The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-06-26
MAKING SOLDIERS
Daily Life at PIattsburg Camp
Interestingly Told.
CAPTAIN GETS ATTENTION.
Under His Spell Slack Minded, Care
less Hsbitsd Men From Every Con-
oeivabis Corner of Civil Life Are Get
ting on Toward the Beginning of .
Regeneration.

ceivabls Corner OF Civil Life Are Get
ting on Toward the Beginning of .
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 1t Is
working Its changes, says John M. Os-
kison OF the V~igilantes.
In our day to day life, before we
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 II we didn't care for a man
our privilege was TO tell him to go to -.
However, / 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 ranks.
We were not at ease under that scru-
tiny-believe me. Then:
"'Tenshun I" We made ourselves
more rigid-if such an achievement
were possible.
Rest We relaxed then, for we had
not altogether neglected our drill books
In the days OF hurry and planning for
this training camp. Again:
"'Tenshun!' We simulated In our
several strange fashions the well known
ramrod. Then from u captain:
when you come TO the position OF
attention you snap into Ii, heels to
gether or as near together as the con
formation OF the body will permit. "
There was a pause, "A slight twitching
OF our captains face muscles. / knew
we would like him as Dol as | saw
that fragment of a grin and reflected
that his eyes were caught by the handy
legged little Irfshman, whom | will call
Casey. We'd known Casey nearly ten
hours-and were convinced. The army
AittdS nAht tNtA NbohSh bAH ANtA1 ~
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 ac-
counts for my diversion.
This Is the way IL Is done" said our
captain. facing first right and then left
and coming to Attention" 1T Is not
a position OF strain. Ii Is one OF alert
ness-of readiness.
"Now, 'tenshun! At easel Next time
snap into II. 'Tenshunl That's better
And 50 on. Swapping into 1t was es
tablished as the company ideal.
A quality OF crisp decision marks oui
captain as of the younger generation OF
American army men. He isn't the kind
that leafs his young"-fierce and terri
flying. We say In cantonment comment
that our captain knows. IL he ever
had a period of fumbling adolescence
it must have been long, long ago. Now
no knows and can tell what he knows.
Under his magic spell we slack mind
ed, careless habited men from every
conceivable corner OF civil life are get
ting on toward the beginning OF a re
generation. We are cutting off our cor
ners sharply at Column right and
Column left" As the fellow next me
parodies the Billy Sunday hymn, "CuI
of the Corners! Cut off the Corners
Cut Off the Corners as You Turnl"
We are learning to stand at a balanc'
weight equally distributed between
the balls and heels Of the feet. Th'
ramrod effect is passing. We are be
ginning to sense the real meaning o.
Attention r. II Is 100 per cen alert
ness, from toe to the last c%onvolutior
Of gray matter I'm the headpiece.
AS 1 said, we are victims Of u cap
tain's magic. Need / add, willing vic
Tins? You Just naturally snap into |
for thp man that knOWa