Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-02

their examinations than to others. The
| enlisted men of experience have got all
of these specialists marked, just as they
have the all-around easy surgeons
spotted. The all-around surgeons are the
particular attention to single points Of
physical construction as they do to the all
around physical fitness for the men they
pass.
How 1t Used to He.
Up to within a few years the man who
succeeded in passing an army or navy doc
tor once could thereafter re-enlist in his
service as often as he chose, without much
| fear of being turned down on his physical
examination. A soldier who. for example,
developed something physically wrong dur
ing his first enlistment, and for this reason
would be rejected upon his application for
re-enlistment by his post surgeon, could
appeal to the medical department in Wash
ington.
The post surgeon was always willing to
forward such an appeal after having shriv-
en- himself of responsibility in the case by
declining to pronounce the applicant for
enlistment In nearly every case of this
sort the medical departments answer to
the appeal was an order for tho mans re-
enlistment If, however, the nature of the
mans disqualification was such that the
medical department couldn't see it's way
clear to accept him again. and the man s
physical allment happened not to have been
contracted ''in the line of duty the ap-
plicant for re-enlistment was occasionally
turned down by the medical department
too. Then he would pack up his chest and
set sail for Washington where he would
see the adjutant general who would in
turn refer him favorably to the surgeon
general. The surgeon general would pass
MIN on, with generally favorable word or
TWO, to one of the Washington recruiting
surgeons. and thus, in about nine eases out
OF ten, the determined man would butt"
in again The medical department would
perhaps send him to a military hospital for
treatment. but he always wound up back
with his outfit. If a rejected applicant for
re-eniistment happened to have contracted
his af,ment in the line of duty it was deem
ed polite to enlist him again If his case
were not altogether too serious to hold
down the pension rolls
As 1t is Today.
This sort of thing however, no longer
goes either in the army or navy. Every
time man re-enlsts he has to pass quite
as severe an examination as he went
through originally. If he cannot do this,
owing to some physical ailment contracted
IN the line of duty. he is promptly pension
cd OH Ii he is incapable of serving anoth-
eI enlistment, owing to some physical dis
quallhcation not contracted in the line of
duty, he is simply dished and appeals to
Washington do him no good whatever
rms may appear like hard rule and it
oiteh is, out nevertheless it serves to keep
the enlisted personnel of the two services
u
No WeVer, to force the old-timers to take
much better care of themselves than they
ever did under the old ''see-' em-in-Wash-
1ngton-about-t' system. When men hay.
1t III mind constantly that at the conclu-
sion OF their enlistments they are booked
To so through the same old examination
ordeal and that they must stand or fall
by the decision of the surgeon, they are
more liable to take care of their bodies
than ever they were when they felt that
they had "cinch' on the service until
.ney We're too old even to totter or wabble
Inc height of the moral elevation scaled
by the old soldier or sailor when only a
putt. say of six months, remains of his
enlistment, is as humorous as it is lofty
He is through with the demon rum for
ever. he says. No more leave of absence
or shore liberty for him. He's had enough
OF such fooishness, and so on. In truth
ne Is In training for his approaching ex-
animation, and when he passes safely the
rapidity with which he becomes the same
old card is funny.
Beating the Doctor.
The scheme the old-timers devise for
beating the Doctor are many and In
genlous Some of these schemes require
the coiiuslon of the recruiting sergeant,
VINO generally conducts considerable part
OF the examination for the surgeon. The
recruiting sergeant always wants to see
the old-timer get through safely, and he
mas, too, personal interest in the matter
Tor the recruiting sergeant who helps the
oid-tmer in his examination is always gen
erously blown off, by the beneficiary
For example. the old soldier who feels
that his eyesight is becoming a bit dim
has a word or two with the recruiting ser
geant before he formally applies for re-
enlistment. NOW, the eyesight tests in the
my medical examination are exceedingly
severe. The applicant must read all man
ner OF print, first with both eyes and then
with one eye at a time, at a considerable
distance. IL he falls down in this attempt
y,onr hon fyrvtSr -
he is rejected on the spot. The cards con-
tanning the various styles of type are fire.
quently changed In the recruiting offices
In order that they may not become too
well known to men applying for enlist
ment. The Old-timer gets a copy of the
card fl ON the recruiting sergeant and cons
1t studiousiy for a day two before he
applies for re-enliStment, fixing the relative
positions of the letters firmly in his mind.
Thus, when he Is under examination he
has the letters all pat according to their
positions on the card He does not read
them off with a rush. this would be
likely to excite the suspicion of the sur
geon. but falters occasionally in calling
the turn on the smallest type. always,
however, reading the letters correctly after
going through this bit of crafty acting
This gets him through far as his eye
sight is concerned. and he may be pretty
confident as to the remainder of his ex-
animation, for the old timers invariably
know Just wherein they weak before
they apply for re-enlistment, and provide
for contingencies.
Tricks of the Trade.
The experienced Swaddie who, before ap-
plying for re-enistment, feels that his
hearing IS not quite good as it used to
be. also has word with the recruiting
sergeant prior to taking his examination
1t Is the recruiting sergeant who almost
invariably tests the hearing of applicants
He goes OFF to corner of the room and
asks the applicant, standing in another cor
ner of the room. a few questions in a very
low tone OF voice. 1t is IA simple enough
matter for the old timer to have a little
rehearsal Of these questions before the ex-
animation.
The bluejacket of long service also has
chance to keep off the lee shore of rejection
by becoming chummY with the apothecary
who always assists the examining surgeon
on receiving ship. If he is convinced
that he can't make out colorS as readily as
he could when he first shipped. it is no job
at all for the apothecary to give him a
signal or two when the old time blueiaeket
is put through the ordeal of calling the
turn on many different colors of yarn.
Owls in Church SDire.
From the Waco Telephone.
For some time tho citizens who reside in
tho vicinity of the Tenth Street Methodist
4 rob vfYr.a tod