Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1905-01-13
Opposes the Canteen.
Rockville, Md, January 4, 1906

Rockville, Nd, January 4, 1905.
Mrs. Anna r. Maus, wife Of Col. L. M.
Maus, United States Army, who lives in this
town, has addressed the following letter TO
Mrs. Kelton, president of the Army and
Navy League, in answer to request to sign
apetition for the re. establishment Of the can.
teen:
although many years have passed since
my last letter, II seems quite natural to be
writing TO you again, and I hope that you
have as pleasant memories OF me as l have
OF you. In the last five or six years have
been much In foreign lands, and 30 have
not been 10 close touch with the women of
my country. l have, however, never lost
sight Of what considered my duty to our
soldiers, and 1t is Of them l would write you
now.
"For twenty. five years the enlisted man
has been my charity, as you know. Long
before the Y. M. @. AS were established In
army posts bought pianos and organs, and
was assisted In some instances by the league
In furnishing q room where soldiers might
have books and music and touch Of home.
In these years have seen our army change
very much In Its personnel. Formerly II
was largely composed of foreigners-lrish,
German, few French and English. All
Of these men were past middle age. NOW
we have an army OF very young American
farmer boys. In many instances they have
grown weary Of country life, and, not hav'
ing cultivated the quick wit OF the city lad,
they enlist. Never in its history has our
army been more efficient or its standard
higher morally and believe this 10 due 10 the
lack of temptation brought about by the alb
sence of the sale Of intoxicants at army posts.
AIN years past 1t seemed necessary for
these old soldiers to dissipate. There are
many brave, noble officers In our army who
are honest and conscientious IN their efforts
to restore the canteen, believing that the
men will be saved from going outside and
falling among thieves. They take the ground
that every soldier must drink, and this was
the case twenty years ago. Out OF q CON-
pany of thirty men, twenty would be In the
guard house every pay day. The figures
have changed, 80 tina; not more than per
cent Of the men are dlssipated, at the pres
ent time having new, young army, whose
habits are not formed.
"In furnishing convenient drink 10 the
very few they are placing temptation In the
way Of the many who otherwise would
escape, and who would never 60 outside and
oRSAN sAoh hAOhOYs AAohy 00aNASss AA-NS
told me that the fact of their getting credit
was great attraction; besides, all the boys
went there and they were made 80 welcome
as long as their $13 lasted besides, they
made 30 much noise there that 1t was Inn
possible to read In the Y. M. @. A., which,
unfortunately, 10 usually located next door
TO the centeen.
"All mothers will sympAthize with our
soldiers, shut away from home associations,
with an attractive bar open TO them. l have
had many laundresses tell me that their hus-
hands spent all their time, as we'll as their
money, at the canteen, and one delicate wo-
man with five children said she had only 90
cents Of her husbands pay In three months.
81 believe there are few officers or ladies'
in the army who know the soldiers as do.
Since the war with Spain begun have been
by the bedside of many thousand sick and
dying men, and have heard sad stories Of
blighted lives, made failures by habits Of
intemperance. have no boys Of my own,
but beg that you mothers and fathers will
think long and well before placing this
temptation before some other mothers boy"