The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-07-24
CAMP LEE

bers, arrived at camp Lee Yesterday.
consisting OF various casuals. 1t is
expected that today's total of men
other bumper" figure as the re-
cruitinS personnel will have a greater
field for their activity.
A number of short interesting and
human stories are told daily in the
recruiting building by men who re-
enlist or by officers who have heard
show that. though many people think
$50 month Is small salary. 1t Is
ample and worth more to the SOL
der who draws ii than a much larger
one. One OF the stories was told by
colored cavalry lnan about his bud
dy who had been in tn service six
years and was discharged befo-e the
war.
The pay then was only SIS PEI, bl.t
the enterprising young calyarist start
ed in as horse-shoer soon after he
enlisted. AS time went on he attended
the post schools and acquired a gem
eral knowledge Of bookkeeping, bust
ness methods and other subjects. He
became interested in automobiles and
there being no school in the post at
that time teaching that subject, he
studied on his spare time. He was
reasonably thrifty and being a good
soldier was promoted from time to
time and simultaneously increased his
pay With his savings and education
accumulated in six years of service
and armed with excellent health
character and recommendations from
the officers under whom he had
served. he started a taxi service in
Philadelphia. His business is growing
1T l.
Is worth all of $4,000.
Another interesting brief history Of
an old soldier was told by one of the
recruiting personnel.
Tho man in question enlisted twen-
~ years age and is today retired as a
captain AS years of age, hale and hear
ty and with his life full of valua Bile
and interesting experience that would
put many a book of adventure In the
shade. He has served in all parts of
the world where Uncle Sam keeps
soldiers and is admired and sought by
his numerous friends on account of
his jovial. robust personality. When
he first entered the army he was
without any particular edusation, ex-
cept the ability to read and white and
the pay then was only s13 a month
from which 25 cents was always re-
Quoted for the upkeep of the Old SOL
tiltI ilbiils GIiits HIS HISI ENLIST
ment he formed the habit of attend
ing the post schools and took advan-
tage of all opportunities the army
had to offer. which were not great
many at that time compared to the
almost unlimited educational scope of
the present day service.
He formed another habit whict
made him Independent before he had
| thoughts OF retiring that of deposit
ir~e~ al @A 1917 !. ~,
paymaster. This was minute at first
| 1t Is true, and he didn't start until
he had served an enlistment, wher
he was promoted and received re-en
| listment pay But nevertheless ht
| stuck to the idea and at differen
times for over twenty years he invest
ed his savings in a lot here and there
! wherever he happened to be station
ed. To make long story short. hi
sold, his holdings. all but one which
contains a pretty home, one loving
wife and a few Riddles. AS a retired
| captain with a good, substantial nest
egg, a. home and his retired pay com
| ing regularly every month, he ma,
we'll be jovial. happy and glad he ha!
been Uncle Sans soldier.
| A case of similar character ma,
be interviewed most any time at CamI
| Lee. he is a captain. Q. NJ. c., ant
started out as a recruit over 80 year,
| ago. He also has world of experience
behind him and a healthy, ACTIVE
active badly. plus the so called "mazu
ma" In the last Victory Loan Driv'
he was asked II he could take bone
or two on easy payments.
He replied with n check for 800
He has spent all his life in the arm.
and that is merely the item he ha'
to spare for the Fifth Loan.
The surprised Liberty Bond solisi
tor proborly felt like saying. HOY
Gomez" But II is not so wonderful
nor unusual to And old soldiers Wit
Ia fairly good sized wad and II on
takes the trouble to investigate b
searching among the prosperous an
the solid and respected citizens o
: most any fair sized town one will ru
lacross them. Besides being well
heeled" they are most interestin
people to become acquainted with
for few have lives so full of adventur
memories and anecdotes. The arm
of today is offering many times tn
inducements that were offered man
wears ago,