Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-05-13
LIFE or THE SOLDIER.
$l3 nonth, Grub and Clothes for the Reaular.

Copies of pamphlet Dy Lieutenant Colonel Alfred Reynolds of the in- spector generals department entitled 'The Life of an Enlisted Soldier in the United States Army" is being sent to various people throughout the land In many parts of the United States tllere seems to be an oppression that to be, soldier of the regular army is to be in position below that oe the ordinary citizen, and that the priv;- leges afforded are few. Tie present pamphlet is issued to show that such ideas are erroneous. The author says: Tt will be found that | large proportion of the soldiers ot the army are, self-respecting, well-conducted men and faithful and efficient soldiers ano that many of them have been in tch army for years, some occl:pying the higher grades among tile non-com- 1nissioned officers. and all contented with their lot ard respected ny their offlcers'
 Applicants for enlistment must be between 21 and 35 years Uf age. un- married, of good antecedents and hab- it's and free from bodily defects and diseases. The pay of the private is S13 month and all soldiers receive i'll addition rations, clothing. fuel. bed ding, medicines and medical attend ance. The pay is increased in the third year. If at any tiita, be shall Nje ots duty in Alaska or tla Philippine is- lands. his pay is increased 70 per cent. 4 ter thirty years' seryi .a lfe ss cntitl- led to be retired.
 Having been assigned to company the recruit is shown where to place his bed and bedding n the squad room. which will be his sleeping and living room until lie leaves to join his regiment Instructions of all kinds will now occupy q larGe part of hlS time. During three hours eaclt Gay except Saturday and Si!;i'lay. he will be instructed in tic drill :cgni:tinnS by n0n-cOmmissioned officers On Saturdays there Is Il regular inspection of the company bv the company off cer. The recruits daily duties will be to get up at reveille. generally about 6 o'clock, put his bedding in order and assist in policing the squad room: half an hour after he will get break fast; there will be one 0. two hours drill during the morning: dinner at noon; one or two hours irill in the af
 
 Four times week the recruit will hear lecture OH various military sub jects. The evenings he will have to himself until II o'clock. at which time he will have 10 be ill bed. If ne chooses he may attanl school in the evening. When tho recruit reaches his regiment he ,@ aSsigned to a place ir the squad room and the sooner he can get into the habits of the company the more comfortas5la lie will be. At every military station there is l school post excliangn gymnasium, li- 1 brary, reading rront and amusement hall.
 The allowance O. food for the sol dier each day is three-fourths of a pound of pork or 5aeon or canned beef fresh or corned) or pound and a quarter of fresh beef, or twelve ounces of salt meat; eighteen ounces of soft bread or four, or one pound of hard bread, or q pound and quarter of corn meal. and ample proportions of beans or peas, rice or houainy, sugar, vinegar, salt and pepper, and coffee and one pound of fresh vegetables.
 The soldier is ofter called to take the field with his company or detacli- ment sent out to perform some duty. When this is the case hts food becomes palmer, and ,le may have to sleep out in all sorts of weather. The rights of the soldier are carefully guarded by laws and no illp.sat sentence can be executed nor cruel or unusual punish- ments awarded. The young man con- tenplating enlistlncllt must remember that the soldiers life is ever that of q man and not chilTa ,,lnv. and he may be assured that the military code ex- acting as it may seem. need have no terrors for him if iia means to flo his duty i'll the right spirit.
 The author says in conclusion that the United States soldier is the repre- sentative of | conservative body of | men trained to nphaid the laws If his country, even It the cost of his life. | and that his devotion has enabled his | couptrymen to conquer the wilderness and to people, it with happy homes