The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-29

One aspect of the present war has been
rather slightly touched on by writer's and
critics, and that is It's effect on the thou
sands OF women belonging to the families
OF army officers. Whether or not their
husbands and fathers are actually called
upon the field. the regimental changes Of
the last two months have meant a COM
piete upsett.ng of hundreds of households,
ana to the uncertainty as 10 the future of
the men Of the family has been added the
great discomfort OF family move Great
Western posts like Fort Riley and Fort
Leavenworth are like deserted towns, and
no one can visit them now without a feel
ing OF sadness at the thought of troops.
many of whom will never return TO their
old stations. Never, OF course. since the
clVil war has there been such an upheavaI,
and out of the changes have ARISEN some
very pathetic instances of the breaking Of
family ties.
Abnormal Sense of Duty.
There, for example. Is my friend Grace
Howitzer, whose husband, Capt. Howitzer,
Is one OF the few army men possessing an
abnormal sense Of duty. When his regi-
ment was In California he always went
exactly where he was sent without max
ing the least protest. All army officials
are, OF course, expected to do this. but as
matter Of fact there are many ways OF
departing from the spirit Of the law with
out breaking the letter. An officer, for
example. who makes himself indis;,ensa bic
to tina colonel OF his regiment. is seldom
sent away from headquarters, especially II
his wife has those social charms which
contribute 10 the gayety OF garrison life.
The HowitZers arc agreeable and cu.ti-
waited people. but Grace Howitzer has al
ways been rather absorbed by the care Of
a large family. ana Capt Howitzer pays
more attention to drilling his men in gun
merry and tactics than TO the club and So
cal SIDE OF army life. Consequently when
= remote and uncomfortable one-compsnv
posi- has had 10 be garriSoned, he has usu-
ally been sent 10 command
Grace Rowttxer'S su0eriu.x
Grace Hovitzer can Tell Won. therefors.
many thrilling tales OF her safTe-ings a1 n
little post On the Columbia river a. Sltka
On the days when Alaska was gar-lsoned),
and az other Western posts. when tina
favored few CT the regiment were ENJOYING
the gayety OF San Francisco and the Pre-
side. The Howsizers after the regiment
went east were also stationed at incon-
venient posts. where X WIS usually Diff
CUT TO get servants, and 70 give the chill
dren proper school advantages. To rnaks
d long story short. they were delighted this
winter TO receive Il detail to a large head
quarters" post, near enough TO city 10
give the children just what they needed in
the way % schools, II was special detail
which took Capt. Howftzer 70 this post
ard IN the natural course Of events his
tour would have lasted four years II.
was therefore. justified In spending a H,tIs
more money than ne could easily afford n
hitting IN the house 50 that for orca IN har
LIE Grace m ght have an abode that
would compare favoTabiy with the holises
cf her 4~.enGs n elvil he. Everything
was In peTfec, order. They had JUST sen.
ouE Invitations fer thsIr first formal din
ners when The var orders came ont, Capt.
HowE;zer's battery was ore Of thss first 10
be oscsred &outh although the whole regi-
Mscs u course. was 5000 a Motion with