The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-21
snecial 10 the Scranton Tribune.

Special to the Scranton Tribune.
Camp Mackenzie, Augusta. Ga, Jan.
2O-The soldiers life, to put the mat
ter plainly, and to strip it of the
glamour of war and the halo with
which the fertile imaginations of poets
and orators usually surround it, is one
of dependent routine. The ideas which
those at home entertain of war and of
soldering are as far distant from the
reality as night is from day. With
them it is leaving home with stream
ing banners, amid the encouraging APP
plause of a multitude of friends and
well-wishers n glorious march, the
rattle OF drums, the crash of myriad
rifles, the exultant boom of the cam
non, the clash of sabres, the paean OF
victory, and the triumphant return TO
the scenes and the faces most beloved
Of all.
This is poetry-but it is neither war
nor soldering, for the dark shadows
are not there; it is unreal, because the
hours and the days of hunger and of
thirst, the periods of trial and of
temptations, of chilling cold and of
parching heat, the rigid discipline, the
stern, eXacting attention to duty under
even the most distressing circum-
stances, the perpetual routine which
deadens ambition, and, in only too
many cases. dries up the very foun-
tains of morality and leave the heart
and the mind barren-these are the
conditions to sustain which requires the
highest, purest quality of patriotism
and of morality.
GOOD THAT IT WAS DONE.
It is just exactly to meet the neces-
stiles of this situation that, happily,
religious services in the broadest sense
of the term, are held occasionally and
Young Mems Christian association
tents are made a practically perma-
nent part of camp life. Though, in his
capacity of reporter Of the daily doings
of the regiment for several months,
your correspondent has had ample OPP
portunity of observing and appreciat-
ing the good work which has been done
among the members of the Thirteenth
by the Y. NJ. C. A. tent, which has
been closely associated with us ever
since we came into the service of the
United States, still it would be impos-
sible to calculate, or to give an ade-
quate idea of, the good which has been,
this organization, or to enumerate the
beneficial results which flow so liber-
ally and so constantly from it. No life
affords a greater opportunity for help
ing our fellow-men, for developing true
patience and friendship. and for bring
ing out in boldest relief either what is
good. or what is bad, in a man, than
that of a soldier; and in these respects
the Y. NJ. c. A. is undoubtedly casting
all its influence on the right side.
The scope of the work which has
been mapped out by the army branch
of the Y. NJ. G. A., and which it en-.
deavors to fully accomplish, is unlim-
tied, but still it has not hesitated tc
accept this great opportunity for doine
good. There is scarcely a parent whC
has a son in the Thirteenth regiment
who does not owe this organization q
moral debt which can never be repaid
in its entirety. The Y. NJ. C. A. tent
even from the mere standpoint of con
venience and physical comfort, ha:
been a decided blessing to the boys
From the beginning it's doors have beer
opened to all, and every one was vel
come to the enjoyment of all that il
could offer.
USE Of The TENT.
It has always furnished them will
pens, ink and paper gratis, and ha!
accorded them not only the free ust
of the tent itself, but also the advant
age of reading the daily papers anC
the best magazines. In addition t.
this, the boys while away the weary
monotonous hours of camp life by in
duging in a variety of games-al
which preserves and enlivens home ira
ditions and customs, and cherishe
those highest sentiments on whose per
petuation the better part of a man.
existence depends. For the use of any
thing that the tent contains, with tn
solitary exception OF postage stamps
which are always kept on hand for tn
accommodation of the soldier, n
charges are ever made
When the men are tired, or dscour
aged, the Y. NJ. c. A. tent usually be
comes their Mecca and this is not I
be wondered at when one considers 1
is supplied with tables, benches an
chairs, an abundance of reading mat
ter of every description, games, sue
as crokinole, chess, checkers, carom
and quots, filtered drinking water
pens, ink, writing paper, envelopes. It
make it more attractive, it is wei
heated during the day and lighted a
night, while an organ and large mum
ber of singing books add to the refin
ing influences of the place.
At several periods, facts and figure
have been collected relative to the eS
tent to which the boys have made us
of the privileges to be enjoyed insid
of the Y. NJ. C. A. army tent, and thes
are, certainly, encouraging. If W
take, for instance, the first seven day
Of July--at which time the regimen
was at Camp Alger, Va.--we find tina
the total attendance in the tent wa
as high as 1O.SOS persons; 1857 letter
were written there, and COG attende
religious services even during those eX
cessively sultry evenings. At presen
owing to the different conditions c
the weather the attendance is not S
large, though, on an average, upward
OF 500 persons spend a pleasant, par
of the day in the tent, and the even
ing lectures and song services inVari
ably attract large numbers.
QUESTION OF EXPENSE.
The question OF expenses is now tn
one which is giving all the trouble. TIL