The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, January 31, 1897, Page 15

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 1897. the Civil War | years as ynths o the service 10 were | ve of | ose of | rkable as its exist- times of asa s i the family of o wayward son; where od breeding | ; there thousands tes for stron teemed the offering rvice were not of the best. d long continuance mong the laboring cl rs produced an enormous through the which roamed in de of the men who are ks of the army were nto the West, many of lionaires of the sec- | | dundanc ond decade following. appearance of the free arab narrowing of opportunities for emvloy- ment the clusters of applicants around | , and | the recruiting offices began to en they have since been growing. This re- of applicants permitted the Gov- ernment to raise the standard of qualifica- tions for enlistment and the multiplica- tion of its tests almost to the degree of fastidiousness, while as the volume of the unemployed became greater the drafts for the army began to leave the multitude of freaks and unskilled laborers and ascend to those of skilled laborers, clerks end, the greatest of all, the sons of farmers. Itis of these sturdy elements that the soldiery of the army is now made up. et catera, do still apply, but they ed in the m ured volume of their application, so that of the number of offers for enlistment at present but an age of 10 per cent are deemed avail- During the month of December, able. 1896, there applied for enlistment at ail recrui 271 m, while the rejected 2g stations of the United States n. Of these but 329 were accepted, num ed 2 this was a'specimen month of t it were during mig be estimated that there ed for enlistment in the army 1896 about 39,252 men, of which 25,304 were jected and only 3948 were accepted. ng the density of the surge about the doors of the recruiting station it can be esteemed that for one to secure entry into the army of to-day is to be regarded as an attainment and a suc- nt must be between the ages of 18 and 30, and physically tound, he must stend in his stockings 5 feetand 5 inches, must have a proportionate chest measurement and weigh number of pounds. Nor register in his score of moral | sufficient for his admi - s nature, his habits of industry, must be certified to by persons of standing in his | community, and nis mental reach is then subjcted to tests by a sort of civil service examination. He must bave acommon school education, and unless bis attain- ments of the educational sort are deemed But with the dis- | adequate to fit him for the soldier’s duties d and the | he may become enlisted, but subsequently and while at bis post he will be detailed by the captain of his company to attend school. Five days in the week until re- | lieved and between the hours ofland 4 | must this instruction as a part of his duty be attended. Not alone this, but instruc- tion of the strictly military sort is on two | days a week by the company caprain given him in technical school. Of the varied exercises, which in_these petiods he is taught, a lone list might be made. His very textbooks comprise & compen- dious library of military learning. In- | deed, every position, every movement of | | the soldier when on duly, his stepping to the right or to the left, the turning one way or the other is noted in these books and comprises the pabulum for his medi- tations. The whole life of the man at arms is in the literature of his craft, and he pursues his occupation defined by the most inflexible rules. Thus is the army of the United States to-day made up. It is the sturdy stock of the country who are shouldering its rifles and mounting its guards. Men of every conceivable mechanical occupation and many professional ones are among the enlisted. Sergeant Dean of the Presidio is a stonecutter; Sergeant Wolltman is a cigar-maker; Private Best, who has charge of the dynamite guns, is aun elec- trician. At Angel island I talked with a non-commissioned officer who had been for years a sewing-machine agent; with nother who had been an insurance agent. are men by scores who have been carpenters, painters, cabinet-make ts, blacksmiths, 1 the Presidio there is gruduated as a physician; another who | bas a diploma from the University of Onio; while of the various forms of clerks there is 2 multitude which it would be tiresome to reckon. they came into the army and they will say: “Well, times got too hard on the outside to make an honest living and I | bad to take the, best opening I could find.” | The soldier receives $13 per month for Ask those men why | the first two vears of his rervice; the third year it is $16, the fourth §18, tue fifth §19. If he re-enlists it is §24, and for every re-enlistment it is $1 per month @d- | ditional. If he is made corporal he re- | ceives $2 more; if sergeant $3, if first ser- geant $12 more. At the end of thirty | yearsof service he is retired on 75 per cent of his pay and $7 50 per month for | rations. So that a soldier who enlists