Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1898-10-21

A"Ooy L N0A WV w S-AA~o AAe5"'o
for this division. which comprises
the majority of the troops here.
The largest percentage OF sickness In
any Organization Of either Of the two
briga des in the division IL 10 per cent
This percentage exists III the 23rd U.
5. Infantry, belonging to the First
brigade. and in the 10th Penn
sylvania Infantry U. S. Vols, be-
longing to the Second brigade. The
smallest percentage Uf sickness Ia
* per cent. or to be accurate, s per
cent, and I am happy to say that 1t
is the First North Dakota Infantry
u. =. Vols. which has this record.
The average percentage for the ell
tire division Is about Z percent. or Il
trifle less. This proportion Of sick IL
small indeed, when you consider
that many Of the men 1.-THE majority.
/ think) are compelled to sleep IN
the floor, a dangerous thing in this
country. Cots are being provided IA
rapidly as possible and the troops
are to he congratulated upon hav-
ing such able and considerate men in
command as General Merritt, Major
General Macarthur, who commands
this division and in whose head
quarters I find my daily employ
ment; and others whom l might
mention. OF about 1900 men in the
Second division. about $50 are sick.
1t is hard to unde: stand why
troops which came from the southern
part of tho United States; such az
the 23rd Infantry. which has been
stationed in Texas for several years,
should have greater proportion
sick, in these latitudes. than North
ern regiments; such as North Dako-
ia, with less than 2 per cent sick, and
Minnesota with~tliree and hall
percent sick, when all are living un-
der practically the same circum-
stances, what little difference there
Ia, if any, being in favor of the reg
ulars. 1t certaiuly speaks well for
the Northern Volunteers. when
regulars. supposed to be- Injured to a
hot climate have more sickness in
their ranks than the boys from the
land OF billiards. and forty below
zero winters.
We are living in sort of suspense
these days. wondering what is the
state of affairs in Porto Rico: how
peace negotiations are progressing;
whether our government will hold
the Philippines permanently or not;
and last. but not least, how long we
will be here. For my part, the eli
mate agrees with me, my work Ia
pleasant, and my quarters fine, 80 I
am quite contented compared to
most of the boys. II government
keeps the Islands, conditions here
will improve 40 rapidly that young
man can we'll afford to remain here
and take advantage Of some OF the
fine business opportunities which
will undoubtedly present themselves;
even at the sacrifice Of some personal
enjoyment, and the loss, in great
measure, of social pleasure. To be
sure the climate is farinferiOr to that
Of the Hawaiian Islands, which are
a veritable paradise; and the great
distance from home is also an objec-
ton. But in many Individual cases
these objections do not apply.
The natives ale IN inferior race,
belonging originally to the Malay
family but now mixed with Chinese
and Spanish to such a degree that
they have, in large measure. lost
their race characteristics. Their
mode of life, their implements and
utensils are all extremely primitive.
Interested as have been for sever
al years past in college athletics, l
look at the physical side OF the peo-
ples see away from home. and am
sorry to say that among the Filipi'
nos, I find no fine physiques. The
men are small and show no marked
decree OF muscular development, al
though they are active and industri-
GUS. The Kanakas Of Hawaii arefar
more athletic, as are even the Chinese
coolies, who live here in great num-
hers. These tropical climates where
men wear a large hat and a pair Of
very short trousers. are an easy
place to Judge ofphysical capabilities
and development.
The women are small and
terrifically homelv; the boys are
very puny; and the girls are far
from looking like the picture OF
"A Typical Philippine Girl In her
Best Dress'' In the June number Of
McClure's Magazine. They look a
great deal more like the "Specimens