The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1912-03-22
LOTS OF ROSES IN
THE SOLDIERS PATH
d. c. BRADY'S RETURN MORE
TRIUMPHANT.
Takes Exception to Elmer Williams
Insinuations of Irregularities In
the Regular Army. His Three
Years of Service Most Pleasant.

d. c. Brady, who returned to Clio
about 4 months ago, after three
years service in Uncle Sans army,
takes exceptions to the tales of
"war" related by Elmer Williams in
these columns last week. He .avers
that his period of service was full
of many pleasantries and that the
prOverbial roses were surely in his
path, if Elmer did seem to get notli-
ing but the thorns.
Mr.. Brady served most of his
three years at Fort Caswell, N. c.,
and at Fort Mcpherson, Ga. He
says that, at the posts where he was
stationed the rations consisted Of
plain food but that it was always Of
good quality and there was plenty
of il. He thinks that when on a
long hike good feed Of beans and
hard tack is just the thing and goes
to the right spot"
In regard to the officers grating
OH the purchase of food for the men
Mr.. Brady does not think that 1t is
possible for them to do much In that
line as, he says, they have to post
the account of all the supplies
bought and served where the men
can read 1t and see if they are re-
ceiving all that they should. He
also says that all food Is doubly in.
spected before being served to the
men.
According to Mr.. Brady's account
of it, life in the army is, in some
ways, like going to school. When a
man goes into it he is instructed as
| to VIE. the rules and regulations
and articles &C war are and If he
lives up to them AID does his duty
he win get along allNgight, but If
he breaks the rules and gets to be a
"guardhouse soldier" he VIII be
pretty certain to "get what is COM
ing to him."
For about the first year of his SER
vice Mr.. Brady says he didn't like
the army life himself and wanted to
get out Of il, but when he found he
couldn't, he made up his mind to
settle down and make the best of
it, and after that he got along with
out any trouble and enjoyed the life
very much.
In many cases the men who do
the most kicking re-cnlist when
their time is up, according to Mr..
Brady. He says he knows of many
cases where men have bought their
discharge and, after short time
spent in civil life have gone back
and rc-enlisted.
A long hike with only one sand
wich for dinner doesn't look rea-
sonable to him as he never had any
thing like that happen to him dur
ing his three years experience in
the army.
Mr.. Brady says that three years of
army life is good thing for
young man and il there is any good
in him ii will bring ii out. Pro-
motion is easily obtained by any
man who takes an interest in the
work and the examinations for pro-
motion are conducted in fair man.
ner.
Saving money is very easy in the
army as the government furnishes
everything necessary. Any soldier
may deposit with the paymaster
sums of Ave dollars or over. This
money is held till the soldier is DIS
charged and draws 4 per cent. in
terest.
The government, says Mr.. Brady,
has nothing to do with soldiers
civilian clothes and he may do with
them as he pleases; but IL does for
bid him to sell his uniform. A GER
tain amount Is allowed each SOL
dier each year for the purchase Of
underwear, boots, etc.
These are OF the best quality and
arc furnished to the soldier at cost
price and charged against his cloth !
ing allowance; il he does not use
his entire allowance the balance is
paid to him in cash at the time Of
his discharge; some men have a
neat sum coming to them from their |
allowance.
The men are forbidden to sell
their uniforms because there is a
ready market for army clothing on |
account of It's quality, and II the
men were allowed to sell their
as they please, some of
them would draw clothing up to
their full allowance, sell 1t, and
have nothing to wear.
In spite Of this rule some Of the
men do sell part Of theiv clothing |