The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-23
SOLDIER LIFE NOT BAD


Claude Rogers says Array Service
Depends 0a the Man.
Claude Rogers write the following in
teresting letter from Manila to his par
ents here:
Manila, P. l.. May e, 1889.
Dear Comes, All: l have just received
two letters and a bundle of papers from
you. They came on the Morgan City.
When we hear that there Is mail IN town
we go right after It, even II it Is mid
night. was very glad to hear from you.
1 write every two weeks and sometimes
oftener. I am still doing police duty, but
we are getting rumors that we are TO be
relieved l hope not, as It is hard life
to live in our dog tents at the front. The
rain goes through them and you have to
sleep on wet blankets and In mud besides.
Here in the city we have good barracks.
with a fine bath room attached. The
weather is very hot now. 1t rains most
Of the time and when the sun comes out
1t seems as though It would cook you.
but when 1t gets past endurance go and
take a shower bath and manage to keep
comfortable. I am on duty every ether
day. When of duty It keeps me very
busy keeping my FIVE suits OF clothes in
order. Besides my suits have an album
dance of underclothing, socks, slippers to
wear of duty, and locker with toilet set,
bathing and fine smoking set. paper. ink.
mucilage and stamps. ] have a large
leather covered book that 1 am keeping
a diary in. / save all the letters l get.
I often read them over the while away
some lonely hours.
My smoking is the only bad habit that
I have and I believe that II is good to
keep out disease germs. We have lots OF
nice things to eat here in the city. will
send you a bill Of fare for one day: Roast
beef or mutton, mashed potatoes. sweet
potatoes. fruit, coffee. I am getting very
fat. weighing Ia pounds. 1 bought a
flute and a silver ring. A gold one would
cost 81; the silver one only 80 cents. I
am beginning to learn the value OF money.
Our duty through the rainy season will
be very hard. but am going to try and
keep we'll. Most Of the sickness here be-
gins with fever and chills. The boys that
were in Cuba have chills about twcie a
week and they suffer terribly. II doesn't
seem much like Sunday here. as there
isn't any American church, and ] am en-
guard Just the same Sunday as other
days. often think of our church at
home and long to hear the preacher speak
once more Ut would be a paradise). All
I wish for Is to see the old place once
more. have been in lots of places very
beautiful since I left, but there is mo
place like home" especially when you
have been raised in one place.
A lot Of we boys had an old fashioned
revival meeting the other night. and sang
the old songs and talked Of Christ and
home. We all enjoyed It. It Is such a j
comfort to know that Christ is Just as
near US here in Manila as in Kansas. The
volunteers will soon be going home, but
1t will be over a year before We can
leave the island. and nobody cares for
a regular except his home people. Just
think. the best reception that we got was
at the little town OF Chester. The peo-
pie were more patriotic there because
they have never seen the regulars. but
am not sorry that I enlisted nor am
homesick because 1 Joined the army. |
think that it was the best step that ! ever |
took in my life. A soldiers life isn't so |
hard. It is Just as he makes it himself |
and making things hard for themselves, I
but look on the good side Of IL. / viii |
be Just q years old when get out and / /
will be more able to do the battles OF life. |
You asked me 10 send that Eagle 20 |
Funston. That vii be hard thing 10 do,
"a he is way out on the firing line. bit .
VIII try and send II by some volunteer /
who Is going to the front. The Eagles /
that you send do US lots OF good. There 1
IS about a dozen boys that come for 81. 4
I pass IL round We think II Is the best 4
paper published IN the west
I have Just heard some sad news. A 4
man by the name Of Byrnes used 10 be 4
sergeant in this company but vas hard 4
drinker. They reduced him and trans
ferred him 10 company @. He was a very
fat man: weighed about 90 pounds The
at and whiskey killed him. lie dicd very
suddenly. He was the kindest-hearted
man In the company. He was 90 be dis
charged IN q month and ten DAYS. He