The Bozeman courier., 1926-09-17

as a sample of the rough wit of an
uncultured age.
The passing of several troops of
cavalry, mounted on glistening and
sweat-streaked horses of the type
of perfection demanded by Uncle
Sam, nearing the end of a long and
weary march from Fort Walla Walla
to Fort Custer, was a rather splendid
break in the monotony of stacking
hay on a hot and breathless sum-
mer afternoon in the fragrant bot
tom land of a Yellowstone ranch.
In their uniforms of bright blue,
they made an inspiring parade as
they filed past at a brisk walk. No
wonder the haying crew stopped
work and stared, while even the boss
stopped his moving machine to await
the approach of an officer who rode
across the field to bargain for a
couple Of loads of hay to be delivered
at their camp that evening. I was
one of the drivers detailed to haul
the hay and we left right after sup
per for the camp which had been
made on Little Otter creek, some
three or four miles below the ranch.
A Visit to the Post
1 had absorbed a measure of the
civilians point of view regarding the
soldier from casual contact in his
visits to town, and was somewhat
surprised when arrived at the camp
to note the orderliness and precision
Of the arrangements. Evidently
had not seen the soldier at his best.
Tho fanfc TUnro oroofoI in ooo,,,
ate row, the horses tethered to a long
rope S str e h ed mathematically
straight along the ground, while the
troopers were busy currying their
mounts with care and energy, and
vociferous with gossip of the road.
A squad of the troopers mounted our
loads and made short work of pitch
ing the hay to the waiting and hun
CRY horses as we drove along the line.
The loads off, and after securing a
voucher for the forage from the quar-
termaSter-sergeant, I lounged about
the camp, scraping acquaintance
with an orderly who seemed to have
nothing to do at the moment. He
was clear-eyed, clean built youngs-
ter in a neat-fitting uniform and
was about my own age and from him
got better idea of the peace-time
soldier than I had heretofore con-
ceived. After some questioning he
remarked:
'Sure, get only fourteen dollars
a month, but it is ali velvet, and be-
sides l can save something out of
my clothing and rations allowance.
! I'll bet can save more in five years
than you can with your fifty dollars
a month"
sadly admitted that he possibly
did save more, for somehow hadn't
absorbed the lesson of thrift, and also
Y that my jobs were temporary affairs
anyway. He had to stick for five
years at least, though desertions
were common in those days and not
given much thought of, even by the
officers who considered the army
better off without those tired of
its monotony and discipline. This
lyOung soldier was not of the mater
ial that deserted, however, and was
even considering a re-enlistment and
had figured out how much he could
save in ten years Of army life, which
lamounted to a rather respectable sum
for those days. He also called at
/ SOAbAOA " ShC AcsSb VI LAC6 AlOQlCdl
services and his pay going on through
sickness and furloughs. He said there
were many others in the service who
held and practiced his ideas and
began to see that the enlisted mar
we came in contact with in the sa.
looms and other places of entertain.
: ment they frequented on liberty, wa.
not altogether the typical soldier.
The next morning, as I was oper.
: ating the hay-rake alongside tn,
fence bordering the road, q glitter
ing object in the grass caught my
eye. Investigation disclosed a cal
airy carbine, without doubt thrown
away by one of the passing troopers
of the day before. An instance o
E the carefree attitude of many en-
, listed men toward government prop
, erty. The trooper was probably irk
! ed by the necessity Of carrying
: weapon for which he had no immed
: late use and watching his. oppor
tunity when no officer was alert
flung it over the fence, secure il
the knowledge his fellow soldier
would bear no tales. I don't knol
how he explained it absence, but
regret to say that / did not add I
& his dilemma by retEsning the gun I
it's rightful owner. I kept It as
a useful souvenir.
indeed, most Of rs IN those day