New-York tribune., 1899-07-16

the shop on their clothes and men whose coats
are OF the shabby genteel kind. and while the
great majority Of the men are of the working
oaSs there are frequent exceptions whose de-
DeSlor and general appearance show that they
are men OF education and refinement"
once past the outer Office the aspirant for
martial glory is sent to a small room. where he
IS TOLD TO strip, and then. clothed in his com
pieNon' ne takes his place with nine others in
the examination room where in the presence Of
Major Whitney each man is measured and thor
otshly examined by a physician When all ex-
amlnaIons have been made. about 40 per cent
O. The original applicants are left: the others
nave Oeon thrown out for physical or other
causes Then the volunteer receives the
C4c'hts which he wore when he came into the
once and the new Regular Army man is taken
10 the dressing room from which he energies clad
III Uncle Sans blue In the outer Office in the
examination room and in the day room where
the men lounge and chat and smoke while they
wait their turn TO be examined they were on
an equal footing. Il mattered little if they were
poor or rich, black white. city bred or from
me country-they were all alike. But once the
papers have been completed and the men have
been assigned to the volunteer or to the Regu-
iar service. the Regular man is. or feels him
self 10 be, the aristocrat
upon and the papers made out the men are
drawn Up before the chief recruiting officer and
sworn into the service and the final step which
takes Them from civil 70 military life has been
taken
The Regulars are then sent to Fort Slocum
where they remain until they are sent by rail
or transported to The Pacific Coast The volun-
teers are also sent away on the day Of enlist
ment 70 Camp Meade, near Harrisburg
one Of the peculiar features Of the system is
that the men placed on their honor from
the start They are allowed 70 go and come at
vii and are often sent away without guard or
escort one man in the squad is selected to
command IT. AMI he invariably lands his little
band at the point Of destination complete and
IL good order
In the course Cf my service IN the recruiting
efice" said Major Whitney 1 have forwarded
more than 10000 men and know Of only two
desertions"
There rs a class still higher than the Regular
Army recruit. made up of men whose time has
expired and who come 10 the recruiting stations
IT. uniform To re-erlist. These men a. class
ask 10 bc sent o. their old regiments. where
they have friends and their request is invari-
ably complied with. They are the men TO whom
the new soldiers So for points and information
and from them some of the new soldiers
ca.n their first correct idea Of the duties which
they VII be expected TO perform. When the
Regular soldier erlists within three months
from the date Of his discharge be- receives al
increase Of pay for The fourth and fifth years
of service.
Why DO YOU want 10 Join the army a Wis
itor 20 the recruiting office asked TOW headed
young fellow who sat alone in the corner OF
the day room waiting To be sworn in.
I'm sick Of the country" h. said. and want
70 see something Of the world. III see blame
good lot Of i If go 70 the Philippines and il
! get through al right I'll be willing TO settle
down"
He was a mere boy in looks and a type Of ad-
venturous youth. and even in the country made
clothes which he wore he looked like one who
would obey an order and ask no questions
Next TO him on cot of thirty lounged
and held in his grimy hands newspaper which
b. did not read.
What takes you into the Army" he was
asked
well what 4lsa was there 10 DO? 80 job 10
money. no frenIs Here's Sl3 month for
couple of years and maybe thiEgsu turn then
A man who sat apart from the other accepted
men and stared straight ahead out Of the win
dow. whose White hands and clean linen showed
that he did not Ielong to the laboring class
made 10 answer when he was asked why b. en-
listed. h looked around smiled and walked
ay. saying plainly without using words that
his enlistment was d matter which he would
Tot discuss
Every dav brings new faces 10 the recruiting
station and eve~y evening men are sent from
there to Army posts: bur there are other recruit
sl.-t+. . hi