Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-04-13
"J0ining the Army"

~ door and number with painful
80 writes Mark sullivan in the Bos-
-, transcript. He passed 4 score Of
80 windows filled with violins.
.,atcbas revolvers and all the rum
r,ora of the pawnshop; of wooden
a,,romies clothed in loud-checked
,aady-made suits: OF second hahd
,o,hiro stores, where faded garments
tangled like scarecrows from hangers
over the door and showp!ace. where
. hig voice in a very small man be-
sonyht the passers by TO come right
IN gentlemen, 4 nickel won't make
Won or break you or set you up III busl-
noes and it's only a nickel TO see the
ooneous wonder of the world, the
human reservoir.
The workman was plainly under
,b;rty-fiye; but his figure was already
60, in a slight Stoop and one shoulder
was dragged lower than the other by
long DAYS in long years of swinging a
sickle and following plough. His
;av hing loose. his mouth open. AMI
tic face expressed anxiety mingled
With distrust of unfamiliar surround
;rps. but his eyes lit up as they fell
an
If uniforms which distinguished, amid
;ts sordid Surroundings, the entrance
10 the recruiting office.
He did not stop to examine the sign
it is only in Richard Harding Davis'S
stories that men wandering aimlessly
along the street are suddenly capti-
vatad by the irresistible charms of n
gorgeous picture of cavalry sergeant
in blue and gold uniform. and immedi-
ately walk in and offer themselves to
,ba service. The men in real life who
mass through the fateful door of the
recruiting station usually know that
SIGN by heart" They have stood be
fore similar ones in remote county
most offices for hours. They have read
il again and again. from the big line
at the top: Wanted for the United
States Army. able bodied men of good
character" 10 the small type at the
bottom telling about service, pay. and
travel money: they have discussed ii
with their friends and tried to make
I'D their minds whether they would
like best to be the artilleryman, with
the red stripes and the sword; or the
infantryman. with the white stripes
and the rifle.
The farmer glanced at the sign and
passed up short flight of stairs, and
then along a dingy corridor to a door
with big sign inviting him TO walk
in" The dittidencc that comes of
strange environments was strong in
him as he fumbled at the knob. When
he opened the door and stepped apollo
getically inside. the others in the room
stopped talking and looked up: then
they made a place for him around the
big stove in the middle of the room
and resumed their loud discussion of
the probability of passing the doctors
tests
Through an open door. in an inner
room. sat a griZZled German sergeant
with four long service stripes on his
sleeve. Before the war with Spain.
which made so many changes in the
army, ii was the rule to have conf
missiOned officer at each recruiting
station. but with seventy-five thou
sand new men to break in and fighting
to do in the Philippines, officers are at
premium. Anyhow. a sergeant of
twenty years experience is a better
judge of the stuff which makes good
'"i"iNio tHoii q SouHSstCA just Jul VI
West Point.
The sergeant. seeing the new arrival.
called out sharply, Well"
The newcomer entered shifted his
feet and hung his head. II thought"
ne said slowly. Il might like to join the
the army" ..r
The sergeant seeing that this was
not one whose freshness needs to be
checked, dropped his brusquenes:;
while he inquired for age, occupation.
etc. Then he told him to rejoin the
group in the outer room and wait for
the doctor.
The newcomer was too reserved q
man to make coEfidants of everybody
IN the room. but to a city workman of
MS own age he told his story.
1 been thinkin' of this off and on
Tor nigh onto thirteen years. but feared
IKE 1t never seemed right to do it,
count the old folks. Never seemed as
II they'd feel just right if 1 didn't get
nome to see EN- every other Sunday
But mother. she died last fall; and the
OLD manll be able to look out for him.
self, | guess. long with what little
can send him. so / Just made up my
" SO L Dttll WOTkl1l OIl liz
zane farm now for sixteen years. and
hfst OF the month, when my year was
up. the boss. he come round and said
We'll George, l suppose well make 3
bargain again for next year but l told
nm l guessed l wouldn't try farmin
again this year.
The city workman repaid the conf
uehce with tale of far less unsclfish
ness I've made good wages" h'
SAID and I've had good jobs. Bu
you Know how it is he continued
win weak smile. you take littl'
100 much Saturday night. and if yo,
soh turn up Monday morning the!
n.e you. | thought this would be ;
s'eady job anyhow and the folk
seemed to think if l got away from
hume mightn't drink so much
lhese two men are by no means tn
type Of the recruit They are abov
uie age when young fellows arc sus
.eptiole to martial music and the trap
plass OF war; they are past the tim
"neh boys become disconnected an
.es.iess until finally they take the ste
"hich settles their future for thre
years at least.
group of typical recruits sat IN ;
'Her OF the room. In age the.
y, nhsed from nineteen to twenty-threo
"elf faces Were by no means hard