The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-20
MECHANICS FOR VOLUNTEERS.
The Soldier Lads Have Rcchristened
one Another i'm Camp.

Camp life among those OF the volun-
teers who have not had the good fortune
To be sent To the front has resulted in
the practical remaining Of almost every
man in every company. The intimacy
Of the daily routine brings every lido
syncracy into strong relief, and the la-
bell5ng nickname follows Immediately
upon the perception of character. few
hours spent among the boys Will supply
IL close observer with complete index
10 the personnel of company. A
shrewg officer is glad TO learn what
name a man passes under with MS iei-
lows. tor the nickname Of the camp
have descriptive potency which often
throws useful light upon disposition ana
behaviour.
A reporter recently visited a Long Is
land station in search ol volunteer
friend. The name appeared 10 be un-
known.
Private Brown? Private Brown?
Doesn't belong here, guess. What sort
Of a fellow Is he2
Description followed, personal and bio
graphical
ION. YOU mean Daredevil Dick, 1 guess.
CAL up Dare devil Dick one of YOU"
Daredevil Dick appeared, ana he was
the man wanted. In days of peace, II
is true, be would not have suggested any
such terrible ideas as his camp indlcdl-
ed but on observation 10 was Impossible
10 ignore the fitness VI his title. WIN
thoughts of war and the educating eA-
perleuce of the soldiers lie De had de-
VelOped q latent reckiessuess OF hohcna-
lance OF manner. lie had been dliudent,
studiOus, reserved; now bee wore an the
air OF a traditional Western cowboy,
b.
anything resoute TO take life aud men
and thipr- is they inlght come and make
the best OF them. The nickname hlted
him Ike a glove. on question he al
mittod that he liked II.
1T was good naturedly given, and II
Is Il constant stimulus. DareceNhiry, as
they mean ii, is a good thing to help
fellow on In life. 1 guess l won cndnse
it."
But your name isn't Dick
"Oh, that doesn't matter Some Fellow
dug the name out OF a book. l believe,
and il seemed TO MT me down mere, 50
everybody took II up. They like the alli-
teratlon. There's Handsome Hhry now.
Nobody knows whether his name Is
Harry or not, and nobody cares. But,
YOU see he thinks no end Of himself.
IL always polishing up his buttons and
setting his hat at different angles 10 see
which suits him best. He carries 1T
tie mirror about with him and arFanges
his curls every few minutes and twists
I'D his mustache and ficks the dust OF
his shoes Altogether they see that he
thinks ne looks nice as he does by the
way-so they give him the name. But
he likes It. all right; and 1 dare say he'd
fight like the 1eyil in spite Of his vanity
Most OF the fellows got names Ike thatY
Why. yes; all Of them,I guess good
many Of them mean much the same sort
OF thing. There's Swaggers,' for exam
pie. a BIT OF a boaster; a little too much
stuck on himself And Lady Killer
that explains Itself. especially n you al
low q little for irony. Then We have
Fire Eater. a good sort OF chap. and in
deadly earnest, TOO; lost "A friend on
the Maine and goes about remembering
IL al the time end vonwing vengeance;
that's how he earned his name.
some other examples? We'll, we have
most OF the ordinary school names or
course-'Carrots. Ginger and that SORT
~ thing Names OF courtries- too sven
our list. We have irish Nike. for ex-
ample. and THE Bold Itaiisno, address
ed as Italiano' simply. There's ler-
rible Turk. but he thinks lot OF his
wrestling. AID we have 'Frenchy.' a