New-York tribune., 1901-06-16
ATHLETICS FOR MILITIA.
EFFORTs To MAKE THEM A PREPA-
RATION FOR MORE SERIOUS WORK.


Gymnastics and general athletics have always
gone hand IN hand with military training, ana
nowhere do they meet more encouragement than
in the National Guard regiments OF the stare
Nearly every organization now has its atheuc
council. committee association, and uhoer thelr
Supervision athletics I'm a proper direcuon' cal
e.le.ed 10 III the men for meeting the exigehcles
Of TIE service they are called upon from time TO
tin, 20 ren ier the State Field day games there
sort are becoming OF the features OF WEEK
,ns1ifested in the arrang aments made sometimes
several weeks IN advance OF the regiment '"" Va
service
The sth which has developed wonderfully from
q military standpoint within the last lie" years
has only recently organized athletic committee
vet they made a most creditabe showing In their
field day games Friday, and athletics IN the
regiment have a promising outlook
one OF the prime movers IN this regiments attn
letie matters is First Lieutenant H. Edwards
Ficksn ouarterraster OF the I'd Battalion An
amateur all round athlete OF long standing, when
he joined the regiment last winter he became the
lite OF organized athletic sports. committee
was formed OF which Major Robert Edwards, IT.,
is chairman an indoor baseball club was ORGANIZED
and the regiment its feet Hthleticaiy.
Lieutenant Ficken has been long identified with
amateur athletic sports. He was one of the EARL
est members OF the New-York Athletic Club. ana
has been connected intimately ever srce with the
athletic history OF the country. For three years
he held the amateur championship in the running
high sump and hurdles, and has over threescore
prizes at home. I'm various contests hence
his great interest in the regiments athletic me-
for which ne Is ready to give his time and aid
Lieutenant Ficken. besides his athletic record. IS
an old member Of Troop and Squadron A ieaN-
ing The sqnadG9n III iS( - FsItalion He is the only
csEalrymaR in rhe outfit and thersiors ssb mas 30
S ~ - = 81 fhe horse he rides Like every old
trooper he Is careful the hills ana aIteI
Roe reached last Monday the ohesrs & b
that ''Ficken walked his horse up ana down M. h
and carried him on the level eut' soLs ~, so,,sS S
was Cne TOO many. he met the thrusts of the dousn
Soys parted them sl1ilfIlly, and, oecasionaaliy many
breaking through their guard scored Soine 'ohe'
for himself
-bera ,s ALWAYS more or less good natured Joking
among the officers. well as among the men,
when the ''enemy" Is quiet and there is nothing
doing" in camp 1t was in one Of these IDLE houis
at Camp Roe that number Of stan oiheers satil-
erred IN a tent were discussing English grammar
Finally Father James Dooley, the regimental chap-
lain who IS held in the highest esteem and regard.
propounded this problem: Mary milks the cow
..No1y gentlemen" said the priest, while We are
discussing the English langaSge coI would like you
II decline 70 be br9ught s'Ho on.s,6er an. /, Hnts
4 think. IN this case, It is proposition for
$40, # is a pronoun," the priest replied II
should think you would ell know that Tor "a, q pro
noun stands for noun, YOU know, and In this IN
stance the cow stands for Mary -. -
the milk after that. and emissary was sent
down Commissary Lyons tent
The Young Mems Christian Association tents are
proving Just as popular this year as they have in
times past. and literally patronized. Many OF
the folks at home get letters they would not re-
oeive were it not for the facilities offered in the
tents There are stationery IN plenty for the ask
ing pens and ink tables and chairs. and quiet and
order prevail at all times. Don't Forget That
Letter You Promised TO Write" is one OF the most
conspicuous signs that confront the eye upon en-
tersng ana many soldier remembers. The letter
IS written, and IL Is easy he writes another and
another and Secretary Green says he believes some
of the men have written many ten letters
\ during the few days OF the week they have been
The work e The association Is rather preventive
make IA pleasant IN camp, and particularly in
70 pend @ s II s s 0f at aG ha a0.
a. A. issSt & s9ssn ssaes out door and in are az
the reading room is as well equipped as many as
current magazines. periodicals and newspapers be-
Ing en- hle there. besides library Of about two
ment and pocket editions OF the Gospel OF ST John
may also be h2d for the asking; and many requests
on the hy leaf. that e may be kept souvenir.
tertanments, in which the men themselves take
h enseavors ls e are always IntE@ng ting In
an illustration OF the character of these entertain
cav evening G Vas 51 faaw a ol as sd nsaG
being one hired FOR the by the association:
Piano solo, selected Private Parker D. Regt.
% Recitation. ',gs: rIs;.! Dirty Horse Car"
Harmoniea selection piano aooomPsnirnent- =.
Reading ''our Soldier BOYS jpstrioticj ~ '''
Robert 9. vgnola. camp barber
song Private Rogers Co. G. sth Regt
.so 81 song o,o ..:,, ' PTiysts R9asoksT hsd musician
Recitation. The Dandy Firth latriotlc).
trombone solo, The Holy Cy Musician Rhem post band
Reading Last Drink - D. ''n ''ss'
So Robert C. vignos. camp barber
Sergeant Daniel o'Connor Co. X sth Regt
Closing cong by audience Star spangsd Banner
Most Of these selections as good II not bet
ter, than similar ones Of the vaudeville stage and
the association tent wac packed throughout the
entire programme, which only finished as the
nrst call for tattoo sounding AS may be
seen most Of the selections were OF a patriotic
nature and all appealed strongly the audience.
spiritual work but this largely through person
al conversations with the men held privately, and
there are song serTices and sunday ee3nps e
q which have their place IN the associations regu
y. NJ. c. A. when you get home . A directory hung
ln conspicuous place gives The services In an the
Protestant and Catholic churches in Peekskili and
fhe tents are always al the service OF priest or
minister
Captain Louis Wendell brought his famous ar
tAlery red shirt waist TO camp with him. but while
several days were warm, he did not wear il on the
held' and, hence did not have General Roe pass
upon II as fitting uniform for field service Sew
eral times the captain donned il and wore IL about
hls quarters hut mostly IL hung the side OF the
tent, where II pointed out 10 visitors with
meeh pride The material was white. with pink
nnhecoming 10 the battery commander.
COMPANY p, I2TH REGIMENT, CHAMPIONS
Company Of the 18th Regiment Captain Rurr
has Just completed successful season I'm arrnor,,
flhe practice, and IL is said no other comnsny IN |
.he "uara can equal its record in winning trophies
IL