Ottumwa semi-weekly courier., 1903-06-16
Henry B. GaIpin, Member of Troop
"G," Fiftieth United States Cavalry,
Located at MaIabans, Upon Island of
Mindanao, Sends Letter to Mother.

From his description of soldier life
one would judge that there was some
thing doin' all the time and that
about all the occupations from dish
washing and scrubbing to tillitg the
soil and playing the farmer were COM
bined in the soldier boys duties.
The verses are as follows:
The Army Poster.
While walking down the city street,
One cold and wintry day,
A gaudy poster / espied,
In a door across the way.
AS / looked the thing seemed large,
And across the street l went,
For the thing had caught my fancy,
And on it my eyes were bent.
When got close to the poster,
| perceived martial scene;
And the sun shone on bright colors,
And imposed a glowing sheen.
perceived group of soldiers,
Dressed in gorgeous garments blue;
Some mad swords and some had sabers
Some had gloves and horses too.
In the script below the picture,
Which my eyes devoured with greed,
| discovered that more soldiers,
Was the thing the nation needed
l then read about the salary,
And how much IA man could save;
And how little work was needed;
If man was cool and brave.
Anyone could be a sergeant major,
One could be music man,
Could not spend a cent of money,
Uncle Sam would pay the band.
| Not word was said about labor,
Not a word was said about food,
| Not a word was said about discipline
| Not word to change my mood.
Not word about the guard house,
Nor about a ten, ten" blind,
If you failed to look near-sighted,
Nor about the officers kind"
So l went and joined the army,
And was sent to Fit. Monroe,
And | found life at that place,
Was not to-be called slow.
1t was drill call in the morning,
1t was drill call at midday,
1t was drill call in the evening,
| And the time did pass away
1t was slum we had for breakfast,
1t was slum we had at noon;
1t was slum we had for supper;
| Not a change from moon to MOON
It was Guard Mount in the morning,
With your gun you'd walk all day;
1t was walk your post at midnight,
Not word would you dare to say.
Next day we were in the kitchen,
Peeled potatoes and emptied slops;
| And next day the quarters found us,
| Armed with brooms and pals ant
mops.
The day after fatigue caught us,
All day long we lifted rocks;
| Or We're taking squares of mortar,
And We're making piles of blocks.
The next day the garden caught us,
We were woke before sun up;
An we had to hoe potatoes,
With a little slum to sup.
Next day we were on the wood pile,
! Chopping wood from morn till night
Each man had an axe and hatchet,
Which must be kept both sharp ant
bright.
| Next day we were on outpost,
Stationed on some muddy railroad,
| Just because some fair young shave
tail,
Wished to see how fast you'd load.
Next day we had inspection,
In heavy marching order grand;
| Just because some officers sweet
heart,
Wanted bad to hear the band.
Ran us round the large drill ground,
To the strains of music gay;
While the sweethearts of the officers
Say: Don't they look quite nice to
day.
I could keep on telling stories,
And truth of them I'd prove;
How we worked from morn till sur
set,
In the same old steady grief.
l have often thought of Ottumwa,
And that sign across the way,
And all kinds Of meledictions,
Have 1 heaped upon that day.
have very often wondered,
Whether or not | was not blind,
But regarding that army poster"
/ forgot to look behind
On the front there were some picture
Creations of some wandering mind;
But the talks of work and labor;
Must have been on the behind"
So take warning all would be soldiers
BY the knowledge did lack,
, Just before you join the army,
Read what's written upon the back,
Nothing is easier to find than fuss
J and the prudent man will smooth hi