The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-06-10
Story of a Day in Camp,

II was a dark, gray morning. The only
| evidence to the sentries that day was
breaking was a faint lighting of the sky
| in the east. The blackness of the night
seemed to become visible. That was
| all.
! A little group Of shivering soldiers wait
ed on the hilltop for the gun which should
announce the birth of a new day. In
their hands they held the halyards OF the
! flag which. on the signal. they were to
| hoist aloft. 1t was cold, miserably cold
! waiting there in the drizzly mist. No
| hope of glorious sunrise. Day after day
the little group had watched and shivered.
and had finally unfurled the Stars and
Stripes to the merciless drenching OF a
pelting rain. The sun god frowned on
the camp ground, veiled his face and
wept bitterly.
Never mind, Bill. It's a soft snap to
what we'd have if we were at the front"
said kindly disposed soldier to a COM
rade who seemed on the verge of col
lapse.
But 1t would be action replied the
miserable one. IT'S this waiting, wait
ing in the cold the wet and the I'M
certainty that takes the heart out Of
man. Sometimes I'd like to yen and
knock my head against the ground just
from nervous inaction. 1t isn't lack of
patriotism. Joe, it's just a little tempo
rary chill to the patriotic ardor, THAT'S
ALL"
Come, brace UP. man! The captainll
give you drill enough to warm up your
blood and chase the blue devils away
Hes a raw recruit" conlidej the sym
pathetic Bill to a soldier who seemed in
clined to jeer at the woes Of the disheart-
ened one. It's a bit rough on a tender
foo. but he's got the riga stuff in him.
A sup of hot coffee and stcetH of good,
blessed sunshine will make a fighting cock
of him"
Hark! The sunrise gunl A word of
command, and IN an instant Old Glory
is f1uttering in the keen morning. A faint
tinge of pink colors the easter sky. In the
west the crests of the hills flush visibly
red A clear day at last! The soldiers
relax discipline enough to cheer the rising
sun and then hurry away as the reveille
sounds. The comforting rays of the warm
sunsine bring the spirits of the men up 10
an astonishing degree. After breakfast
and just before drill the order comes to
air the tents. Everything is done with
military precision. At a given signal the
flaps of the tents are raised, and the warm
wind sweeps through the lines. drying
and sweetening all the damp interiors. 1t
has rained for many days and the tents
are streaming like miniature Turkish
baths. All the bedding is brought out to
the sunlight and the straw is tossed about
and freshened up. The men rather enjoy
this work Jokes are passed, pipes are
lighted and contentment reigns supreme. |
Sunshine makes a lot of difference, in |
camp even more than elsewhere. This is
the time when the soldiers unpack their |
knapsacks and Etraighten up their be- |
longings. Clothes not in use constantly |
are full of creases, but, fortunately, the |
men are not bothered with extensive ward |
robes. AS the day is fine, visits from fem |
mime friends may be expected later on,
so much preening and polishing of accou- |
trements is INDUCED in. Amateur barber |
ing is feature of this hour. 1t is a COM
mon sight to see a man seated outside |
his tent with his face covered with lather |
and a friend Ibrandishing the razor over
his chin. When the dangerous opera
ton is completed the men change about
and the barber confidingly places himself
in the hands of his friend, who performs
the same office for him. Not much time
S given for personal adornment, howev-
ar, as guard duty, drill and the regular
routine of the day must be attended to.
Bevies of butterfly girls flutter down to
the camp for a days outing. They look
upon the whole affair as a perpetual pic
nc arranged by a kind and thoughtful
government in order to give the men a lit
lie vacation. These girls are much inter-
ested in all the daily life of a camp and
hink the little tents perfectly delight
'ul."