West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1898-07-14

| they are always much better pleased
to receive "A cheerful encouraging letter
than pitiful discouraging one. Don't
, tell them how sorry you are that they
enlisted, IL Is too late now. Don't tell
them your troubles, they have troubles
of their own. Don't tell them about
the nice parties you are having at home.
they can't attend, and don't tell them
about the nice cakes and berries You
are going to have for your Sunday din
ner, they cant be there To help you eat
/ them. II you really do take an inter
est in them and want them TO be good
soldiers, tell them how glad you are
that they are enlisted In a good cause
write them something cheerful. some
! thing that will make them feel that
they are hghting for the cause OF
righteousness and something that will
make them feel like bracing up and
! pressing onward. Such letters viii
have tendency To keep them In good
spirits and In good health instead OF
making them home sick. The monot-
ony of camp life Is often broken by
amusing and sometimes ridiculous in
cidents and happenings For instance,
II is customary upon the approach of
an officer TO the guard house, for the
guards to cline up" and come to pre-
sent arms" and IL is the duty of the
sentinel on post No. l to notify the
rest of the guards by calling, turn
out the guard, officer Of the day APP
preaching" Upon one particular oc-
casion the sentinel yelled: Turn out
the guard. the main guy is comm"
On another occasion the corporal in
structed the guard To be on the alert.
and that the officer Of the day would
likely be around at such and such an
hour. Upon being later than expe ected
the sentinel saluted and said "See
here, officer the corporal told me you
was due here an hour ago, must re-
port you for being late
How ever we have the consolation OF
saying that the jokes are not alwavs
at the expense OF the privates, as you
will see by the following. Dress
parade, which we have every evening
and which Is simply review OF the
regiment, Is often the cause of loud
applause from the spectators. provid-
ing the exercises are satisfactory
On one particular occasion when we
had some special visitors we of course
all tried to do our best.
The Colonel sat little straiehtsr
than usual and gave the commands
with little more vigor than usual and
at :he conclusion OF the "manuai Of
arms" we of course received s'Ioud
applause"
From some cause the Col could not
bring his horse on dress parade. so
stupid ~ mule was used as substi.
tute. The donkey seemed TO be very
we'll coHtented until the cheering be
gan In his rear, but you can imagine
how ridiculous IL looked then WHEN
tho old fellow pricked up his ears and
ran of with the Colonel SnSdued
laughter could be heard going down
the lines, but the boys had too much
respect fOr their Col. and we're becon-
ing too much accustomed to discipliue
20 make much noise in ranks. and
when he finally got his steed under
control he rode back slowly aud took
his position IN front Of the regiment az
IL nothing had happened. While this
is ono OF the comicai Incidents OF these
exercises there are also some solemn
aud inrpiring lessons to be learned.
After the whole regiment is lined M
and the band has marched up and
down the lines once TO some inspiring
air. retreat is then sounded aud the
band then peals forth an other air
Listen IL "a the Star spangled Ban
uer' Every spectator as if moved bv
the same Impulse. removes his hat and
stands with bowed head iu respect 10
"Old Glory" II any one ever loved
this pioce 81 music he is bound TO llateu
and enjoy 10 on this occasion.
You see the stars and stripes fvip0 I
In the breeze and while the very words |
are rolling from the Instruments in the /
band. YOU see solid lines of blue on an /
sides Of the flag, as II nothing on earth |
could harm it
The bows from the northern states 4
seem ~ stand the climate Aplendidfv I
and the health of the camp is excefIeni /
The weather is pretty hot during the
day, but at night 10 is just cool enough 4
90 cause as 20 sleep well and "a "a thcn +
and then only that everything Is 40 /
quiet that nothing can be heard bnt
the hoarse voice Of .bo sentinel. IA he 4
calls out, O'Clock and all "a well - - \
when ne challenges some one who, NAV 4
chance to stray too near his beat
But no more FOR the prosont
Very trpig
Gro n. Bsowx