The representative., 1899-11-30

ed States transport City of Puebla was three
days out from Honolulu, on her voyage to
Manila. She carried $50 recruits for Uncle
Sans regulars in the Philippines OF these
about 400 were new men. some 200 saw SER
vice in the volunteers year ago, and prob
ably SO were old time regulars. The men
were scattered about the decks In all sorts
of lOunging attitudes. The monotony Of
the voyage was beginning to tell ON the
new men, most of whom could be identified
Dy their restlessneas, q growing disposition
to grumbfe at trifies, and tendency toward
slovenliness In dress and lack Of personal
cleanliness On the other hand, the ex-
volunteers kept themselves FAIRLY tidy, and
were the most cheerful element on board.
A class apart and distinct from both the
new recruits and the ex-volunteers was made
up OF the 40 or 50 old soldiers on board.
They were scattered here and there in pairs
or groups OF three or four. As rule. they
had as little to say as 80 many deaf-mutes.
They were cheerfully Indifferent to all that
was going on about them, and always busy
IN q lazy, ve-got-three- years rs-tO-dO-it-in
as result of all this listless and appar-
emily aimless industry these old soldiers,
rough and tough in appearance, and wear
Ing uniforms that had seen better days,
were the cleanest and most spick and span
men aboard the transport. Seated COM
fortably on the forecastle deck, with his
back against the capstan Private Sevenspot,
OF the 'Steenth infantry. carefully minis
tered occasion doses OF much needed advice
to an ex-volunteer, for whom he had formed
liking.
Jack. me Bye said Sevenspot most
av tn min pwhat get In throuble on the
army trip thimsilves over their own tongues
Shure lad In tn army tits wise at tn first
to put up with few discomforts without
grumblfng. Jist bide your time until ye
mate with gross injustice an thin kick
nar-rd and win. Do thot same q few
times, an yelll have established a repu-
tashun as maxim nothing but cinch kicks
An whin yes done that, we've made your
bed aisy in tn army.
Did ye happin' to notice that we had rice
and apple sauce for dinner tn day. instead
av tn stale slum pwhat tn min have been
THROWN to tn fishes tn week back? Av
coorse, ye did. But ye don't know the in
stigation av tn change. shure twas at in
spectlon this morning You know Henrick-
sen. the old Dane, who will retoire with 30
years to his credit av he lives till spring.
When tn captain comes to him he stops and
lucks ah the new uniform he was wearin',
an says he, a cockin' his head sidewise,
comical-like. says he:
Pwhere did We draw that burlap bag av
a blouse?'
AT tn Preside, SIR says Hendricksen.
An pwny, says tn captain, did a tooth
pick loike you draw blouse that was made
for Grover Cleveland?'
'Avth' captain plaise,' said Hendricksen,
doin' tn military to perfection. thot same
blouse were too small for me when 1 KEN
aboard this transport
:" 'Shure' said tn captain, they must have
been overfeedin' We at tn Presidio.'
:" Or underfeedin' me- said Hendricksen,
'on tn transport
"An at that rook laughed an were sent
stef tn guardhouse, an says tn captain to
sHendricksen:
e' is it tn breast av partridge an wine
jelly yere expectin' on q troopship?'
I Ea IN
ice chest av dark noight yis. said Hen
dricksen, but lackin' thot, there do be rice
an corn meal an dried apples an prunes
an salt cod an baconin tn hold av th' ship,
sir
"An' ave We noticed they throwed tn stale
beef to the sharks tn mornin'. An thot |
do be good exemaple av tn kick courteous
pwhat will win in tn army"
Just as Sevenspot completed his homily, a
youth in brand new uniform, with a ser
geant's chevrons on his blouse sleeves,
stepped up. and, holding out an empty Gig
aret paper, asked for a pinch of tobacco.
Sevenspot continued to rub away on his !
pipe bowl and hummed significantly:
Hang to your money and always save your |
rocks
And you'll always have tobocca in your old |
tobacco box.
The young soldier blushed to the roots Of |
his hair and then made the mistake of get !
ting angry.
.'All right" he exclaimed hotly, "I'll show
you that there's such a thing as fatigue |
detail on this ship
"Pwhat's thot?" said Sevenspot. sudden
ly losing interest in his pipe bowl and |
glaring up at the young fellow. 'Pwhats |
thot? You will detail me for fatigue duty? |
An as a punishment for refusin' to supply t
you with tobacco? 'Tis luck, lad, thot me !
timper do be mild an me head gray in
tn service or tick buck private in Co. Q |
and on prisoners fatigue you'd be before |
Dvxyhn ont nh
rons? Draw thin at tn quartemaster's de-
partment? Sure any man who can sign q
clothin' schedule can get them there. TIL
lasht time l drew them they were 18 cints
to tn yard. Do they still cost tn same.
Av you have rale warrant, phwy don't
you spend tn extra pay for tobac? Shure, !
l do be thinkin' that ye're but wan of these i
casual CONS pwhat me friend Sergeant Fla !
herty were tellin' me about at tn Pre-
sidio.
"Sevenspot" said he, II am glad to see
you. Come an have drink Shure, I
am on tn shady side aisy strate, an
I'm not forgettin' the noombei: I'm top
sergeant av tn casual compiny pwhere
they do be sendin' all tn new roobs. Say,
tits rale coffee-warmn'. I'm maxim lance
non-coms, two score wake. An tn tar
iH do be $3.50 for corporils and IS for SER
geants. There were 243 answered roll call
tn mornin' and but 81 were private. Have
another drink"
Uye, COutluUcu OeNeuSQOC, 0lVor
let a little white ribbon puff ye up. They
kape special pair av shears In iverry regi-
ment to rip tn stripes OF Flaherty's non
CONS. When I have no money for tobac-
co 1 chew me cud an whin I've no money
for beer I run an account with tn garri-
son poomp. For tits q mans own way
wardness pwhat breaks him in tn army
an he's no right to punish his comrades
for it."
Contented with this rebuke Sevenspot re-
sumed work on his pipe and the young SER
geant slipped away without word. A mo-
ment later another recruit stopped and ask
ed Sevenspot's ex-volunteer for a match to
light his pipe. Sevenspot's example had
not been lost upon the ex-volunteer and he
was prompt to follow It,
"Do l look like cigar-lighter?" he ask
ed. Save your money and buy matches.
II you haven't got a match get q light from
your rifle
"How in thunder am 1 to do that ?" asked
the recruit.
That's dead easy" said the ex voIunteer
stick cartridge in your
rine, put your pipe close to the muxzle.
pull the lever width your foot and puff like
4 locomotive. The fash will light vour
pipe. That's the way we did in Cuba
last year."
The recruit stared open mouthed for a
moment and then started down toward the
zunracks.
"Niver give a, recruit advice" said Sew
snspot; good or bad, it makes no< dif-
ference. Whichever 1t IL. he'll get in
rubble, and blame ye for it. Pwhat II
hat rOok swallows thOt, loads with ball