Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-21

and was willing to exhibit it. Three
months pay would not induce some OF
the men to turn their treasures over to
the public gaze
The officer of the day found husky
soldier of his command leading sad
eyed dog by stout rope through the
company street one day recently, and
he stopped him out of curiosity
where did you get that dog?" asked
the officer.
He followed me, sir" said the sol
der with prompt salute.
The officer eyed the rope which held
the dog and then said: He couldnt
do much else with that string tied to
him, could he?"
mo, sir" said the private; that's
what I thought when l tied him.
An officer in a tent that is near the
y,,ard line was awakened from
peaceful dream a few nights ago by
the challenge of recruit on guard
near his tent. The sentry saw form
approaching and called: Halt. W no
is it,"
Friend" said the man in the dark
ness.
Advance, friend. and be reorgan-
lied" said the sentry and the officer
fell off his cot.
If this camp lasts another week long
er Maine can be called upon to fill all
the minstrel companies and farce
comedies with comedians and original
jokes.
1t is not always the 'provos' who
get the soldiers into trouble. Two pri-
Yates who wanted to spend the night
down town concluded they could safely
risk meeting any Of the provost guard
and started without passes. They Wer"
halted at the border of their part of
the camp by a regimental sentry. To
the sentry they told a plausible story
of desire to go to a farm house near
by to purchase some milk. The sem
try was suspicious, but finally agreed
to let the men pass if they would leave
their hats with him as an evidence Of
good faith. They could have no need
of hats on the trip to the farm house
The hats We're left and bareheaded the
two privates made the trip to town.
In the morning they reclaimed their
hats and the sentry. finding he had
been outWitttd, was perfectly willing to
become a party to three-handed
agreement to keep the matter quiet.
No amount Of hard work in the field
can make a veteran too tired to have a
little fun With the recruit" Often the
''rooky' furnishes the amusements
without any outside assistance. 1t is
found for instance, that the first mis-
take the new man makes is to salute
every private he meets and pass the
officers by with silent contempt He
soon gets over this. y few talks with
the captain. during which the re
cruit's heart stands still, teaches the
new man who are entitled to outward
show of respect.
The first night in camp is hard one
for the recruit and he has stout
heart if before morning he does not
wish himself home again. He is rob-
bed of his clothes and bedding and his
life made miserable generally. If he
can be sequestered from the gaze of all
officers he is tossed in a blanket in the
time honnored manner which frequent
ly results in sore bones for the victim
and disaster to blanket. One of the
recruits first errands is to be sent u
the headquarters of some other COM
pany after half a dozen rifle pits.
The men to whom he applies "hav2
been there in their younger days, and
pass the poor recruit along. In time
he reaches the colonel's headquarters
ana somewhat discouraged asks for
six rifle pits" The orderly. instead
gives him a few straight tips" and
sends him back to his barracks wiser
but sadder.
Not even a new boy in printing
office is made to perform so many fool
ish errands, for the boy in the print
shop when he discovers that he is be-
ing made game of can rebel and put an
end to the fun. The recruit who has
already been impressed With the i'm
portance Of military discipline is IN
constant terror of making a blunder
and so permits himself to run errands
against his will for fear that possibly
they are genuine. A favorite errand
for the recruit is to send him to the
headquarters for the key to the flag
staff Sometimes he is sent to the com
missary department for a bottle OF
wine, Again, in the captains absence
he is told To n Cand1ac a,d o+ho,