The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-08-04


the value of an early training IN
Belleview. Lieut.. Marsh was also abb
sent from the post, being off on re-
cruiting trip down state.
Capt. Drake has two very efficient
lieutenants and / am told he is very
proud of them, and all Ocala is proud
of the three company commanders.
Some one should send them copy OF
Dumas Three Guardsmen or Three
Musketeers, as it is sometimes known.
As we stood at the officers quarters
and looked down the company street
the first thing that struck our eye
was a bonfire, in hole in the ground,
just in front of the company kitchen,
or mess hall, as the soldiers call it.
This hole is about four or five feet
deep, by three or four feet wide, and
perhaps six feet long. Into it goes
every bit of refuse, sweepings, odds
and ends of any and all descriptions.
so that the grounds are absolutely
free from any litter, paper or trash OF
any kind. This fire is kept burning
"a hours day, and is great con-
server of health, cleanliness and neat
ness.
At the head of each company street
and at the end of one of the rows of
tents is the kitchen and as we walked
up, the first familiar face that greeted
me was Alfred Abshire, in full kitch-
en- regalia. Alfred is the chief cook
and bottle washer for the company.
He was glad to see us and we were
glad to see him looking so contented.
AS we stood talking Lloyd Maier
came up and we exchanged exper-
fences, we giving him the Belleview
news in exchange for his camp exper-
fences. Dust then along came Laurie
Benjamin, minus shave. Laurie will
be an officer some of these days, if
the opportunity affords. missed the
smiling face of Lawton Sims, so sent
Lloyd Maier to find him. He found
him at Sunday school under big oak
tree. Just then along came Willie
Mckay of Oxford. Willie has his
heart set on going to that barbecue
at Oxford, August 9Th, and is going
if he has to walk; and then along
came one of those Johnny on the spot
boys, Mr.. Hugo Mcintosh, former
attache Of McIver & MacKay's big
store. Mr.. Mcintosh was right on the
job. 1t was certainly refreshing to
see him put on his best store manner,
and with the air of a professional
salesman take us in charge to shw
US the camp.
We did not want to buy any camp
however, but we were glad to have
him do the showing, so down the
company street we went. We explor-
ed the recesses of those tents and saw
just how those soldier boys lived,
slept and existed. While we were ex-
ploring, bang! went gun in one of
the tents. For minute all was ex-
citement-men rushed here and there.
Suddenly out of space an authorita-
tive voice rolled out in tones not to
be mistaken, Company A, attention."
Before you could say Jack Robinson,
quietness prevailed. The men came to
attention and the culprit who caused
all the commotion stated that his gun
was loaded but he did not know it
81
would go off. One of the bystanders
casually remarked that "such ignor-
ance was refreshing" and the incl
dent was over. Such little incidents
as these serve to relieve the monotony
of camp life.
After exploring the company street,
we went out and looked at smaller
row of tents behind the company COM
manders' tents. These were the major
or battalion commander tents. Each
major has charge of a battalion or
four companies, but right down in the
middle of the line of officers tents
was great big tent with a pavilion
out in front of it. This was the tent
of the commanding colonel of the reg
iment. He is the whole cheese to
this whole aggregation of 1900 or
more men. Privates, non-commission-
ed and commissioned officers all look
to him. His word is law. I guess
that is why there are so many col
|onels in private life, and should we
have war with Mexico there viii be a
whole raft of colonies turned loose
on the country, and about forty years
from now people will be calling Willie
Whisenant colonel.
About this time a certain hustle
and running about was noticeable. A
man down near the center of the line
took little horn and blew through it,
and little tune came out. did not
know the tune but our guide told US
that the regimental bugler was blow
ing orders to the different company
buglers. So, when this first man
would foot out little tune other men
all over the grounds would take up
the refrain and they, too, would toot
out little tune. 1t was not ragtime;
| am sure of that, and though it was
Sunday am quite certain it was not
sacred music. But anyhow, this man
down by the tent where the big noise
held forth stood there and blew his
little tune, and then tunes were taken
up by others all over the grounds,
and the bugle sounded on all sides. /