The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-05-27


them have never been broken to drive. and
most of the drivers, 1t is needless to say, are
not experienced mule drivers, to say the
least IL Is one of the common sights to see
one of the rat tailed, rabbit-eared little
rascals trotting through the woods with
gait as near cat-like as anything else, and
looking as innocent as rag doll, but all the
time keeping at respectful distance from
the worried looking driver from whom he
escaped. It's simply impossible to treat them
as you would horse. however; you can
rein them all day and il they don't wish to
go that way you quckl learn that mule
isn't built that way. More than that in
spite of the age of the joke relative to a
mules kicking pIopensities it Is no joking
matter to get in too close proximity to his
heels. as at least one bruised face already
shows. Ii there is any other cheerful habit
peculiar to them 1t is the abrupt way in
which they will occasionally come to a
halt from a canter. on seeing some susp.
cious object in front of them. Then if, as l
saw yesterday, the rider is not on the alert,
he slides swiftly and gently over the slope
of those long ears, and when he collects his
senses he usually institutes the kind of
a mule hunt first above noted.
The camp of the 3lst is located in the
woods near Jays MILL" not far from the
north side Of the park, and is laid out in
very much the same style as 1t was in Camp
Eaton, Island Lake. There is one differ
ence, however, as each company has
street to itself, all fronting In the same
direction, east. Another difference is that
the ground is all clay and is very disagree
able during or Immediately after rain.
This applies only to the streets, however,
as the bitches dug about the tents keep the
water away from the tent floors. These
floors are reception halls, sitting room, din
ing room, bed and bedroom, all combined.
Straw is furnished to all who wish 1t to
cover the. ground under the tent, but
straw Is 80 easily mussed up and looks so
much like pig pen, anyway, that some of
us prefer bed, which is perhaps not quite
so soft but which is much cleaner, sweeter
smelling and, il replenished often enough,
just as easy to sleep on. Our tent Is carpet
ed with thick, green covering of small
evergreen boughs.
The woods surrounding the camp do not
look different from many northern woods in
July, though there are some pines and
grove, many evergreens mixed in with oaks
of all sizes, and other trees not very differ
ent from those of Michigan. The bottoms
| Of the brooks are almost solid rock in great
fiat lodges, while about the most conspicu-
Gus reminder that we are in warm eli
mae, at least so far as the vegetable world
is cul.rerned, is the little fiat leaved cactus,
/ which gluv We about the camp Animal life
is little biz scarce. have not seen a
squirrel since coming here, and but one or
two rabbits We don't OBJECT though at
fndiLs such tblngs as snakes equally scarce.
There is, however. little lizard which
looks ike cross between swift and
horned toad, which is perfectly harmless
and quite amusing at times.
Sunday we had divine services In the
open air under the giant oaks, and really
never was in place where the worship OF
the great Creator of all seemed more appro'
pirate. This was tabernacle of his own
building and seemed that much nearer tC
Him than one made by human beings. In
stead of pipe organ we had the regimenta
band to furnish music and to lead In the
singing, and the service was inspiring and
ennobling even to the toughest, for all are
brothers, and many man has much more
christianity in him than he is aware of.
The regiment Is still waiting for arms ant
other supplies, and in the mean time con
tinuing to drill in foot movements twice
day. The drills are not very severe, how
ever, and doubtless will not be until we ge
supplies and equipments. Everyone car
wait for arms, etc., but 1t is getting rather
monotonous to put up with the food that II
being given us. No one kicks on eatint
hard tack or drinking coffee which Is limo
be- an opinion that even when these TIVE
delicaces are supplemented by two square
inches of bacon same quality and passini
under same name as in the sixties-they d'
not furnish the most desirable and nourish
ing food for men who have to work. ant
work hard at times In the heat of this eli
mate. However, supplies have been hir
dered, suppose, by lack of transpor'auvI
facilities between here and Chattanooga
and we are in general kicking for appear
ance, and hoping that both quality ant
quantity will improve radically, ani that il
shor. order.
The darkies and ''pUur white trash" abou
here seem willing 10 profit Uy these condi
tions, and drive into camp with the mos
disreputable looking rigs to sell 'cohn
cakes, bread, sandwiches, and pies. Th
! FIRST are not so very different from northern
cooking, the corn cake resembling spong
cake, but the pies are terrors. They ar
something like a cross between turn-ove