The National tribune., 1907-12-19

times in the best possible physlcal con-
dition. The physical test required IN
nv recent instructions to the Secretary
of War has been purposely so specified
that no officer will be able to stand II
who has not kept himself in proper
physical condition. 1t is neither severe
nor excessive, but an officer VINO per-
mits himself to become physically weak
or debiltated by Incidence or lack OF
exercise will not be able to take it sue
cessfully.''
Sometimes folks get too bloomin'
smart The other day ex-senator John
B. Henderson was riding in street car,
and as he got up couple of men VINO
evidently belonged to surveying out
fit. stopped simultaneously and picked
up pocketbook, and yelled at the eX-
Senator that he had dropped his wad
The naughty gentleman replied that he
knew what he was about, and walked
off the car, leaving the two men some
what surprised; but they proceeded to-
examine the ''wad," which consisted of
S39 and a lot of important paper. Later
the naughty Senator found that he had
sure enough dropped his wad." and
reported at police headquarters, and
asked that the honest men be found.
He said that he was very busy think
ing at just that time, and was so an
noyed to be spoken to that he did not
take the pains to see if he had his wal
let or not It would seem as tho $39
and important papers was pretty good
price to pay for exclusiveness, but eX-
Senator Henderson is quite able to pay
for any little idiocyncrasy, and that IS
what he seems to have done.
The Army Medical Corps is to have its
efficiency increased and to be expanded.
support for legislation strengthening
the Medical Corps of the Army has been
gaining ground in Congress since the
war in the Far East The Spanish War
revealed the unpreparedneSs and made
quacy of the Medical Corps of the
United States Army. The loss of life
/ from typhoid and other diseases was
| heavy. But the lesson of what an ef-
| ficient Medical Corps could accomplish
was not fully brought home until it was
ascertained what the Japanese accom-
plished in the way of prevention of dis
ease thru a highly organized and highly
effective Medical Corps.
The men who go down to the sea in
ships-namely. those in the great squad
ron which sails with Admiral Evans on
the 18th for Pacific waters-are to have
their Christmas exactly as tho they were
at home. 1t is expected that they will
reach the Island of Trinidad by Dec.
"a, and they will have shore leave in
Port au Prince on that day Beside
that. there is on board those great war
machines something like 10000 pounds
| of turkey for the dinner and for dessert
some 10000 pounds of candy. Now,
what do you think of that? The Army
and Navy both begin to recognize the
fact that men have as natural a sweet
tooth" as children, and that they really
need candy and sugar. 1t has been
found that a ration which has a good
! deal of sugal- needs less of other things
TO make it balance" for a perfect food.
The size and dignity of the fleet that
IS TO carry the flag thru the Magellan
Straits and add such an important new
chapter to American naval history is
best emphasized by the fact that no less
than four Rear-Admirals are in COM
mand. The battle at Santiago found a
Commodore and a Captain temporarily
assigned to flag rank as the command
ing officers of the American forces.
Dewey sailed into Manila Bay Com
modore.
There is to be a new reading clerk in
the United States Senate. Now, that
sounds simple like, and just as tho you
could go out on the street and pick up
any high school graduate, we will say,
and let him Immediately begin to draw
$500 a year Nay nay, and likewise
>
clerk of either House is chosen. If you
don't believe it you ought TO walk into
the Senate gallery about now, and see
what is going on. There are some so
applicants for the position which car
ries a good deal of honor as well as a
big salary, if you please, and likewise a
lot of hard work. But the trial. Chief
: Clerk Bennett will probably tell you
that his is the trial, for he is trying
) those men who would like to be read
ing clerk out in the Senate Chamber
; between spells. The reader must be
: thoroly acquainted with the English
language to start with, for he is likely
to have the whole dictionary thrown at
: his head on a busy day, and he must
: be able to say that peter Piper picked
a peck of picked peppers" right off fast
like that, you know; he must be a
= grammarian, so that when a new Sena-
1 tor who is a little ratified sends up to
him 10 read a resolution or motion that
+, is not grammatically constructed he can
straighten it out as he reads, and he
must be able to read Sahscrit for nc
[ Senator writes hand that can be read
offhand; he must be able to skip" IL
t reading tremendous long bills so that
nobody can tell that he is doing so, and
2 above all things, he must have voice
} and he ought to have presence, so as &c
L comport with Senate surroundings: but
: above all things else, he has got to have
/ voice, lots of it. He must DE able tC
i sing you to Somnolence with it; he must
3 wake the echoes with it; he must read
8 distinctly, he must read sonorously. and
: he must have a smooth voice, a lifting
j voice, thoroly musical. Now, what dc
: you think of man who possesses such
l qualifications as that? AS matter ol
e fact, the United States Senate has never
l. had a man with a voice that was no
comparable to a fog horn. That's why
: they are SO particular now.
Women nurses should be employed
: in the United States Navy, in order Il
raise the Naval Medical Service to it:
highest standard of efficiency" is tn,
opinion of Mr. r. W. Plummer, Pas
: Assistant Surgeon of the United State
t Naval Medical Service.
: A bill for the establishment and or
: ganization of corps of trained womer
: nurses in the Navy was recommended
: to Congress. 1t provides that womer
: nurses be employed in naval hospitals
e on shore in time of peace and on hos
o pital ambulance ships in time of war.
e In order that the officers and men o
e the vessels of the Atlantic fleet ma
d have a thoro knowledge of the various
tries of South America, which the.
Will visit on their cruise around th
e southern continent, Mr. Barrett Direc
: tor of the International Bureau o
= A