Evening star., 1902-01-04
lE GAINED HIS POINT

sion 10 re-enliSt IN the navy, TOOK the best,
because 1t was the most direct, course to
gain his end. Enlisted men who want
something and who dodge the red-tape
method of going after what they want have
frequently been known to win out most de-
! cisively in the United States military and
naval service.
| The case of clever chap named Dunbar
name which he later changed to Balfour,
his correct surname-who enlisted in the
marine corps here in Washington about
| fifteen years ago is In point. Dunbar be-
| lcnged to good New Orleans family, and.
| In addition to being finely educated man
| In general. he was a graduate in medicine.
I After completing his medical studies he
1 drifted around the west a good deal finally
settling down to practice somewhere in
| Texas. He mingled with a swift lot down
! there, with the result that he finally aban-
| doned his practice and started for Wash
| ifgton to obtain, IL possible certain med
icai billet In the government service that
ne had In mind. He wasn't able TO get this
position, and after a month so of fruit
| less effort here he found himself strapped
Then he heard of the apothecaryships in
| the navy. The apothecary was a well-paid
chief petty officer on board a man-owar
whose duties were to assist the ships sur
geon. Dunbar concluded that he would try
for one of these berths. He had no definite
| idea how to go about it, but he mistakenly
| figured it out that it was his first business
| to enlist in the marine corps, and, once in,
and having exhibited his capacity in med
| icine, go in for the promotion to the apoth-
ecaryship. He did not know that the
apothecaryship was an appontive billet at
the disposition of the ships surgeon. and
that the rate had no more to do with the
marine corps than 1t had to do with the
Washington police force.
However, Dunbar went out to the marine
barracks and, without saying anything as
to the purpose he had In mind in enlisting,
he Shipped in the marine corps a re-
cruit. He hadn't worn the uniform twelve
hours before he found that he was on the
wrong tack entirely, and that, instead of
being on the direct road to the coveted
apcthecaryship, he was in for a stretch of
years as buck marine.
He was pretty gloomy when he found this
out. particularly as number of his COM
rades in the corps who had ascertained
his mistake guyed him a good deal about it.
He was high-grade as well as a game
man, however, and he took his medicine
calmly, performing his duties In a soldierly
manner, and waiting for something to turn
up. He had no trouble in finding out that
it would be about as hard for him to get
out of the marine corps before serving out
his time as it Is for a man under sentence
of death to escape from a big penitentiary,
but he didn't repine. Instead, he kept an
eye out for vacancies in the list of apothe-
carries.
A few months after his enlistment as a
marine he learned that there was a vacant
apothecaryship on man-o-war at the
bTOOhIyu navy ydTu CndG was ABOUT TO start
on fine European cruise. Dunbar sat
down and wrote to the surgeon of that ship,
naming his qualifications for the billet but
not mentioning the fact that he was at the
moment of writing buck marine. By re-
turn mail he received an invitation from
the surgeon at the Brooklyn navy yard to
run over to New York and be looked over.
The surgeon stated in his note that if Dun
bar came up to his letter he would be given
the apothecaryship.
With this letter Dunbar went to the off,
Ger Of marines in charge of his company
and stated his case, saying that he would
like to get his discharge so that he could
go to Brooklyn and be inspected for the
apothecaryship. The officer told Dunbar
to quit talking foolishness. The very idea
was idiotic, imbecie, the officer told him.
You're in to stay your time unless you
run away. my man, and you know what
that would mean" said the officer to Dun
bar.
Dunbar, however hadn't the remotest
idea of running away. He went squarely
to the then commandant The latter's
countenance was swept by a smile almost
of pity as Dunbar proceeded with his little
tale
"Give you your discharge SO that you can
make application for an apothecaryship?'
said the astonished comma ndant. "You
look and talk like an intelligent soldier. Do
you know what you are talking about,
man? Are you entirely sober?'
Dunbar replied that he'd never been more
sober in his life, but he repeated that he
certainly would like try for that apothe-
caryship on ship that was going to make
a fine winter cruise in balmy south Euro
pean waters. The commandant. bit testy
then, bade Dunbar go back to the barracks
and behave.
.The Secretary Of the Navy is the only
man who could give you your discharge"
said the commandant, "and the Secretary's
not doing that sort of thing
''Well, 1 think I'll try the Secretary of
the Navy out, anyhow said Dunbar to
himself. So he repaired to the barracks,
donned his best uniform, got half a days
leave from the barracks. hoped a car at
the gate. and went to the Navy Depart
ment Arrived there he told the surprised
messenger outside the Secretary's door that
he would like to have talk with Mr..
Whitney.
DE Sec'tahy he amt seein no marines"
said the messenger to Dunbar, but just at
that moment Mr.. Whitney himself emerged
from his office. He heard the messengers
remark and he looked over the flne-appear-
ing, spick-and-span marine curiously.
You want to see me?' inquired the Sec
retary.
Yes. SIR" said Dunbar saluting.
Come right in. then" said Mr.. Whitney,
followed him. and. standing at attention
alongside Mr.. Whitney's desk. he told, in a
concise manner his little story to the Secre-
tary. Mr.. Whitney, with his chin in his
he spoke, and at the end of Dunbars state
ment he impulsively picked up his pen.
'.To the COmmandant: Discharge this
man. William c. Whitney" he wrote on a
piece Of official paper and handed it to
Dunbar.
''This will make you all right" said Mr.
Whitney. Hand 1t to the commandant
I hope you land the apothecaryship," and
then. with courteous hand-wave of dis
missal to the buck marine he turned to
the prominent men awaiting audience with
him.
1t was irregular but 1t went" as the
saying goes The commandant didn't like
it little bit. but Dunbar got his discharge
that same afternoon, and before dark he
was on a train bound for New York On
the following morning he presented himself
on board the ship at the Brooklyn navy
yard, impressed the ships surgeon at once,
passed the examination easily, was ap-
pointed ships apothecary, and something
under three weeks later was enjoying him
self greatly at Villefranche, Monaco Nice
and such inviting places.
He had found that the straightaway
method was the easiest. The rest of the
story isn't so pleasant Dunbar. or Balfol1r.
put ball in his brain in Golden Gate Park,
San Francisco, few years ago on account
Of hopeless affair Of the heart.