Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1904-05-11
HOW FARES THE SOLDIER.

LuIu IIldl Ol Tie case.
HOW FARES THE SOLDIER.
Government Issues Pamphlet Ex.
planning the Life Of a Soldier Of
Uncle Sam. ..,
In harmony with this age Of the
press agent the United States army is
now issuing literature that modestly
calls attention to the army's merits.
OF such sort it "The Life of an En-
listed Soldier" published recently at
Washington through the Office of the
adjutant general.
In like accord with the 'age spirit"
is the paucity of patriotic fervor in
this pamphlet. The flag is not refer.
red to; the youth on carnage bent Is
never once requested to remember
Ethan Allen, San Juan hill, or Gen.
Wood and his little pills.
But after the confidential, matter
of-fact style of trust prospectus the
pamphlet declares that Gin many parts
Of the United States there seems to
prevail the idea that to be a soldier in
| our regular army is to be in a posoi-
ton which is below that of an ordinary
citizen, and which entails duties or
labors degrading to an American; and
that the privileges accorded to SOL
, der are few and far between; and
that an enlistment in the army, af-
fording practically no opportunity
either for advancement, accumulation
of savings or self-improvement, means
that those years of mans life have
been wasted"
"But," asserts the little book with
half-tone Illustrations, that such ideas
are erroneous can be learned by care.
. full inquiry. It will be found that a
large proportion Of the soldiers of the
army are self-respecting, well-con-
Quoted men. and faithful and efficient
soldiers, and that many of them have
been in the army for years, some oc-
cupying the higher grades among the
non-commissioned officers. and all con-
tented with their lot and respected by
/ their officers
Under the old method of recruiting,
it is true that often rough and worth
less characters got into the service to
stay only until they learned that their
immoralities could not be tolerated,
their careers winding up with deser-
ton or discharge through the SEN
fences of court-martial. It is this
class of men which has caused the
man who wears his country's uniform
to be so looked down upon by his fel.
low citizens.
Only Good Men Taken.
Under the present system of re-
cruit1ng such men can no longer gain
admittance to the service and the
young man intending to enlist can feel
!
with undesirable companions"
Describing in detail the life of a cpl
der with his regiment, the author
points out that on most days the en-
listed man rises at O'Clock: spends
two hours OF the day in drill and a
less time in miscellaneous work; gets
three good meals; does nothing at all
between sunset and II D. m. when he
must be in his little iron cot: gets fire..
quent leaves of absence for intervals
ranging from a few hours 10 several
days; is encouraged to go hunting and
fishing; earns extra pay for most kinds
OF extra work; may save $2sS.75, more
or less. in the first three years: ma,
rise to be sergeant-major, with a sal
airy Of $34 month Ito begin" ant
, may retire on pension after 1hirt,
, years.
: The socl,l lives structly drawn be
, tween privates and their military su
( periors are limited at in an argun,en
+ that these distinctions. SO repugnan
to many American recruits, are nus,
ter Of necessity for order and disc
pine. To this end also the intendin
! warrior Is advised that when he goe
] to bed in barracks his shoes, at tn
!. foot OF his cot, must be arranged i