The Washington herald., 1917-02-01
Interesting Chats
From Hotel Lobbies

The short military service such as
members of the National Guard organiza-
lions have been recently subjected to on
the Mexican border is likely to be pro-
ductiVe OF a hurtful reaction" accord
Ing to Capt. Raymond Pertuit. of New
Orleans. La. who is registered at the
New Willard
The brief period during which the
men are required to bend under mill
tary discipline and suffer the hardships
of soldier life is just long enough to
impress them with the unpleasant part
OF the life, in the opinion of Capt.
Pertuit. He said that he had served
few months during the Spanish-Ameri-
can war and that his experience formed
the grounds for his belief.
81 returned from active duty, filled
with resentment for the service" re-
clared Capt. Pertuit. when I was
mustered out, the very idea OF ever
again signing my name to a companys
roll was repulsive
THE men who have been sent 10 the
border, at least the big majority of them,
have never before tasted real military
life. The nearest that they ever came to
living the existence of the regular soldier
was perhaps during a week or two at
State encampments.
I'm few moments these men are
I
conditions are vastly different from what
they have been accustomed to. From
the first day they are compelled to as
sumo the work of regulars who have
become accustomed to the duties of
camp through long years of service.
Just when they are beginning to learn
and love their work. orders for their re-
turn appear. and the few little pleasures
and joys that were beginning to fall to
gruelling days and long nights.
The soldier boys arrive home. not to
praise their stay in the ranks as a
rugged outing, but to knock it as a
round of tiresome duties and troubles"
said Capt. Pertuit.
"a longer period OF service would have
given them the sweets of soldier
comradeship. the cheer and comfort of
camp fires, and the romance of nights
in the open under starry skies.
when the officials of the Confederate
Veterans decided upon Washington as
the scene OF the reunion for 1917, they
choose the right place at the right time,
declared Col. w. F. Marsden. of Birming-
ham, Ala, a veteran Of the clash between
the North and South. He is stopping at
the New Shoreham Hotel.
Washington was the goal Of the armed
of desperate struggle and hardships
Some of the Confederate soldiers of those
stirring times, now bending under the
weight of graying age. have never seen
the Capital of the United States and the
reunion will afford them this chance.
1.-The fact that the reunion will be held
here is bound to attract a large number
of the veterans who wore the blue, and
it is only fitting that they should meet
and clasp hands with those who wore
the gray in the Capital of their reunited
sections.
It was speaking just a short time ago
to an old man who had been with Lees
army in Virginia. He told me that he
had long cherished the desire to visit
Washington and ramble at freedom about
its streets and through the great build
ings that he had heard so much about
when told him that he would have
his desire fulfilled at the next reunion
he wept for Joy and said 1t was fortunate
that 1t was this year and not 1918 that
the reunion is to be held here, because
he didn't believe he would hold out an
other year.
Judging from the sentiment here re
garding the reunion. think that IL will
help a great deal toward making Wash
ington more of a Mecca for Southern peo-
pie. Down in the South there are those
who yet look upon Washington aid its
people as Northern, and they have long
labored under the idea that they would
not feel at home here. But look for
this mistaken idea to be dispeled by the
treatment that I am sure will be ac-
corded the veterans at their reunion by
Washingtonians'