New-York tribune., 1900-10-07

plans. submitted them TO Colonel Henry III. Nor
row, who then commanded my regiment the Ast
Infantry, and the post and the first canteen was
there established under his auspices. The men of
the regiment showed a decided aptitude and de-
sire for athletic drills the instruction in which
took methodical shape and finally developed into
a course of military gymnastics. written and
published by in 1881 and successfully used In the
instruction of the cadets at West Point and the
enlisted men at the various posts.
That instruction in the exercises might be
efficiently furnished. amusement room (canteen
is a misnomer) established. In the amuse-
ment room light wines. beer and luncheons were
served. These and billiard table were the sources
OF revenue Soon a reading room added. in
which could be found the principal daily and week
ly newspapers and monthly magazines. Conven-
fences for writing checker and chess boards, etc.
were next in evidence Rigid order was maintained,
no disorderly conduct tolerated. The amuse
ment very attractive and was largely
patronized. the ailurements of the adjacent town.
heretofore all powerful. ceasing to entce The
sroggery keepers near the barracks made
against the system, but purpose. for the men
stood by the canteen and soon all charges of con-
duct prejudcial to military discipline disappeared,
and consequent courts-martial.
Not long since the Rev Dr. Macarthur. from
his pulpit. In defence OF the canteen said:
But the choice is not between abstinence and the
canteen It is between the canteen and low grog-
geries without official inspection and with poison
itants of vice This is the literal truth, and these
forget we are unspeakably foolish as social
formers IL reject the possible good in
striving for an impossible best.
If these ignorant women had been properly in
formed as to the truth they would not have started
their endless chain of prayer asking the Lord to
defeat President Mckinley The Lord will for
give ignorance and will answer their prayer; but
He will say No" The canteen is a promoter OF
good. and has beneficial Influence upon the health
morale and contentment of the service and by
driving away the nearby grOggerieS frees the
soldier from the sin OF drunkenness. Quite re-
cently Dr. MunSon, an accomplished surgeon IN
the United States Army, under instructions of the
War Department. made careful investigation into
the effect Of the canteen upon the health of en-
listed men. The result more than met the eX-
pectattonS of those most interested in the promo
uon OF temperance In the Army he found that the
percentage of deserton has been continually re-
duced since the introduction of the Canteen. Prior
to its Introduction desertions averaged II per
cent annually. Since its establishment these have
decreased as follows First year TO -: the next next
year to 81, and finally down to 20 Further. the
number of trials and convictions for drunkenness
and offences originating therefrom for the SIX
years preceding the canteen was 3I2 These de-
lshment TO 100 Further for the years
preceding the establishment of the canteen the
average number OF men who deposited their earn
tngs with the Government was 7.273. For the seven
creased to $3.50 General Corbin states officially that
"as compared with those existing twenty or thirty
years agO-as knew ii then-or with any com
munity the present time anywhere in civil life,
tical one; where reasonable abstinence Is the
rule, and where excesses are the exceptions; So
ciety whose precepts, no less than its example,
could be followed by all people IN safety ana So
briefly" EDWARD s. FARKOW,
Late United States Army.
Baltimore Oct 2, 1900