Evening star., 1914-01-25

for he went to Washington him
self, interviewed the Congressman, and to my utter
ordered up within few weeks to take
examination for a commission in the regular army. My
utmost dreams had been merely the new volunteers;
but whether my friend the Congressman did not
dcrstand the limit Of my desires, whether he debcr
atey determined to do than had asked at any
here | scheduled for examination in Wash
inston.
Like all the State volunteers, when we had gone
we had regarded the regular I Of superhurnan
being the extreme dealization of skill, physique.
knowledge, and experience Constant contact with
small; bodies of them during the campaign had some
what dued this impression; but our first encounter
in the ranks would not have been at all surprised to
find that they had wings. At any rate, was in per
petual condition OF stage fright from the day of
notification to that of my examination. In the mean
time got hold Of every book in the camp. and being
somewhat trained to study, found that the ground
had to cover was really but small The science Of
is immense in its possibilities but the rudiments OF
military knowledge surprisingly simple. With my
previous experience and with natural training in
system Of thought, covered the entire infantry manual
afternoon
The examination itself another disappointment
OF a very agreeable kind. There great many
other candidates before the various boards then sitting
in Washington and they being hurried off III short
order: but least, went back to my camp deeply IN
doubt expecting to hear the result for SIX months.
and utterly fearing do To my further astonish
ment within three weeks my new friend the
Congressman walked into camp day discovered me
peelng potatoes in undershlrt and calmly produced
nv commission from his pocket.
There were great many officers created in hardly
more formal way in that year and those which
followed, so many, in fact, that the events
called the crime of '9S but if have been regarded
as partial of such calamity my friends have been
very tactful about it.
THE few days allowed at home before joined my
new regiment formed another period of stage fright
| now had nv commission and the signature of the
President to prove my right; but expected to be re-
ccve in nv regiment intruder to be snubbed by
everyone from Colonel cook, and to lead miserable
existence until the other officers could forget
half expected that the commanding officer would ask
me catch questions out OF the army regulations to
trip me- and that the oldme Sergeants would execute
every order with a sncer behind my back. They may
indeed have done so; but never knew it.
The regiment to which ordered in camp III
an isolated part Florida What in the world it
doing there haven't the slightest idea. don't think
they knew themselves except that, after the sanitary
horrors OF the early summer, the War Department had
been seized with a mania for hcthful locations. had
been ordered to report the commanding officer
later than a certain day. and fearing to ntrude had
made my calculations arrive at absolutely the last
1ossiblc minute To my infinite relief ut the junction
where we took the branch line met two other Young
men who had Just been appointed and the same
errand rs J. knew from the order containing my own