The times., 1898-08-16
SOME RELIC TALES.

The grandchildren of the VOLUNTEER SOL
diers of the Hispano- American war will
read the history of that struggle in rel
les now being collected by the volunteers.
Now shsss the brave fellows realize that
the army is soon to disband, and that
they will not much longer shoulder rifles
in company with thousands of kindred
souls from every State, they are stIiv-
ing to dilute their feelings by collecting
such force of mementoes and relics OF
their term of service as will serve to
make The past four months a never-to-
be-forSotten period of American his
tory. Not that that period will ever
pass from the recorders pages, but
but that family history may also gloat
and take pride in the period
So when Johnny goes marching home
he will carry with him sentiments from
his comrades. buttons from each regi-
ment cartridges. autographs. mascots
and even hats and belts.
1t was hardly surprising then that as
wounded artilleryman Iimped along
Pennsylvania Avenue yesterday morning
he was accosted by a big red-faced fell
low whose hat emblem showed him to
be a member of the Seventh Illinois Regi-
ment
"Ey, Doe! Wait minute"
The wounded one waited.
Come from the 'front.'"
yes"
..Where was you wounded?"
"El canev."
Got any buttons?"
mo"
WANT to swap hats?'
No"
"Give's a cartridge then
Got none here
''Weli, write yer name in me hat then"
The wounded one accepted the proffered
blue pencil with grin and carefully
inscribed his name battery, and date of
the fight in which he was wounded. on
the lower side of the big hat rim.
The Illinois soldier then re.aliated by
writing his name and command on a slip
OF paper for the benefit of his comrade
The two then repaired to a nearby dis
pensary where liquid refreshments might
be obtained. and in short time the
wounded one was fighting his battles o'er
| again and had been relieved of everything
except his clothing and cane to satisfy the
memento craving of other soldiers.
One OF the most interesting events of
the day among the Santiago GONZALES
cents at the arsenal yesterday was the
formal swapping of a rooster called
Jim. which. had spent several months
on the Texas. for a pup which returned
from Santiago with a member of the
Tenth Infantry The pup, OF course. re-
Joiced in the name of Dewey, and SEEM
ed proud of it,
No sane soldier who has escaped death
! at Santiago will venture upon the street
with any buttons on his blouse. Even
though he escape the boisterous fond
ling of the volunteer who Graves relics
he Will surely succumb to the dainty
pseadings of sweet-faced girls. who think
tha, he is just too dear and brave for
anything"
1t Is not an uncommon sight TO find
a soldier armed with very elaborate au-
tograph album. with which he halls every
que Uniform in sight. Some of these al
bums are very interesting. and contain
hundreds Of names of soldiers.
"A private in Company c.. Fourth Mis-
souri,, has already filed two good-sized
albums and Is now rapidly completing a
third. One of these. the first, contains
the autographs OF President MCKINLEY
Secretary Alger, Secretary Long. Senator
Hanna. and Col. Dick, besides those of
nearly half a hundred generals and colo
neis.
Many of those whose names are in the
second album have since been killed at
the front. Some of the sentiments and
caricatures are laughable and thoroughly
American.
Hardtack is also a very popular nstru-
ment upon which TO inscribe autographs
and sentiments. 1t is the soldiers visiting
and business card. and some of the boys
have whole boxes of them, each bearing
a different name and company.