The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1917-06-23
MAKING SOLDIERS
Daily Life at PIattsburg Camp
Interestingly Told.
CAPTAIN GETS attention.


less Habitsd Men From Every Con-
csivable Corner of Civil Life Are Get.
ting on Toward the Beginning Of q
Regeneration.
Plattsburg, N. MY captain Is a
worker Of MAGICAL colors. There are
1877 Of Us upon whom his necromancy
has descended and upon whom It is
working its changes, Gays John N. o.
kison of the Vigilantes.
In our day to day life, before VIZ
stepped into this atmosphere of bugle
call and policing Of environments, we
not merely wanted what we wanted
when we wanted 1t, but did what we
had to do when we wanted to. Darn
independent Americans we were-with
that sign over our desks which remind
ed us that If we didn't care for a man
our privilege was to tell him to go to.
However, I started out to tell about
our captain. At our first formation he
came before US, a slender man, In
smooth strides, stopped abruptly and
said very distinctly, "At ease" Where
upon he looked Us over, running his
alive black eyes slowly along our ranks.
We were not at ease under that scru-
tiny-believe me. Then:
"'Tenshun We made ourselves
more rigid-if such an achievement
were possible.
"Restw We relaxed then, for we had
not altogether neglected our drill books
In the days Of hurry and planning for
this training camp. Again:
"'TenshunP' We simulated In our
several strange fashions the well known
ramrod. Then from our captain:
when you come to the position Of
attention you snap into 1t, heels to-
gether or as near together as the con-
formation of the body win permit"
There was pause, slight twitching
of our captains face muscles. knew
we would like him as soon as saw
that fragment Of a grin and reflected
that bis eyes were caught by the handy
legged little Irishman, whom will call
Casey. We'd known Casey nearly ten
hours-and were convinced. The army
needs him, even though his heels are
three inches apart as he takes the posi-
ton Of the soldier.
Again, am getting away from the
text Of this little piece and the man
who furnishes the illustration. Think
ing Of our captain and his immediate
appreciation Of Casey probably &C
counts for my diversion.
This is the way 1t is DONE" said our |
facing first right and then left |
and coming to attention" at Is not
a position Of strain. 1t Is one Of alert
nesS-of readiness.
"Now, 'tenshunl At ease! Next time |
snap into it. 'Tenshuni That's better"
And so on. Swapping into 1t was es-
tablished as the company ideal.
A quality Of crisp decision marks our |
captain as Of the younger generation OF |
American army men. He isn't the kind
that "eats his young"-fierce and terri
tying. We say In cantonment comment
that our captain knows. If he ever
had a period Of fumbling adolescence
It must have been long, long ago. Now
be knows and can tell what he knows.
Under his magic spell we slack mind
ed, careless habited men from every
corner Of civil life are get
ing on toward the beginning Of a re-
generation We are cutting off our cor
ners sharply at Column rightw and
Column leftw AS the fellow next me
oarodies the Billy Sunday hymn, "Cut
III the Cornersl Cut off the Corners!
cut off the Corners as You Turn"
We are learning to stand at balance
weight equally distributed between
he balls and heels Of the feet. The
'amrod effect is passing. We are be-
Ginning to sense the real meaning of
Attention It is 100 per cent alert
less, from toe to the last convolution
If gray matter in the headpiece.
As I said, we are victims Of our cap
aims magic. Need 1 add, willing vic
inns? You just naturally snap into 1t
or the man that knows.