New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-07
NOT INTRINSICALLY AMUSING.

In the House of Representatives the other
day Mr.. Fitzgerald. of Massachusetts. asked
ouestion concerning the food supplied 10 SOL
diers which was answered seriously enough,
though perhaps not with the highest intelll-
gence by various members, but which has since
evoked q supcrfuous amount of alleged wit ut
the nominal expense of Mr.. Fitzgerald Inc
gentleman from Massachusetts, asserting moth
ing Of his own positive knowledge. referred 10
current reports OF dissatisfaction among the
volunteers in camp, and expressed the opinion
TINT the Government ought to exercise some
sort Of supervision over the cooking or their
food so that Il might be served to them In
wholesome condition. Mr. Fitzgerald was IN
search of information. and the point That ne
raised was worthy Of attention, as his Fellow
members evidently thought, though the general
impression seemed to be that whatever trouble
there was would not amount to much and that
the Army cooks would learn their business III
due time. But from outside the House Jokes
have been fred at his head ever since. ms II his
pertinent inquiry had proved him TO be rather
absurd person. He has been ridiculed as an
epicure, a gourmet. gastronomer. an Apicius
and the author Of n scheme for providing every
company with chef and stufiing every soldier
with sweetbrcads and trufies
Probably Mr.. Fitzgerald doesn't mind this
sort of raillery and II he doesn't perhaps no.
body else should. But, like one or two remarks
made in the course Of the debate, II indicates
measure Of ignorance on the part OF the jokers
which would do considerable harm II 1t were
shared BY men charged with the care OF armies.
4 soldier needs good food quite much as he
needs good ammunition. and If nferiorty were
artiC
the latter. The theory that fresh air and exer-
else give n man such an appetite that it
doesn't make much difference what is given
him to eat is responsible for AZ awful amount
If dyspepsia and innumerable early graves. II
accounts for the fact. familiar to dwellers IN
cities. that thousands of persons return every
wear from summer vacations wishing with MI
their hearts that they had stayed comfortably
at home and saved doctors bills. AS II an ap-
petite equal to anything made a stomach I'M
pervious to abuse! In time OF peace tho conse-
ouences of bad cooking even If they could be
traced and summed up might not be recognized
as constituting a National calamity. though
they would deserve to be; but IN time OF war the
dyspept,c soldier indefinitely multiplied Is an
alarming factor
Bonaparte, who Is commonly credited with
knowing a thing or two about the art Of war,
was not in the habit Of codding his soldiers,
but one Of the matters which ne regarded ms
Indispensable was the matter which Mr.. Fin-
gerald brought to the attention Of the House
last week The most important part Of the
French ration was bread. and the best bakers
in France had to accompany Napoleon's armies,
whatever happened 10 the people at home.
With this detail attended TO. he believed he
could depend upon their fighting ability. III
fed. they would be likely to fail short at the
critical moment It was well to ask whether
or not our soldiers were victims Of worse cook
Ing than the circumstances OF hurried call 10
arms made inevitable, and II the requirement
of wholesome and nourlshlng food would GER
tainly be supplied hereafter.