The age-herald., 1898-06-04
WHY CITE EMS
 TURN SOLDIERS.

Mobile. June 3.-Why does a young man, with a good position. with home. loved ones and perhaps sweetheart forsake all thid for the hard life of a soldier? A sense of duty, a patriotic spirit one would say In some instances this may be true, but in very few cases is it altogether fact There are many motives. the really actuating ones, which only are revealed in the soldiers calm hours, when he sits and chats with his mess mates.
 "Why did become a soldier, because wanted to begin life anew?" was the re- mark of a young man who was corporal of the guard in the first Alabama only few days ago.
 "I am one of the fellows who began life in the wronfi way he continued gro be sure l felt it my duty, yet I cannot say that this was altogether my motive. A soldiers life is hard. The strict discip- line, the early hours, the reliance upon mans honor keep him from wild compan- ions. Drinking to excess Is an impossibii- ty. The life Is healthful. A man who is on the verge of physical wreck can come out of the army strong man. My past
  pect to serve my country and should I be fortunate enough to escfape the Span- ish bullets I will drive down peg and call it tho first mile post in life."
 The young man is bright, his brilliant intellect dmmed by dissipation. He is a jovial companion, with a heart that flows with the milk of kindness. There are those af Iol x.,t1T Co. md join him in his desire to face the world a new man.
 Then there is the natural Bohemian. A man who has travelled the world over, has jumped into every new adventure and yearns for more. There are number of these fellows in the First Alabama. They are the prince of story-tellers, the life of the camp. Always with a kind word for the down-hearted. they are popular with their comrades. These fellows, as rule, know something of military life. They know what t9 expect and they take it as 1t comes.
 q wouldn't let a chance like this go by" remarked one to me. 'I never fail to grasp an opportunity to learn something of new phase of life"
 The First regiment Bohemians are from every cline There is the Irishman with his flow of wit, the Dutchman who is equally as generous with his fun,' the Engishman and the Italian. The officers say they are making good soldiers.
 Many leading spirits in the regiment have before had al taste of military life, and this is one of the motives which has forced them to thd front.
 "I don't claim that sense of duty was my reason for soldering said young fellow who had attended a college with the military feature for a short while. "Once get a smatering and there is a fascination about it.'1 he continued. 'I believe that with more military schools we would have more soldiers and better equipped fob war"
 This would seem to strengthen the argu- ment which has often been advanced during latter years for more schooled sol diers. Many plans have been suggested by which to accomplish this result, but none shave beenl put into effect.
 There are a few men who join the vol unteer regiments from the fact that they believe when the Hispano-American war is over the standing army will be increased and that there will then be chance for promotion and good pay Many high ent crisis will teach the government to keep intact a larger fighting force.
 SEWELL HAGGARD.