men-of-war
they didn't want any of 1t. On the other
hand, q considerable number Of the ap-
plicants have been too old. These the re-
cruiting sergeants have suavely recon-
mended to apply lat the soldiers home"
Both at the arsenal and at the marine
barracks numbers of exceedingly lovely
young things, pretty pets in nice clothes,
have timidly applied to. .join." but none OF
these wanted to go in with the common SOL
diers, you know.
Knew What He Wanted.
'Of course" airily remarked q specimen
Of this sort at the marine barracks re-
crufting. Office, II feel quite willing to de-
vote a year or so to the service of my
country, y see. but understand that the
marines who enlist as common soldiers are
obliged to sleep In hammocks like common
sailors. when they get sent to ships. and
that they dine off common tin plates. and
all that sort Of thing. y see. I've heard
this. Have I heard aright?'
Il fear you have" replied the wel-fed
looking oid-timer of a sergeant. I've
been bunking in a swinging bag for a mat
ter OF quarter of a century now and 4
guess l can still lick my weight in hand
1aised lubbers."
well. y'see." the lovely thing went on
not noticing the sarcasm, II thought, yum
derstand. that you might make an exception
In my case-Pve been to college, y'see-and
enlist me as q sergeant, or as some kind Of
marine, y'know, with authority enough to
have a room to myself on a ship. y'under-
stand. and not have anything to do with
the common soldiers outside of drills and
all that. You make out what mean, don't
you now?
Yep. I'm next, all right. son." replied
the old sergeant. "What you want Is to en-
list as a major Of marines. That ein't so
dead easy as some things I've heard tell
OF, but you Just take q run over to An
napOlis. where the Naval Academy is, and
maybe they'll be able to ix you out all
right there"
The nice thing didn't really perceive that
he was being guyed.
Numerous applicants of this sort also
tackled the recruiting Office at the arsenal,