The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-10-27
UNIFORM is
NOT ALLURING
ARMY WITHOUT CHARMS FOR
WESTERN YOUNG MEN.
REAL OLD Time olD1IMER
New Play That Has Local Flavor
Great Mining Camp Envious
Of Country Village.

Great Mining Camp Envlous
Of Country Village.
Thirteen dollars a month n
'found," including among the finding
even clothes, medicine n medlcal
attendance, with the assurance OF a
life Of more or less ease, does not
seem to be enough Of an inducement
for The young men in the west to en-
list in the regular army. Particularly
is this applicable to the class OF men
who are wanted, for a mar must have
not only a good constit ution, perfect
health and be sound physically IN
eyery way. but he must also be able
to bring a certificate OF good character
before he may hope to be accepted 'py
the recruiting officer. While Uncle
Sam is always looking out for men
to wear his uniform and handle his
guns, he is very particular as to the
kind Of men he employs, hence so
many who would take n that fall
and SO many who would pass that do
not care to enlist. Two officers from
Fort Keogh were in the city yester-
day for The purpose OF making en-
listments. Notwithstanding they had
caused the city to be decorated with
the gaudy posters gotten out by the
recruiting department they were 20
overwhelmed with applications. On
the contrary they seemed to be ner-
vous at their enforced idleness, hav-
ing nothing more arduous to do than
to sit about the Office of the Grand
hotel and kill time. Being on duty
they dared not leave the hotel and
avail themselves of the opportunity
to view the city, consequently the
whole thing was a bore to them and
they were glad when it came time to
sound retreat"
The way they have of carrying their
age is %proverbial of the pioneers of the
west. Men who still retain the supple.
ness and vivacity of youth startle the
uninitiated with their tales OF the days
hen Jim Bridger was in his prime
1 And when Bill Hickman and his Dan
gites'' we're first turning their hands
to the butchery of gentiles. 1t is
probably because OF this physical pc
culiarity that so many have earned
the reputation of being romancers and
prevaricatOrs of the first water, fol
it is hard for a stranger talking te
a man apparently not much ii any be
yond middle life to believe the things
own arrival in this vale OF sorrow
Yesterday John T. Murphy vas i'm tht
city and while entertaining a humble,
of friends in the lobby of the Crane
was introduced to Doctor Jane:
Reagles, surgeon at Fort Keogh. Thu
doctors snowy hair and military nous
tache and imperial denote him to hav'
been on. earth some considerable tim
himself and having spent not a fey
years in the west it was but natura
for him in the course OF their CONVEX
sation to make inquiry Of Mr.. Murph,
concerning some OF the army off
GERS and civilians who, Is the dOctO
believed, were entitled to be reckone
among the "oldtimers." OCCASIONAL
he would mention a name that tn
big cattleman remembered, but to
majority he was compelled to plea
ignorance. Finally Mr.. Murphy joel
larly remarked, Young man, l wa
in the country long before any {
those men you have named though
of coming here; yes, long before yo
were west of the Missouri. I'm ge
ting along in years." This sally pr
1.-The doctor on edge and he named
number of posts, long since abandon
ed, at which he had served, thinkin
that the we'll preserved mar in fro1
of him would be obliged to admit ths
he was not a tenderfOOt. AdmissiO
was made that he had in recent year
been at some of the forts name
but to this was added by Mr.. Murph
that he was there before the pos
were built. why, man, it you wei
--LlsT YOUR