Evening star., 1914-01-25

to be a soldier. ct great IS the general
lack OF knowledge concerning the United States army,
and common the illusion that the only way to enter
it, officer, by securing early in life, Of the
coveted appointments to West Point that few lads ever
discover for themselves the Join what many
regard the noblest profession in the world.
Nevertheless every year there open to American
youths who have not been able to reach the academy
dozens of chances commission and that the
vacancies often go begging surprising commentary
on the ignorance of conditions
A few wears ago was told by officer that, in the
thirty regiments of infantry then in the army, there
single First Lieutenant who had graduated from
West Point did not take the trouble count up the
register to see whether not this but, from
knowledge of general conditions, have doubt that
it was Perhaps a brief sketch OF my experience
may illustrate the chances the army has offered IN the
last few years and still offers to the ambitious young
man who has given up hope of entering this favored and
historic profession.
In the winter OF 1898 was clerk in drygoods
do mention that fact from any particular pride
humble origin or from any desire equal the record of
Sir Joseph Porter X. c. B.; for did not intend be
clerk all my life. In fact, the store belonged my
uncle and had sort OF hazv promise that might be
partner by the time forty SO, indeed, | might
have been had not the Maine blown up in Havana
Harbor in the memorable February OF that year
TIP TO that time my idea of the army had been about
~ that of the average American. From the novels Of
Captain Charles King gathered in hazv sort Of way
that there was handful of ong-mustachei in the
Far West who spent their time fighting Indians and
garrison scandal, and quiet youth from
whose uncle in Congress disappeared from view,
and the rurnor that he had gone to West Point.
Some years afterward he reappeared for few days
with deep coat OF tan and suit OF civilian clothes in
the fashion OF four years back and after hanging around
in lost-soul Of way, again drifed of ken.
That was all we knew about the army, except for the
&. A. R. until the broke and tumblcd head
over heels to enlist local militia company known
the "'rrumbull Guards which had been leading pre-
carious existence and regarded in popular eStil-
ton as sort of rival Of the Ell;s and the Knights of
Pvh4s. We read about ourselves in the papers as
patriots and recalled with great gsto the spirit OF 70;
but the truth of that half of in for the
pure fun of the thing and the other half because they
were ashamed to stay behind. In ten days we were
hunting with microscope for the fun and in twenty
we were not ashamed Of anything.
That part Of my military brief and un-
cvcntful. For the first week of
jealous college gee club riot; the second officers
began learn that they had certain privileges and in
cidcntay certain duties; the third they began to enforce
them; and the fourth the Trumbul Guards dis
trlct organization, dead the great aux. We
had started out with fiftyodd men, and raised
hundred by the simple process Of pouring in long
shorcmcn from the nearest seaport town. with the result