Evening star., 1923-02-04
TODAY FORT MYERS
42d ANNIVERSARY

names of the voters of the old con-
federation, a service also bearing
list of the representative of the or
der of the Cincinnati.
Arlington House, in it's halcyon
days, was famed for its hospitality
The last master. Gen. Robert L. Lee.
came into possession through his
wife, who was the daughter Of Parke
Custis. When Gen. Lee assumed com
mand of the brave Confederate forces,
the estate of some 1000 acres was
abandoned. In 1863 the estate was
sold under the confscation act, and
the following year was taken posses
sion of by the federal government
More than 200 acres were set apart
as national cemetery, for the inter
ment of the hero dead The cemetery
was formally established in 1867.
The old ampnitheater, with a seating
capacity of 5000 persons. was erected
in 1873 Since then new amphithea-
ter overlooking the beautiful Poto-
mac has been built.
j; x + X
THE grounds Of the cemetery were
l. laid out with special reference to
the plan for the national cemetery. The
bodies of more than $4,000 soldiers, from
batlef1elds in Virginia and the hos
pitals at the Capital, found a fitting
resting place here. Oh the left
of the road leading from the main
gateway toward the river is the once
famuos Custis spring. Along about
1850 it was visited by thousands OF
residents of Washington and strang
ers from all sections of the country.
Hark. There is the sound of the
bugle and like good soldiers we must
answer at once. Every morning at
5.45, with the exception of Saturdays
and Sundays, this huge family is up
and astir. Down in the city, the
average citizen is turning over for
the forty traditional winks, before
getting up for the day.
Under the capable instruction of
the officers, much interesting work
is accomplished in equitation and
and horse drill. Next comes the sick
call at which the sick man and the
unfit are weeded out from the fit.
The sick and lame are relegated to
the hospital. At l1:30 the soldiers
return to their labor.s The officers
/ hark TO their call and foregather
with the chief for instruction. Half
an hour later. the noon hour brings
not lunch but dinner at the fort.
At / o'clock in the afternoon when
| the average business man is hurriedly
i gulping his lunch, to return to his
work for several hours longer, the
real work of the day is over for the
! soldiers-excepting those whe have
i forfeited the right to play.
The enlisted men are encouraged to
take out their horses and participate
| in mounted push-ban games which
gives them excellent preparation for
polo In the summer months horse
shows are held for the men, with
awards of silver cups and other
| prizes to stimulate interest. Base ball
and foot ball are popular and are en-
| couraged by the officers.
! The village is not dependent upon
| the adjacent city for its amusements,
as it possesses several clubs. This lit
| tie community is almost sufficiently
adequate unto itself. It has its own
shop, better known as the post. ex-
change, where the men can purcha Sc
nearly everything they may wish. The
| exchange is run on cooperative
basis. the profits bearing dividends,
which are returned to the purchasing
fund. There is also a. post Office as
well as fire department. a hospital
! with ample capacity and a church
nearly as well as in the singles.
| Contrary TO popular opinion, the
old-fashioned theory of military
4 Caste Is almost obsolete. Perhaps the
world war had much to do with this.
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