Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-05
COOP LOOKS IN THE ARMY
BY J. E. jerks

THE Government has established beauty
factory. Probably those most directly
concerned with the institution will not
recognize, by any such designation, that
branch of the War Department which is en-
gagged in the task of obtaining enlisted men.
While the new rules for the examination
of recruits that have just been adopted
lend themselves to the aippant purposes of
those loosely inclined and contain what
appear to be in some respects curious re-
quirements, there is every reason why the
army should be made up of fine looking
young men of good physique. Much de-
ponds on the bearing of an enlisted man to
give "smartness to his command. Soldier
nodded form, with avoidance of facial
blemishes, lack of stature, and number
| of other characteristics that cannot be
classed as deformities which are readily
recognized as disqualifying factors. For
| this reason some carefully prepared rules
have been adopted, covering more than two
hundred aspects of the situation.
Of course, there are what may be called
| chief characteristics, which determine reason
able alertness of vision and hearing and re-
quire certain dimensions in height, weight,
and chest measurements. There is, for in
stance, list of exercises through which the
|
cruiting officer to determine the facility of
action of various joints and muscles of the
body. Then, there is close physical ex-
animation to detect deformities and other
defects, with special reference to such fea
| lures of the ears, inability to quicker the
mouth in whistling Gan indication of facial
paralysis, the detection of the chicken
breasted, the avoidance of obesity (Which is a
cause for rejection when so marked as to
interfere with marching and other military
duties), and the Identification of knock
knees and bow legs.
Care must be taken in examination of the
vision to see that the applicant has not com
mitted to memory any of the standard
cards used for testing eyesight. 1t has re-
Gently been found that this is a practice
among those anxious to pass the examina
ton, who find it worth while to supply, by
feat of memory, that of which they are in
capable by defective vision. A new Device
described as an "unlearnable vision card, "
has recently been adopted so as to make this
impossible; but care must be taken to see
that the person under test is really being
tested, and is not giving an exhibition of his
retentive mind.
There is special examination of the feet of
the would be recruit, since in the case of
most soldiers, and notably in those of the
infantry, the ability to march depends vital
ly upon the absence of such defects as fiat
feet, corns, deformed toes, and bunions.
The army has within the last year or two
adopted shoe, the form of which was de-
vised along scientific lines after careful de-
termination of what has been termed a
military foot" The strength of the foot in
the case of a recruit is tested by requiring
him to walk on his toes, the soles of the feet
being nearly vertical with the floor, and to
hop on the toes of each foot. He must be
able to rise on the tiptoes strongly, to hop
well, and to alight on the toes after springing
from the ground.
One of the most difficult parts of the ex-
animation is that which aims to detect men
tai and nervous disorders, and the rules in
clude many methods by which these causes
for rejection may be ascertained. Among
other things against which the authorities
exercise vigilance are somnambulism, STAN
mering, cravings leading to alcoholism, and
drug habits.
In the personal appearance, the body is
taken up in detail in these regulations, and
no deformity is overlooked. AS an example
of the thoroughness of the system of exami-
nation, it would be sufficient to quote Para
graph 1O1: Extreme ugliness, either as
result Of atrophy of part of the face, or on
nf loeb If