Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-01
HAVE A RAlF-H0L|DAY
Guardsmen at the Potomac
Forts Get a Respite.
INSPECTION THIS MORNING
Plans for Religious Exercises in
Camps Tomorrow.
MUSTER OF REGULAR SOLDIERS
Dermatophilus, or Chigger, Makes
Her Presence Very Much Felt.
Searchlights Not Used.
MUSTER OF REGULAR SOLDIERS


FORT WASHINGTON. Md, August L.
Like employees of the government in the
executive departments at Washington, the
National Guardsmen of the District Of CO.
lumbia are enjoying Saturday half-holi-
day this afternoon. The rest is conceded
to be we'll deserved, for since last Monday
morning the members of the brigade have
been leading truly strenuous existence
And there is a busy period ahead. Par
ticularly grateful for the brief respite are
the officers of the army who are on duty
here as instructors. They have been kept
on the go just as steadily as have the
guardsmen.
Regular Saturday inspection was in or
der this morning for everybody. Regulars
and guardsmen formed ranks in heavy
marching order and were closely scru-
tinized. the citizen soldiery being given a
practical demonstration of just what the
arm does in that special line.
The commissioned officers of the guard
assembled to hear a lecture at IL o'clock.
Guard meeting will be held. as usual, late
this afternoon. and the Brigade Band Is
to give the customary evening concert
Tomorrow will be a day of rest. The
clIaplains are to conduct religious exer-
cises and special services will be held in
j -
attractive to large proportion of the
guardsmen, the quarters being always
crowded while the men are off duty.
Discussion Of the Work.
Discussion of the advance and rear
guard work of yesterday was in order at
the assembly Of. officers last evening. The
conferences between the instructors and
the National Guard officers were kept up
in the various camps and in groups along
the granolthic walks long after the meet
ing adjourned. The greatest interest is
being manifested in the exercises and
marked progress is noted all along the
line. due largely to the conscientiousness
of the instructors, which results in gen
guardsmen, both officers and enlisted
men.
The guardsmen yesterday afternoon
watched closely the regular month-end
muster of the regular soldiers stationed
here. All these details count, it is ex-
soldier.
Although dress parades are daily
feature at Fort Hunt, nothing of the
sort has yet been attempted here. The
only ceremony on this side OF the river IS
guardmounting, by the National Guard
the band furnishing the mu-
sic.
Have Reunion at Dinner.
Gen. Harries and several other officers
of the guard who held commissions in |
the LIST District of Columbia Infantry, !
United States Volunteers. war with |
Spain. were the guests last evening of |
Capt. Macon, Coast Artillery Corps. and
Mrs. Macon. at dinner. Capt Macon |
served as lieutenant in the LIST District
Regiment.
The searchlishts were not in use last !
night, although they had been diligently |
employed the two preceding evenings, |
tomac river in this vicinity was not |
by the District National Guards |
men and the big guns.
Dermatophilus Is Active.
The dermatophilus has made his pres
ence felt In camp This presence it may |
be added. is being very much felt, and is |
likely to be felt more and more with the |
passage OF time. Those who do not rec
ognize the individual referred to by the |
name mentioned may be enlightened by
the information that she-the pronoun is |
used advisedly-is none other than the |
or it may be palmer TO
make use of another surname rhynchop-
rion penetrans. or course those convers-
ant with foreign languages will at once
know that this little lady is the bicho de |
pc. the nisua, Clique, the chegoe. the |
chegie the chigoe the earth flea or the |
Jigger. Then again she Is sometimes spo-
ken OF as the gay and festive chigger
Those qua rdsmen who have attended
camp at Fort Washington In former years
are intimately acquainted with the CHG
ger. 1t has been a source of the greatest
annoyance. and at the last camp the raw
ages OF the insect were SO severe upon one
member OF the guard that he found It
necessary to place himself under surgical
treatment for several weeks after return
ing to Washington. Authorities agree
that SO great Is this pest that serious
trouble has been caused expeditions in
South America and to the French army
in Mexico.
Penetrates the Skin.
Carefully directed inquiry shows that
and dictionaries are not
to be found in camp. 1t Is presumed,
however. Webster would define the minute
terror something like the following:
Chigger-a small insect Of the flea fami-
ly. common in the West Indies and South
and particularly numerous at
Fort Washington, Md, U. S. A.. especially
during encampment of the District Ma
tional Guard. The insect often attacks
and pentrates the skin and rears a numer-
Gus progeny under 1t. Unless promptly
sores. which, neglected at first, are diff
cult to heal
1t is the habit of the chigger to proceed
with its deadly work for several days be-
fore announcing that 1t has called. BY
that time IT has secured good Roadway
and is difficult to capture. The guard has
been at camp a week. and complaints are
now being recorded in the order OF their
receipt. The ravages of the chigger are
by no means as many as they have been
heretofore and that very welcome state of
affairs may be explained by the fact that
the underbrush, the haunt OF the insect.
Is not nearly so much In evidence as was
the case in the past. However, the CHG
ger is on the roll indelibfy, and he answers
promptly at every call. One member of
the ambulance corps has a belt of them
Embedded in the skin OF his waist
Contempt for Human Family.
The selection OF member Of the med
ical department as the target OF his initial
dastardly designs Is but an instance Of the
characteristics of the chigger. On all &C.
casions ii displays most exaggerated
degree OF contempt for all members Of the
human family