The herald., 1898-11-15

tlme The part of the park occupied by the
camp has been raked and swept as clean as
the conditions of mellow earth and mud
from oversprinkling in some places and toe
little in others will allow. Taken as whole,
the discomforts are few and the advantages
many. The big pepper trees that line the
driveways and walks afford shady places to
lounge under. The water supply is abund.
ant, and the grand stand does duty in q
variety Of ways, both for spectators and the
men who will call the camp home for the
next fortnight.
During the early morning the camp is
closed, even to the unlucky bluecoat who is
out without pass, and, though steln.faced
sentries pace up and down before the gates
and through the grounds, visitors come and
20 unchallenged through the afternoon.
Indignant friends" are too previous in
rushing into print with their protests about
"our gallant boys of the Seventh being on
exhibition like wild animals, at 25 cents
admission" There is no admission fee
charged on any day except Sunday, and then
it is for the privilege of looking at two or
three big hounds chasing after one little
mite OF scared rabbit and shaking the life
out OF it, that people pay for, not our gallant
boys.
Il is just little bit of affectation in the
boys, after all, when they pretend to being
annoyed by sight-seers. There is no denying
that the Spanish-war style of military uni
form is natty and becoming, and it is poor
slouch of boy who is not dignified and glori-
fed by the army blue. The constant drilling
of the past few months has taught them how
to carry themselves, how to walk erect and
step firmly and soldierly, and while undis-
guised admiration may be embarrassing to
the over-shy individual, grand stand full
of pretty girls, waving handkerchiefs, cheers
and applause at every graceful evolution
give eclat to the tedium of company drill
and could not at all be dispensed with at
dress parade. Besides, this is the last chance
for brown leggins and Teddy hats to be
effective, and also for drills and parades
with genuine military adjuncts and mounted
officers. 1t will all be play soldier after this.
Physical examinations began yesterday
morning and will probably continue through
the next four days. Capt. Pratt and the
surgeons were busy all day, and so far it is
estimated that there are about 260 men who
will be eligible for pensions The disabled
young veterans do not take their disabilities
very seriously. "a hundred dollars" called
one to another as he left the surgeons tent;
Zone lung bad" ..r
The books of the hospital steward, Ira r.
Allen, showed after sick call in the afternoon
go cases reported, most Of them minor all
ments, and 80 convalescents from the hospi-
tai at the Presidio. Privates Nichols of
Company L, with bronchitis, and Ogburn
of Company NJ, with fever, were taken to
the Sisters hospital on Sunday afternoon,
and there is one man in the regmental hos
pital in the camp. There are numbers of
sick and absent convalcscing in homes and
hospitals in the city, whose names do not
appear on the stewards book.
There has been change of sentiment, or,
rather, the regiment as a whole is not unani-
nous in the object to which the proceeds
of the proposed exhibition drill shall be
applied. Some are in favor of the monu-
ment fund; Others think the money should
be given to the needy families of their de-
ceased comrades, as a monument to the dead
can come later from other sources. Yesterday
morning each company was called together
by it's captain and vote was taken. Com
pany T. was unanimous for the benefit fund
Company +, for the monument p for the
benefit; Company G, AZ monument, % ben
eft; Company !, 40 monument, II benefit
Companies X and M, unanimous for the
monument, and L unanimous for the benefit;
the remaining companies have not reported
yet. A final decision will probably be
reached today. Company L, by unanimous
consent, presented $75 of the company fund
to a comrade who resides at Piru, who has
been i'll for the past four months.
Chef Melsted has been obliged to increase
the cooking facilities of the regimental
kitchen A new six-foot range and five
smaller ones were put up yesterday after.
noon. Each meal requires 1875 gallons of
coffee. Four beevcs and nine or ten sheep, |
eix to eight sacks of beans and one thousand |
loaves of bread are consumed daily. Though
the edibles are all of the best quality, the |
kckers, who htve established reputation
for the regiment, get in their work with |
military precision each meal. Some like |
gravy on their bacon, others don't and that |
affords an opportunity to kick long and loud.
The hotel kitchen is used exclusively for pre-
pairing food for the sick, for which two cooks.
one waiter and one dshwasher are employed
Beginning on Sunday noon, by order of |
Colonel Berry, the several companies were
detailed to alternate each day at the first
and second tables. Companies B, G, X, NJ
and L went first and A, d, T., II. and l.
second. Instructions were also given in the
order concerning the order of marching to
the mess room, etc.
The picturesque event of the day for Wis
itors to the camp is dress parade, with the
officers mounted, the first call for which is
sounded by the buglers at 4p IN. The grand
stand was filled with an admiring crowd and
n line of spectators hung over the fence,
nmong whom were many soldiers not on
duty, to whom it can be no longer novel
sight. The alert unanimity with which the
heads of uniformed men are barred when
the band plays the "Star Spangled Banner
and the colors are lowered, is an object lesson
IN patriotism to the Indifferent civilian and
The observant small boy.
Before the regiment left the Preside
Colonel Berry appointed Lieutenant Colonel
5chreiber and Majors Weller and Welsh a
committee to confer with the one from the
Of commere concerning the ar
for the exhibition drill. The
oint committee held meeting at the Ho,-
enbeck yesterday afternoon. j. s. SIouson
vas elected chairman, ii. w. Frank secre-
ary and A. b. Cass treasurer. The five, mem
'ers from the chamber of commerce, Messrs.
slauson, Frank, Cass, Burnham and New
berry, were chosen to act as a finance com,
nittee, while the military details will be ar