The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-05

transports is now OF almost ud4IS OO-
currence, sometimes one sometimes two
or three arriving in one week. Ihey
all bring troops and the Eighth Army
| Corps continues to grow in size, as Wen
as in grace and wisdom. Among other
bodies there have come to our hosplta-
Bile shore the terrible" Tennesseeans,
who have gained for themselves such
fear-inspiring regulations for valorous
deeds and desperate work accomplished
during their campaign in San Fran
cisco. Their reputation has preceded
them, and from all 1 hear 1 think it
is safe to promise them the warmest
kind Of a time as soon as they COM
| mence to spread themselves" There
are a few warm babies" in the regi-
ments already here who are more than
willing to constitute themselves a re-
ceptiOn committee and do all they can
to demonstrate how kindly they feel
toward the men from the South for the
manner in which the latter requited
Western hospitality.
Thanksgiving day proved a great
success. l did not see much Of it my
self, as 1 was ordered to the hospital,
but from all accounts things were
made to go with zip, boom, ah! Dur
ing the cooler hours Of the day there
were athletic games ashore, boat races
afloat and general come and have
something time everywhere. At about
3 o'clock in the afternoon our boys-or
at least those who were well enough to
do so-became the guests at dinner of
the Minnesotans. They were enter
tanned by their hosts company by com
pany in different restaurants of the
/ city. Every one had a first-class time.
ana when the hOmeWard journey COM
menced it would have been hard to de-
termine by the devious trail left behind
which was the field and staff" and
which the rank and file" As for the
Ilne well that was so crooked that
q man had to turn around before he
could tell the way it led. The Mime
sotans are good fellows, from a good
place, and the celebration was the nat
uraI outcome of the more than ordin-
arily good feeling that exists between
their regiment and our own
The honor of acknowledging this
honor done the Californians fell upon
Lieutenant Colonel Duboce, who is
known as Manila's 'silver-tOngued
Ajax" and CALAMITY did he acQuit him
self of the pleasant duty.
The sick in hospital had as good
| time as their condition would permit.
I -. L
dined there, partaking of an excellent
dinner provided by Dr.. Mccarthy. 1t
was spread under a tent, the gift of
Father McKinnon, and served on tables
loaded with delicacies from the hospita-
bic Red Cross storehouse, the doors of
which We're unlocked and thrown wide
open by ]. orc. Schlott
1t was curious and rather pathetic
sight to look along the rows of tables
laden TO the breaking point with every
obtalnable delicacy, and then glance
from the board TO the faces lining if
wan, sunken faces, upon which the pal
Tor of sickness had overcome the bronze
of the soldier: faces Wistful and tired
of expression, nghtened by eyes which
would kindle with a momentary flash
Of pleasure as they rested on the good
things provided, only to grow dim
again with the recollection Of that
home for the loss Of which these same
delicacies were offered in compensation.
However, the affair was a success,
Notwithstanding its environment.
Speeches were made by DR.. Mccarthy.
Father McKinnon, Mr.. Schlott and
others, who were, in turn, feebly cheer
ed by their guests. En- PEASANT,
would like to remark a peculiar charac-
teriStfc of the volunteer soldier He
cheers on all occasions and at all times.
on the slightest proYOcation or without
any proYOcation at all He cheers
/
he cheers when the news is bad; he
cheers at reveille; he cheers at retreat;
he cheers at mess call, and he cheers
to the very echo the speeches of his |
superiors, which are, as a rule on a
par with the food. Yes, the American |
volunteer soldier has a penchant for |
cheering, which is surpassed by moth |
ing I know of, unless 1t be the passion |
possessed by the volunteer officer to |
make poor speeches at every appropri- !
ate opportunity.
The rainy season is supposed - be |
over. but still it rains about three
fourths Of the time, which, though IN |
pleasant as it makes travelling |
and moving about out of doors |
is really a blessing in disguise, as it |
makes parades (the abomination of the |
enlisted NAM, an impossiblity. Con- |
sequently, the boys spend most OF their |
time within the shelter of their bar
floating down the line with a rapidity |
and diversity which would make ones |
head swim. Who gives them birth. |
whence they originate none can say.
They always have been. they are, and. |
as long as the army exists, they will |
continue to be.
The latest one which comes to me as
1 write is that we are soon to leave Ma
Mia for Honolulu to take the place Of
the New York regiment, which will
then De ordered here. OF course there
is not the slightest truth in this report.
but II it were so it would be an excel /
lent arrangement. The New Workers |
are very anxious to get here; the Cali |
fornia boys are crazy to get home or
as near there as possible Transports !
have to come and go. Why not make |
the change and make every one hapDy? |
We received the papers here recently |
and noticed therein a statement by one /
who, in diplomatic language, would be |
characterized as a certain exalted per |
sonage." Said parsonage affirmed, if /
he is correctly quoted, that the boys of |
the First California were anxious to
stay here as long as the Government |
desired their services. The boys are
anxious to do nothing of the kind. They |
want, almost TO a man, to get home |
just as soon as they can be taken there
Their work has been accomplished and
they object to being used as a stepping
stone to ambition, be that ambition
ever so worthy. Did all the CORE
spondents, whether professional or
otherwise, look through the ranks once
in a while instead of over them they
would NOT OOlv get 2 more correct idaa