The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1907-09-27
LETTER
From A Lawrence County Sol
der Boy.
Fort DUPONT. Delaware
c.. % ,oo-

NPN 80 AsVA-
1t is with great pleasure that
grasp the opportunity OF chatting a
few moments with the many readers
OF the News 1t is true, that m
letters may not interest some Of the
readers. but you will agree with me
when say that it is natural for a
Big Sandy boy to want to be doing
something-just like a bear-all time
hugging.
Of course you are all aware OF ehe
fact that, If wished to write some
thinS to please and interest all who
read this paper ! could not confine
myself to one subject alone. for what
pleases Peter may not please Paul.
30 1t is with each and every indiyid-
ual to-day-each has his own idol.
Some have inspirations to become
great Statesmen, others would be
farmers. doctors. etc. But your hum
hle servant is more deeply interest
ed in the L. S. Army than any 9TH
er subject at the present time. So
if you vii bear with me dwell up
on that subject for a short time.
am sure that those who read the
daily papers have not failed to see
quite a number of articIes-such as
What can be done to make the army
more attractive, and to bring it up
TO a higher standard of efficiency.
and a great many more pertaining
To the Army and Navy Of the United
States Some people may say, what
better army do We want, have We
not an army and navy that bids de-
fianee to all nations" Then my dear
friend it is time for you TO begin 10
read and think. Every day sees the
ranks Of Uncle Sans Army growing
thinner. A great many are desert
ing, while those who are being dis
charged. are seeking new fields of
employment.
Why is it that this state Of affairs
exists? You have but to reflect back
over the history Of the army and
all is clear. A few years ago the pay
Of an enlisted man was s13 per month
What is his pay today? Just the
same. sl3 per month. While today
with the knowledge that the COM
mon enlisted man is required to have
he should command not less than
$500 per month. When / say knowl-
edge. mean the ability to handle
all Of the different kinds Of instru-
ments that are now used in the diff
ferent branches of the army, such as
POSITION finders plotting boards. range
boards. etc He is not only requir-
ed to be able to manipulate these
instruments. but he must be accurate
and swift in all calculations II he
does net have this education when he
enters the service he is put right in
to school and kept there until he is
able to master all subjects that may
come before him. Then | say that
the great defect in the army is not
enough pay. and IL the people who
pretend to have the welfare Of the
country at heart would Just get to-
gether on this subject and make some
suggestions OF what they think best
the probabilities are that this great
question could be settled. but il they
wait for somebody else to do it, it
viii not be long before Uncle Sam
win get up some morning and he will
not have any more army than a
rabbit
The talk in Delaware now is, "catcl
ing crabs and picking tomatoes, and
to be sure there is a beautiful eros
o. each l am going to spring bne
on you nOw and you can do as you
please. believe it or let 1t alone. In
one day there was 7O00 baskets OF To-
matoes shipped from Delaware City
to Baltimore, the price ranging from
l. to . cents per basket This may
sound kinder loud. but n l tried ever
50 hard couldn't beat the fish sto-
~ that read in the News some few
weeks since. The story was all to
the good. but the dimensions of that
wonderful fish, S feet long and weigh
ing all OF forty-four pounds It
must have been snake instead Of
fish.
Now can't afford to close with
out a word for the X. n. C. am
certainly glad to note the marked
success that 1t has met with since
it has been in Louisa. and with its
able corps of instructors. it can
know nothing but successoin the fu-
ture Hoping my few words viii not
be dealt with too severely by the crit
les I will close. Wishing the News
success, and best regards to my Big
Sandy friends.
am respectfully yours.
Dennie Elkins.