Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-05
FLoTsAM AND JETSAM.
Much Useless STUFF Carried by New
SOIdicrs-Mny Know Better Later.
ryVacbfpUtop

! SOldiers-Iny Know Better Later
washington starr
Modern warfare is exemplifying in
many particulars the practical and pc
culiar changes that soldering has
taken on even since the civil war Of a
generation ago. The "impedimenta," as
/ Caesar termed army paraphernalia' has
undergone some startling changes. n
/ trip among the city tradesmen shows
/ this clearly. our armies are on the move;
/ the BOYS are preparing their personal
/ effects for camp and march; some taking
/ note Of southern and Cuban possibilities,
! and some Of Philippine probabilities
Consideration Of long separation from
I home and loved ones, Of climatic changes,
/ of health precautions of toilet privations,
/ and of physical comfort in general, are
causing, and have caused, some novel
demands TO be made Of outhtters, both
by the local soldiers and those OF other
states in camp at Fails Church. Old
campaigners predict that much of this
extra baggage will be fotsam and jet
sam before the boys have seen real SER
vice many weeks
Some Of the men who have joined the
volunteer army, or are about TO join at
the differeL1 recruiting stations. seem 10
think that the southern summer is Ike
inc DFGdll OF NtUuIndulltHItil > la nave
or a kind Of kitchen climate in sheol.
They figure the thermometer in the South
as double the length and twice the degree
power Of those in the North. and few
of the volunteers can be made to accept
the fact that the average temperature IN
Florida, Alabama, and Cuba Is lower
than in the Northern and Eastern States
in July and August, and that more sun
strokes are reported from the cities be-
tween Boston and st. Paul than from
those between Charleston and Calves
ton. The only real hot times" in the
southern climate are the hours between
10 in the morning and 3 o'clock in the
afternoon. If one can keep moderately
quiet remain under cover in the shade'
eschew ice-cold water, alcoholic beVe-
RACES, and mental anXieties-all OF which
should be easily possible to the bulk OF
the soldiery in camp-little danger of dis
comfort need be feared from southern sun.
CLOTHES TO WEAR.
There are thousands Of the soldiers
whose own notions, or whose importunate
kinsfolks, are causing them to PACK their |
lnapsacks with light, fiimsy undercloth-
ing. thin stockings, and-teu 10 not IN
Gath-with night-shirts of bobinette arr
ness and hligree embroidery. All Oh these
are TO assure the comfort of the brave |
these provisions are totally amiss. To one
who knows something of practical south
ern campaigning in the sixties-eVen on
the leyees Of New Orleans, the sands or |
Pensacola. and the coquina Mats or Blorl-
da east-such articles appear emphaucaIly
out Of place
THE facts are that a medium-weight
woollen shirt IS the only reliable, peren-
NAL garment of comfort and health pre-
servation, and a strictly all-Wool SOCK
the acme of safety and satisfaction on
the soldiers foot Cool nights, chilly
mornings before day, and many muddy
rnarchings have indicated these facts 10
every experienced southern soldier, hunt
or and fisherman. Any sort Of fancy wear |
10 tabooed anywhere down the coast ana
IN Cuba.
Curiously enough millions Of our other
wise well-informed people still harpor the
notion that the South Is region Oh
swamps. malaria, yellow-fever, and chllls
Of the continuous performance type
Nothing could be farther from the TRUTH
and the boys who are being urged to pack
off with them bottles OF quinine Dig
enough 10 stock a Georgia country apoth-
scary shop, and 10 smuggle along pro-
,er menstrum for the drug, sundry masks
II medicinal rye, are being PROVOKED
70 a vain and useless thing.
Malaria is largely myth. 1t means
bad air" but the fact is the South es-
pecially Florida and Cuba enjoy an at
nosphere continuously purified by alter
hating sea and gulf breezes and indicated
,ffectually by the balsam Of vast pine
'orests. The effects usually attributed TO
Malaria are reilly due, in most cases. 10
nalaoua. or bad water" so that for the
,oldier in camp or field a gallon OF tho
.oughly boiled water is better than
,ushel Of quinine Keep dry and sleep
warm. and chllls and fever VIII become
q visionary as Blancos boasts.
SHOES OFF.
The advice OF an old veteran Il that III
very instance Of going to sleep, in camp
~ bivouac take of the shoes before faIl-
NO asleep. There are breathing pores III
be soles OF the feet, and IL these get a
nance while you are asleep they VIII 90
heir perfect work IN aerating your feet
nd limbs, taking away the soreness ana
vanishing that tired feeling" An Ola
commander, now a MEMBER !
Z Congress, remarked TO some OF the ne"
olunteets the other day as follows
II commanded companies, regiments
nd brigades during the last war. [
erved IN Virginia, in Tennessee, ana IN I
But whether in the SHOWS o.
he Blue Ridge or on the sultry. SANDY