Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-12-09
EVERY INCH A SOLDIER.
Personality Of General Adna r. Chaffes
Who Is Soon 10 Retire.

Personality Of General Adna r. Chaffee
Who Is Soon 10 Retire.
Adna r. Chaffee. the Lieutenant Cen
eral of the army, looks the fighter all
over and is. His record bears that out.
His shaggy brows overshadow a pair
of hazel eyes which do not SO much
look at you as through you. His brow
il deep-furrowed and his cheeks
bronzed and weather-beaten; the ideal
warrior, enough to brighten timid
person out of his wits. That is, until
he speaks. Then it is the lion tanned to
the gentleness of a lamb. His low, soft
voice comes like June zephyr out of
cyclone cloud and when he smiles,
which Is seldom. it is like the sun
bursting through the clouds-spontane
olis and just because it couldn't help it.
General Chaffee at the head Of any
army on dreary march to protect life
at the risk of life-such as his long
march from Tien-Tsin to Picking to
rescue the legation people in the
'boxer'' troubles-is one thing and Cen
eral Chaffee as the chief Of staff of the
United States Army in his spacious and
luxurious Office in the War Department
is quite another.
At the head of his forces on the field
and at the army post he dominates men
and situations. He thinks quickly and
acts quickly and thinks and acts in
variably right. The slowness and the
dullness of office life do not appeal to
him.
(which do you prefer, General, this
apparently quiet and easy life of the
ha n1ff-nf-d0nr life nf the
army post?" asked Chicago Chronicle
interviewer.
"Oh." came the answer quickly. the
life with my troops. by all means.
There it is all action and freedom and
he unconsciously breathed sigh which
matched the longing in his eyes.
1T takes the life out of a soldier to
put him at a desk and lot of routine
business. Too much of it would spoll
me!
MY recreation is right here at my
desk" declared the General. III give
myself any pleasure it is a ride on my
horse, but since my trip to France TINS
summer / have had no chance for that.
1t is work, all work. just now
From the ranks to the head of the
army is 4 proud record, one which is
not obtained without spirit and slgnlh-
cant work. The same mettle which
made this lieutenant general out of
private is dominating the general staff.
of which he is the head.
IL get to my office at $50 o'clock; 1t
used to be 8, but | am older now ana
give myself that little Indulgence. All
day I work here. Sometimes we dine
out. On those days l dine. Other days
/ don't. l just have dinner. Then al
ways have papers enough at home to
go over and straighten out to keep me
busy until midnight"
Il love the life of the army post 1t
has it's recreations, usually in the line
OF duty, but they are diversions. Now,
in the Philippines the inspection trips
were all made in boats, going from one
island to another. They were very
nice. The climate is not nearly so bad
there as it is pictured. 1t is quite bear
able and out on the water going from
one island to another it is really pleas
ant.
IF man who has to work will just
change the character of it now and
then it is almost as good as a brisk
canter in the country. 1 have never
seen the sport yet which could take the
place of good. healthy work"
washington as a residence for re-
tired officers? Oh, ideal, for those who
have little fortunes to keep up with
their associates. The women, bless
them, they love it at all times. Were
1t not for them We men would scarcely
be known out of our offices. That is
their part Of the government duties,
and they see to it that they are well
attended to-
At this point General Chaffee was in
terrupted by one of his officers who
fairly threw at him a bunch of facts
and data that would have put an ordi-
nary mind in Il whirl. Calmly pulling
on pair of large round spectacles. set
in heavy tortoise shell frames, with
lorg tortoise shell arms which hooked
over his ears. he looked into the pack
ages of ronderous papers and said.
Every WELL Colonel, | will look into the
matter"
The spectacles were a striking
adjunct to Il striking figure. His bushy
hair is tinged with gray and has nde
the faintest suspicion of even any flu
ture badness. 1t surmounts a face
strong. with deep wrinkles. and many
of them. the head and face in turn sur
mounting a pair of broad shoulders and
tall. commanding figure. These
heavy tortoise shell spectacles-a
Chinese trophy-are just the touch to
complete a truly distinctive person
ality. They are literally a pair of
lamps. and it is easy to imagine them
on the proboscis of Chinese viceroy
Of nearly 100 years ago.
Yes. l have soldier boy in the
family. My son will graduate next
year at West Point. That was not the
way l began. He is more fortunate. I
started in the ranks. and l was lucky
afterward
Above all things I long for the free
dom of the frontier and the briskness
or the army post. That is where life is
never mcnotonous even for man of
sixty odd"