The times., 1899-07-28
Otis, Idca of Christmas.

The attention of Mr. Mckinley is respect
fully called to the fact that several of the
facts which have lately come to light about
General Otis would not look well in a
history of the Philippine war. and that
such history. uncensored and complete.
is likely to be written, possibly before the
next campaign. OF such a naturo is the
story published a few days ago, TO the
effect that the general thinks bathing
effeminate, and on that account declined
on one memorable occasion to allow the
surgeon at his post to recommend bath
| tubs. A piece of news which now comes
from the Manila American" throws new
and not very flattering light on the char
acter of this general. ba
Last Christmas it occurred to some good
souls in and out of army lcircles in the
Philippines that it would be a fine idea
to give the soldiers in the hospitals a
home like Christmas dinner Whether the
| idea originated among the officers or the
civilians is not known. but some of the
officers took it up with yigor, and started a
subscription paper. and the business men
of Manila Joined cordially with their
ducats and their good wishes. Most of
these merchants had been strangers in
the Orient themselves at some time in the
past, and they remembered how they felt
during their first Christmas in that strange
and unhomelike region. 1t seemed to them
only sensible and thoughtful to make
things as pleasant as possible to the young
fellows who had left home to fight for
their country, and were now suffering
the manifold discomforts and pains of
Illness in semi-civilized tropical city, at
time when all good Christian men are
hidden to rejoice So they went down into
their pockets and brought out their check
books or specie and the subscription grew
apace. till there was three thousand dol
lars. and the committee was happy.
Then General Otis heard about it, and
he seemed to feel like the traditional wet
hen. Perhaps he was indignant because
he had not been asked to head the sub
scription list, and the fact that he had not
may indicate also why such request was
not made. At any rate, he was very angry,
and he began TO hop up and down and say
things. The committee in charge of the
proposed dinner demonstrated, but all in
vain. The general said that nothing OF
the kind would be permitted. As to what
should be done with the money, that was
the committees own affair, Finally the
committee concluded that nothing could
be done with general who was imperVious
both to reason and the ordinary feelings
of humanity, and they withdrew. They
finally concluded to tell the exact truth
about It. and returned to each contrib
utor to the Christmas dinner fund the
exact amount OF his contribution. with
circular saying that under orders from
the Military Governor they were obliged
TO abandon the project OF the dinner.
Then they thanked the people who had
given the money, and probably added, in
their hearts, private anathema for Cen
eral Otis.
On Christmas day the boys in hospitals
had the regular ratiOns and nothing else.
Undoubtedly they knew that if it had not
been for their commanding general they
would have had at least an imitation of
Christmas jollity. There seems to have
been no reason for this action on the part
of Otis, unless it was the bath-tub reason
that 1t would make the men effeminate.
But even prisoners in county Jail have
a chance to wash themselves. and they
are also provided with a little extra cheer
at Christmas time by good people who be-
lieve that on one day in the year human
nature should be allowed to exercise all
its generous and kindly impulses. Gen.
eral Otis would be out of place even as
warden OF penal institution. He is too
severe on his charges.