The Republican journal., 1903-02-05

forms and equipments are spotless, the
arms and brazen ornaments of the
guard flash and glitter in the sunlight
The old and new officers of the day
stand at parade rest" with folded arms,
while the guard wheels in review, and
proceeds to the guard house in column
of fours, where the old guard. weary
with their long vigil of twenty four
hours, gladly await them. Quickly
they turn over the public property, and
prisoners to their successors, and at
last are wheeled into line and dismissed.
| School call rings out, and the non-com-
missioned officers proceed to the day
room of their barracks, where for an
hour they recite in the various standard
text books of the service. They are re-
quired to be proficient in drill regula-
tions service of security and informa-
tion manuals of guard duty, and out
post duty, first aid to wounded, firing
regulations, army regulations, orlenta-
ton, map reading, road sketching, and
| listening to lectures on military mat
| tiers. Again the bugle calls, and the
broad stairways resound with the heavy
tread of men Fastening to their last
morning drill, calisthenics. You see
! them in blue shirts, for no blouses a re
worn although it is cold, for it is to be
lively and active work now. AS the
assembly" sounds, and the roll is call
ed. they will probably be wheeled into
column and proceed at slow run at
first, increasing their gait until the
circle of the big parade has been COM
pleted. There they are halted and stand
at ease painting from their sharp work
for a few moments. Then intervals
are taken and the various calisthenlcs
gone through, exercising every muscle
thoroughly, this is varied by short
hurdle races. After an hour at this
sort of work they assemble and with
keen appetites for dinner, and glowing
bodies. they march in cadenced tread
across the parade, and it is a goodly
| sight, indeed, to see these athletic men
come marching in from their vigorous
| exercise, and one can understand some
thing of what Kipling's hero felt when
| he said,
! For ere their feet on the gravel,
The feet Of the men who drill.
| And | seZ to my flutterin' heartstrlngs,
| Peace, be Stlll!'
A good wash and rub down in the big
| bathroom, and the boys are very willing
to hear the bugle call them to dinner.
| After the dinner the men at this time
of the year have leisure to enjoy such
recreation as they like. Naturally their
tastes run to athletics and nearly every
regiment in the service has its crack
base ball and foot ball teams. Those
who have quieter tastes enjoy billiards
| and pool, chess, dominoes, whist and
| Similar quiet games in the day room of
their company. Nearly every company
has its library, which is invariably we'll
patroniZed.
Once a week during the winter
months, the band gives concert in the
| immense hall. Dances given by the
different organizations attract the
pretty girls of the vicinity, for soldier
| is a past master in all that pertains to
| the fair sex, and these events usually
extend into the wee sma' hours. Less
| frequent are the brilliant receptions
j given by the officers to the society of
the adjoining city, in their splendid
club house. Special trains run directly
on the grounds, and wait until the
close of the festivities to return with
the invited guests.
Not until the sun, weary with its long
| journey, sinks in golden glory to the
very edge of the horizon, does the braz-
en- trumpet call the soldiers to further
duty. Then the long lines of blue again
form, again the roll call, and the COM
panies at the parade rest" the field
music sounding the "retreat'' the
beautiful banner of our country slowly
md majestically sinks from the top of
the flag staff. AS the flag starts down.
ward the mighty thunder of the ''sun-
set gum salutes it, the band bursts in
; to the strains of ''The Star Spangled
Banner, and the men spring to atten-
ton and stand motionless while the
flag of our country is lowered. The
ranks are dismissed, and the men are at
liberty to 60 within the limits of the
reservation and its immediate vicinity.
At 8 p. m. tattoo is sounded, the
lights are extinguished, and silence
reigns until dawn. At 1915 p. m. call
to quarters sounds, and all belated ones
not on pass, must hasten to get to their
cots. Fifteen minutes later at II p. m.
the notes, sweet and clear, once heard
never to be forgotten, the call blown
each night in garrison, camp or bivou-
&C, and over the grave of the dead COM
rade, the call that bids all good night
and peaceful Sleep taps"
MRS. OREN CHENEY HIGGINS.