The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-12-04
ARMY AND NAVY

iiculties and the completion of the lit
tie building should mean indeed day
of rejoicing at Leilehua.
'Babyland'-well, of course, all the
mother-instinct of the writer went out
to the enclosure with that word hung
.up over its entrance "Babyland,"
Swings, see-saws, all manner of
things to play with certainly those
darling Riddles of the Second Infantry
land they are darling!) are blessed
with a fairy god-mother! Who else
would have thought to touch that par
ticular bit of ugly old Leilehua
ground with a fairy wand and build
"BabylandI'
And, speaking of babies-if little
Baby Longanecker keeps on growing
up" the way he has grown since the
writer first met him, he will soon be in
command of his own wegiment' Ito
quote ''Wee Willie Winhe'O! Why, in
the spring, he was just a tiny tad in
dresses, and now he wears near-trous-
ers, and walks and even talks!-oh,
but he does, for he told me some won
derful words about the "choo-choo
cars!"
There was one thing above others
that struck the. writer forcibly, at
Leilehua, on this recent visit. 1t was
the apparent cheerfulness OF the pris.
oners Back on the mainland, a view
of the guardhouse filled one with dis
may. The men looked so miserable, so
roughly treated | must say that the
men of the Second Infantry who were
in some sort of pilikia or other
showed signs of only humane treat
ment. They had evidently been treat
ed as well as possible. This seems
noteworthy fact in view of all the un-
pleasant things that have been writ
ten within the past year about the
way men are treated in the army.
In spite of the red dirt, in spite of
the bleak winds which sweep across
the plains from Wahiawa, in spite of
the general disadvantages of Leilehua,
the Second Infantry has established
itself in clean, attractive home
and in a splendidly courageous, cheer
full manner and the writer, through
the medium of The Defender, takes
this opportunity to repeat the Aloha
of the first pleasant visit of the spring
Thanksgiving Day All over the
Island.
The Defender: Fort de Russy
spent a quiet day-that is, as far as
working goes The forenoon was
spent in anticipation of that big din
ner; and the afternoon was devoted
to bunk fatigue. Gosh! but those
were some "eats!" That day of rest
came in mighty handy, both to ston-
ach and body. But why don't holt
days come oftener? OF course, our
chefs might kick at that, but we
wouldn't.
At Ruger everything had that deep
veil of peace drawn over the Post
We were some tired from the arduous
task Of cleaning up the reservation
and the holiday came very handily.
OF course, we made an awful hole in
the cooks supplies when we sat down
to dinner-which sure was appreci-
ated After dinner we were all TOO
tired to even play ball-and the bunk
never felt better!
At Fort Shafter the only uneventful
affair besides the big holiday dinner
was a pickup game of ball in the aft
ernoon. We were mighty glad of The
rest period that comes with a holt
day and our stomachs felt better as
result of the bully feed we enjoyed.
/ Then, too, many of the sailors came
out in the afternoon and were made
to feel at home with us. They're a
/ jolly good bunch and we wish they
| came oftener.
With the Fleet Thanksgiving meant
not only a fine spread to sit down to
and thoroughly be satisfied, but also
a respite from coaling or cleaning
ship. In the afternoon, autos, rigs,
bicycles and horses were impressed
into service for the sake of visiting
every square inch of the city and sub
urbs Ball games were attended,
swimming at the beach INDUCED in,
and every method of enjoying them
selves put into practice. The two