The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-02-25
KENT HOWARD IN WASHINGTON
Being the Story of New Congressman and His Temptation Told by
 Series of Letters to His Wife.

to their tailor than they do to Mars and are skilled to "caper lightly OCT my lady's chamber to the lascivious pleasing of a lute." ..a
 Majority Probably Likt It.
 Do not misunderstood me. I presume a majority of the officers so assigned like it. In fact, the greatest pressure is always being brought to bear to se- cure Washington assignments for young officers. The army wing of the social life is most important and the tendency of the military education Is apparently directed to equipplng young men to shine in a social way.
 Which reminds me that board of distinguished army officers recently spent two months in debate as to whether the stripes on the legs of the cavalry officers pants should be robin's- egg blue or some other shade. The momentous question was finally car ried up to the Secretary of War for his decision. Those are the things that make a plain, American citizen want to hold his nose These boards are all ways In session. deciding or discussing some question like that and they ad- journ about 3 o'clock each day in or der that the members of it may get their buttons polished for the pink tea doi1gs in the evening.
 The worst feature of this whole bus mess is that it makes a pauper. a beg gar or a dead beat out of the young officer who does not have an income aside from his pay. The Government is reasonably generous in the payment of the officers of the army and navy, but 10 ono under the rank of Major General can afford to go the Washing ton pace without mortgaglng his fu- ture or drawing upon other resources. This i8 so well kown here that Gen eral Corbin. in an official way, recom- mended that young officers of the army be prohibited from getting married un | less they had other incomes than their army paper. should Hunt Rich Wives.
 In other words. he suggested that those who were not rich in their own right should hunt rich wives. That chase is on all the time. The young l officer who gets the taste of Washing | ton life is loath to leave It, and prompt 1 ly begins his campaign. A rich wife means to him influential friends, reten | tion in Washington on detached duty and final promotion, even at the cos | of becoming utterly worthless as sol | dier, the purpose for which the Gov ernment educated him.
 The Lindsay and Burton boys do no l have money sufficient to keep up tha pace They would be forced to join il l llAG SSidillblt TUT recognition, Spcld | prominence, and all that and eventual | ly become just as namby- -pamby as th' rest of the ambitious but poor army of l flcers that you butt into every tim, you turn a corner in Washington. I would be the greatest misfortune, il my judgment that could befaH then and am not going to try to secure tn, l appointment for them.
 I used to declare that I would wea no other uniform than that of ml country. Today I believe, loyal as
 am to Ehe nation and the flag, I woul, rather wear the uniform of an elevate | conductor than be poor and compelle, to take up the duties of an army office in Washington.
 There Is a reason, of course, for thi | butterfly existence led by army of1cial in Washington. Law and preceden have established routine througl l which the officer must go, and, in time of peace, 1t Is an awful task for then to find something to keep them iron dying of dry rot.
 Course of Red Tape.
 | Questions that a business man woult
 dispose of at moments notice be