Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-09-12

on his official envelopes. His object
was to save him writing that word SO
often in addressing his pension en-
velopes, but in his request he did not
consider it necessary to state the rea-
son. After some delay the department
granted 1t, but asked him to explain
why he wanted his envelopes printed
in that way. Il visited the camp hos
pital at Augusta, the other day." ne
added. There was great rejoicing In
the hospital that day. for they had
just received from Washington per-
nit to send their dirty linen to the
laundry Referring to the criticism
OF the food and treatment of the vol
unteers. General Connor said these
complaints have done much to dim the
lustre or our arms. No doubt there
had been blunders; 1t could hardly be
expected that there would be no blum
ders in hasty preparation for war.
In regard to the sickness of the men.
he thought the men themselves We're in
part to blame. Every two returned
soldiers with whom you talk tell dis-
ferent stories. One complains about
the bacon, another about the bread,
and another about something else.
Another says they had good bread, but
his complaint was because no butter
was served with the rations. From
one source has come the statement
that the Maine regiment had not suffi-
Gent appliances for properly policing
the camp, but this is denied by an off,
GER with whom General Conner talked.
In his opinion, much OF the sickness
was due to the fact that the troops af-
fected by the depressing heat, had so
much time to leaf. and think of home,
and were without the stimulus of
prospect of getting into action or doing
something. He regretted that there
had been so much suffering. but said it
was all incident to war. and the boys
who endured hardships and privations
on this side of the Atlantic are entitled
to their full share Of praise and credit
in the victories of the last few weeks.
As to the question of what to do with
these possessions acquired by the war
with Spain. General Conner advocated
holding on TO them all. and doing the
best we can with them.
Waterville Mail: They may be mis-
taken in their view of the matter but
most of the returning soldiers Of the
lst Maine declare that it was mis-
guided effort on the part of some Of
the churches and temperance people OF
the State when they insisted that the
authorities should do away with the
roo o. ;ol,
They will allow that the contention of
those who were offended by the can
teen would have been justified had the
soldiers had an opportunity to secure
reasonably pure and wholesome drink
ing water. This they could not do and
what they could get had worse effect
upon them than the beer had, for, in
deed, according to all reports no i'll
effects whatever were seen as the re-
suit of the beer drinking except in, the
case of the few who INDUCED immod-
erately after a habit formed years be-
fore they entered the service Many Of
the young men of the regiment, who
had no inclination to swig beer before
they entered the service and do not
propose to follow the beer-drinking
habit now they are home. are sure that
for the time being the beer was good
makeshift in substitution for water
poor a the best and before the army
had been in camp long thoroughly
laden with germs of disease.
1t Is reported from all parts of the
State this year that birds of all
kinds are unusually plenty, and one
Lewiston naturalist ascribes this to
the fact that we had no bad storms
during the nesting season. A high
wind with heavy rain in June will de-
stroy thousands of eggs by sweeping
the nests out of the trees. There are
none too many birds. however, even
this year. May they all return next
spring and each bring keen appetite
for caterpillars and bugs of all kinds.
A Portland child who read the other
day that when Columbus landed in
America the first thing he did was to
plant the Spanish flag, remarked that
it didn't prove to be good crop.
Bar Harbor will have casino. That
at last seems settled. The summer
people have taken hold of the matter
in earnest now, and that means that
the casino will be built. The casino
association will be Incorporated with
capital stock Of $15O.0OO. A refusal Of
the Grand Central property has been
obtained. 1t is proposed to lay the
grounds out in tennis courts, drives,
and extensive flower beds Tho hu;ld
ings will contain shops, concert hail.
salt water baths and a restaurant
comprising a complete establishment
for the comfort and entertainment Of
guests.
AT Dark Harbor, Islesboro, is a small
inclosed harbor that is shut out from
the bay by a dam. This inclosed
harbor is of an extent of possibly so
acres and is usually kept full Of water
regardless OF tides. Last week, a great
school of small herring came in on the