The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-22

Lieut.. Col. r. b. Wallace is the
idol of the regiment. Thoroughly in
formed in military affairs, young. en-
ergetic and ~dashing. Bruce Wallace
makes an ideal officer. While he is a
strict disciplinarian and requires prompt
and cheerful obedience to every COM
mand, there is nothing of the military
autocrat b him. His manner of
imparting Instructions to the men un-
der his command is invariably courte-
GUS and considerable. The most humble
private in the ranks may seek his aid
and instruction with the full assurance
of kindly and courteous treatment. Col
me Wallace never loses patience. He
realizes that soldering is new business
to nan of the men under his command,
and his ambition seems to be to make
the rough places in the path of the sol
der as smooth as possible. These are
some of the conditions which surround
life at Camp Smith, and which are do
ing much to tighten the burdens and
cheer the hearts of the men who left
comfortable homes and profitable en-
ployment to take up arms in defense of
the flag they love.
Thousands of visitors from all parts
of Montana have enjoyed the hospitali-
ties of the soldiers during the last week.
Every city. town and hamlet in the
state has sent its quota of citizens to
NotSii ilS poys ~ aifa - 49, 80
the work. Almost every man in the
regiment has beer pleasantly remem-
bered by friends who came to the camp
ground bearing useful gifts OF some
sort. Helena's citizens have treated the
soldiers royalty. A great many hum
bred dollars worth of food and cloth
ing have been distributed among the
volunteers, and, indeed, the splendid
generosity of the people has been deep
ly appreciated by the members of the
regiment. The wet weather found many
of the men in the ranks poorly provided
with shoes, socks and Undertaking.
Not a few who were compelled to do
guard duty in the rain found themselves
drenched to the skin and without
change of clothing. Helena's citizens
have been extremely generous in all
these matters, and they have earned
the lasting gratitude of hundreds of the
volunteers. 1t is but fair to say that
the food provided by the army authori-
ties is both wholesome and ~undan
and this, coupled with the innumer-
able delicacies provided by the patriot
ic ladies of Helena has made life worth
living for the army boys. One of the
many ladies who have endeared them
selves to the volunteers is Miss Cruise
of this city. That young lady has been
untiring in her efforts to add to the
comforts of the men in the regiment, In
addition to innumerable other little
courtesies extended, she distributed $50
pounds of tobacco among the men at
the camp one day this week. Only a
man who is an inveterate user of the
weed, and who has neither tobacco nor
money to buy ii with, can appreciate
the value of Miss Cruse's thoughtful
gift.
The rain has interfered materially
with the social affairs of the camp dur
ing the week. 1t has been the aim of
the citizens of Helena to make the stay
of the soldiers in this city as pleasant
as possible, but many social events that
would have been very enjoyable have
been necessarily postponed because of
unpropitious weather. But numerous
pleasant social gatherings have been