The daily sentinel., 1907-02-21

may have added mirth to It's cherries
gloom His name was Albigence
Waldo. a surgeon, and in addition to
his official duties he kept diary
which. after a hundred years. Is
strangely interesting. This diar
came to light in 1861 in the old Penn
sylvania Magazine, and read through
from the first entry on Nov. 10 1t in
dicates. as nothing else could. the
wearing effect of the times and cil
cumstances. On Dec. Il the hnrdships
of Valley Forge have begun TO tell on
this surgeon to the continental army
He writes:
81 am prodigious sick and cannot get
anything comfortable What in the
name OF providence can | do with a
fit of sickness in this place, where
nothing appears pleasant to the sick
ened eye and nauseating stomach
But | doubt not providence VIII finl
way for my relief only | cannot cal
beef if 1 starve; for my stomach posi-
lively refuses such company, and how
can | help that?"
Next day he is worse. and in a worst
mood he scribbles:
Dec. 12.-Sunset. We are orderel
to march over the river 1t SHOWS
I'm sick-eat nothing-no whisky-n,
rd-Lord-Lordi"
Twelve days later he begins with
tribute to the endurance and pa
tience of the soldlery. followed with
loud protestings for himself and his
condition. and winds up his memo.
-anda by taking 1t all back:
Dec. 24.-Prisoners and deserter1
are continually coming in. The army,
who have been surprisingly health?
hitherto. have now begun to grow
sickly from the continued fatigue /
they have suffered in this campaig /
Yet they still show spirit and alacrit
and contentment not to be eXpecto |
from so young troops. Why are WI
sent here to starve and freeze? Whai
sweet facilities have | left at home,
a charming wife, pretty children. goo I
beds. good food. good cooking-a /
agreeanle-all harmonious. Here al
confusion-cold. smoke, hunger. an |
filthiness. Here comes a bowl of sou.
full OF burnt leaves and dirt. Awa9
with it, boys-I'll live like a chameleon
upon air,
'Poh, poh. cries Patience With !
me; you talk like a fool Your b.
ing sick covers your mind with me-,
ancholic gloom. which makes every,
thing about you appear gloomy Sc,
the poor soldier when in health-witI
what cheerfulness he meets his foei
4. It
barefoot. he labors thr gh the mul
and cold with song in his mouth,
extolling war and Washington
But hearken. Patience, a moment,
There comes soldier. His bare fee
are seen through his worn-out shoes:
his legs nearly naked from the tat
tered remains of an only pair OF stock,
ings-his shirt hanging in strings
his hair disheveled-his face meager
his whole appearance picturing q
person forsaken and discouraged Ha
comes and cries with an air of wretch,
edness: 1 am sick-my feet lame-my
legs are sore-my clothes worn out,
my constitution broken-I fail fast
shall soon be no morel And all thu
reward l shall get will be: Pooi
win is no more"
Humor in Some Entries.
That Surgeon Waldo was humoris;
in no mean degree is shown by an ex.
tract following one in which he giyel
a dissertation on "fire.cake" as an arti.
Gle of steady diet He writes:
Dec. 22.-Lay excessive cold and
uncomfortable last night. My eyei
are started out from their orbits Iiks
IA rabbits eyes. occasioned by a grea,
eold-and smokei
What have you for breakfast.
iads?'
'Fire-cake and water. sir
The Lord send that our commits.
sary OF purchases may live on fire.
cake and water till their glutted stom.
achs are turned TO pastoboard!"
To this comprehensive picture of
life at Valley Forge is that memorable
winter. Surgeon Waldo added as ma
OF his last memoranda little tribute
OF his own to the general who had
come with them SO far afield
so much talk about the officers 50
he writes. and so many discharged
that his Ex-y lately expressed
fears of being left alone win the sol
diers only. Strange that our country
viii not exert themselves for his ,un.
port and save so good-so gre.t-a
man from entertaining the least any.
ious doubt Of their virtue and perse.
feranee IN supporting a cause of snch
unparalleled Importance
But when May came the army vs.
eager TO meet the British In their re-.
treat from PhIadelnhia