The Virginia enterprise., 1901-09-20
UNCLE SANS SOLDIERS.
All About Our Military Service and
What 10 Expected Of Men
Who Enlist.

as we'll in several lines of business as in
the almanac, and everywhere there are
men whose circumstances or inclnations
make them ready for change of en-
ployment or position.
Would it not be we'll for them to take 4
look at the work and life of an American
soldier?
uucle Sam offers something in this line
that may we'll claim their attention.
He needs just now several thousand
men TOR ms army, we may say his new
army, that takes the place of the old
one under the reorganization act passed
Dy congress last winter, and our advice
to all that may want to avail themselves
or the present opportunity is to make up
their minds quickly and apply early. for
the places may all be taken before winter
comes.
1t Is an opportunity worthy of the Sc
rlous consideration of any young man.
H., In MllWaukee, Chicago, St. Paul, Du-
buQue. Detroit and some other centers
oMaes daeae are e United States army recruiting
apply in person. If living at distance
ana wishing some information first, they
and get it. 00
Nearly: all the new men will 90 to the
artlllery. VI the applicants not wanting
n0m6pr
alrv. "a '"'~
:: Much the larger number of those en-
!lstlns Tor the artillery will be assigned
10 mat 6ranch Of it that is called the
coast artillery. Service therein is not in
tae neld with light batteries, but in for
titled places located along our coasts for
defense against attacks BY foreign foes.
ana therefore armed with stationary
guns of large caliber.
Wnen men begin to consider whether
to engage in this service or not, the sides
OF me question that will seem most i'm
pGttan1 ;th TO them will, of course, differ
they will all have the answers in what
may 6e said under the two heads:
1. How they will fare in the service
future. "'e'' t"eir
What We know about it is the follow
ing: - 1'''''"'
How Men Fare in the Service.
In the fortified places as we'll as in
0tner garrlsons or posts the American SOL
oler today has comfortable lodging, good
meals and good clothes. When sick he
has medicines, doctor, nursing and hosnI-
TAI ana the same pay as when well. The
1orts or posts have libraries and reading
rooms for his free use with books maes-
zines and newspapers. There is at each
1ort or post a school, that all soldiers
nay may attend ten Tree and that will teach them
and diligence permit them to learn. of
the ordinary school branches, a knowI-
eGse or which everyone needs NOWADAYS
T9e soldiers work, Of course, is real
werk, out never of one and the same.
sort all day. 1t is broken by hours for
tsse t;aa eH and recreation, drills and gymnas-
tlcs, that make supple Of limb and quick
OF motion and help to keep a keen edge
on mans wits. There is discipline that
Is calculated to preserve character and
good morals. No drunkenness or loose
habits are allowed, and too easy-going
men sfralEhten up under the rules Of
army LIE, while good mems characters
eruiting officers require evidence of good
moral character and a reasonable degree
or steadlness before they accept an aDpli-
can't. They require also that he shall be
able to speak, read and write the Eng
hsh language passably well. Hence, the
new soldier finds good moral tone, good
habits and intelligence to be the rule in
the company he enters. The men he
comes among are mostly spirited young
men, for none is enlisted at an age Of
over 36 years. The age for enlistment is
from II to s6. When accepted under Fl,
is with q permit from parents or
HSaro'an: 4hrne aa.,s me me, term Of enlistment is
L
after two years the soldier becomes the
sole support Of parent, he may get his
discharge.
The compensation in addition to what
Is stated above is pay in money Of $13
month the first two years, and $14
q month the third year, after, which the
monthly pay is increased gradually for
added length Of service. There is. be-
sides, in the coast artillery a way for
private to get 81 or 81 more a month,
namely, by taking an examination as first
or second class gunner, that every private
may take and that will get him 81 or 81
additional monthly Pay though he may be
ditional pay gained by promotion to the
rank OF noncommissioned officer-corporal
or sergeant, that may bring the cash pay
up to $50 month. All noncommissioned
officers are taken from the ranks Of pri-
Yates.
While man may spend every cent Of
his cash pay, he needs to spend none, for
when he goes back to civil life it is likely
to be with larger cash savings than he
would otherwise have had. He has had
a good job.
How 1t will Affect His Future.
First, let us say for the benefit of par
ents and other older people, whose men,
ory goes back fifty years and who may
have a voice in the young mans de-
cision, that to serve as a soldier in the
American army today is an honorable
service. The idea of some older people
date from the time when the condition
of then so-called common" soldier
and the consequent makeup Of the rank
and file Of the little army, in 1850 only
5000 or GOOO men, was such that self
respecting Americans would not 20 into
it. So it was till 1861, when came the
great Civil war, carried on for four
years by millions Of soldiers, mostly VOL
unteers from every family in the land,
who fought their great battles and won
the cause Of the Union or lost the cause
OF the Confederacy according to the side
they were on. We are all brothers and
fellow Americans again now, thanks be
to God. But the service Of those mil
lions, made sacred by its sacrifices, and
glorious by its gallantry, has ever since
been among the most cherished rec0llec-
lions Of our people, North and South,
and 1t caused at once q change in the
estimation of the soldier, that with the
increased needs Of the country resulted
years ago in improvements making the
army fit for any man. After the Civil
war a considerable force was kept up
for years, thousands of the old volun-
teers continued to serve, and a number
Of the volunteer officers accepted new
commissions. The present lieutenant