The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-17

issued his call for troops was irresistible:
but at that time the recruits had practi-
cally no idea OF what they would have to
go through on entering the army. They
were not tin soldiers by any manner of
means. They were ready and willing to
fight for their country and their flag, and
they are just as anxious now TO get
chance at the Spaniards, but it is the
dull routine of camp life that Is worry
ing them. 1t was very nice when at home
to wear a pretty blue uniform with bright
brass buttons on it, march through the
streets on parade days and listen to inc
gush OF that portion of fair femininty
which has a prediction for a male being
| in uniform, no matter what manner or
| person he might be in private life But
| a change has occurred since these same
young gentlemen have sworn themselves
away to Uncle Sam for "a period of two
years unless sooner discharged" and 1t
| Is not at all to their liking. Instead OF
the aforementioned admring ladies they
| find that they have to do with officers
who give commands and who see that they
are obeyed or that the offending soldier is
sent to the guard house.
1t is not very pleasant either, this pro
cess of being sent to the guard house, and
kept there. The guard house is In reality
a very small and very close tent, In which
prisoners are kept with only bread and
water to satisfy the wants Of the inner
man, for long or short period. according
to the nature Of their offeDse, and the
average person would rather submit to a
beating than to allow himself TO be- 80
confined.
Many although not the majority, Of the
men in camp come from the best families
of the State, and, used as they are 10 the
comforts and Injuries OF the higher
classes, the hardships of the life Of a
private soldier Is particularly uninviting.
For the first few days the novelty OF CAMP
ing out kept up good spirits, but after a
few wet cold nights on the picket lines
the newness Of the thing began to wear
off and the men began to realize where
they we're and the position in which they
had placed themselves in their oyerween-
ing desire 10 be a soldier.
Then there is the question OF salary. II
Is safe to assert that most OF the line Off
GERS and perhaps some of the field are
receiving more money for their services
than they ever did before; but with the
priyates and the non commissioned Off
GERS the opposite conditions prevail ano
the young fellows who threw up positions
which at any rate enabled them to i've II
comfort and comparative ease, TO eniis
and work for sl5 80 per month and wors
hard at that, are now beginning to see th'
folly of their actions. In this case th'
question of patriotism was not, as man!
seemed TO think, paramount TO all else II
face OF the fact that the country was no
being invaded and that the l2o,VVD mel
called for by the executive was slch
small percentage OF the population, II wa
absolute fnolishnexs to give up, not ohi
cod uostions. but homes aud relative
as we'll as many Of those here have done
IN break into the service, There are thou
sands of able bodied men In this proa
. land 10 whom the amount paid privat'
ioqatber with clothing and rations, woui
no Godsend and but few OIL THIS Gas
|, are hound By any OF the ties which nav
hem ruthlessly torn asunder by many
the soldiers here
Another thing that Is becoming more an
more patent every day is the fact that ~
c.ntain a. the militia company at nom
ana the captain OF company of ua''e
states soldiers can be altogether d'nereh
- far AZ social relations are concerhc'
.r though he be the same man. This
, M, msaut to apply to all Of the Inc o.a
! cers a camp. but II Is = aepioIsys ~" "a
mar some OF tbs men eiectec ~ vi ~
B items Of captain or lisutenan. a,ss,s - wit
I their homes. have become 70