at 25 years of age would in his fifty fifth year be retired from the service with a monthly stipend of say $35 or $420 year, equal to | interest at 5 per cent on $8400 of invested | capital. | course, clothed and fed, so that his wages constitute his savings, and this he has no need to touch; indeed, many men do not | touch it, but leave 1t undrawn in the |'hands of the Government and are paid 4 per cent interest upon it. A man who did not draw bis wages would at the end of thirty years' service have an accumulation of $4680, with per- haps enough interest to make the sum a round §5000, which with his pension would render him comfortably | well-to-do for the remainder of his years. And as bis course of army life is very regular, his food most substantial, his hours the most precise, this is all condu- he is likely to have twenty or thirty years vet to enjoy the benefits of his accumula- tions. 1f he becomes ill in the service he receives the best of medical care, and if he | is disabled he is admitted to the Soldiers’ | Home at Washinzton, where he may lead | one of the most agreeable existences which | the ordinary mind can contemplate. But tnere are other sources of income to the soldier besides bis wages. Unless he is married and living with his family upon | the reservation each company messes to- | gether; each man’s allowance for rations | is spent for the common body, and to this | isadded a dividend from the profits of the | post store, which formerly enriched a sut- |ler, but who has been abolished | under regulations of recent years. Tue food they are served very much surpasses that of the ordinary wmechanic’s family. In addition to all this the soldier is, of | cive to long life, so that when he retires | | At breakfast, fried potatoes, bread, butter | and coffeé; at dinner, soup, roast beef, | vegetabies, bread and butter, pudding; | supper, bologna sausage, fried potatoes, | bread, butter and coffee, with variations | of the menu throughout the week, They | sleep, a squad of six or more, in a well- | ventilated room on iron bedsteads, with | comfortable mattresses and clean sheets. They have baths and barbers, and the sanitary fittings of the barracks building | surpass those of the average institutional structure in civil fife. If the soldier is economical in the use of his clothing he need nov_draw his full allowance of apparel; the value of the difference between what he draws and is entitled to is paid him in cash. But be- sides this there is usually open to the soldier employment upon the reservation m the line of his trade. He may be a company clerk or employed in the quar- termaster’s department in carpentering, painting or machine work and when such is the case he is relieved from all duty except dyill on Tuesdays. For this service he receives extra pay of 50, cents perday. Thereis a younz man at Angel Island who, under the superintendency of the post chaplain, teaches the scheol For this agreeable service of three hours per day he receives $15 extra per month; this brings bis pay up to §28 per month and found. It is doubtful if he couid secure in civil life employment where he could with less work clear more money above bis expenses with the certainty of steady employment tLe year around than in the army. | The soldier rises at 6:25, breakfasts at | 6:40. Thereisa drill at7:30, and ut 8:45 | | there is dress parade. Except on instruc- tion days this about completes his usual duties. At 12 o’clock the day’s work is done and he is off duty except a few min- utes at sundown, when retreat is sounded; then all hands report their presence and the flag is hauled down at the cannon’s shot. An exception is made to this regime of the average day when he mounts | | guard. This service falls to him a few times a month, when he must in shifts | hours, as at all posts a guard mount is alw: maintained. Aside from this the life of the soldier is one of leisure and pleasure. He smokes, tonverses, read books, magazines, plays cards, billiards, pools, roulette, visits the City, and if he is at Angel Island he at- tends once or iwice a week a magic lan- tern exhibition given by Captain Hum- phries. Sometimes there is a company minstrel show on the island, in which ) Private Webb of H battery, who was once an end man of Primrose, Thatcher & West, is the leading spirit. At other times there are balls and entertainments at Alcatraz, the Presidio and Fort Mason, to which a night boat is specially run. Much of his time during tfie afternoon is spent in ath- letic exercises. For from fifteen to twenty minutes each day it is his duty to s6 exer- cise. One day of every month is set aside asa field day, when a programme is pre- pared and a committee of officers award prizes to successful competitors. It can be seen that the duties of the sol- dier of to-day call upon his intelligence more than upon his physical powers. This has come about through the intro- duction into the service of high-power | guns, of complex implements of war. Even the Krag-Jorgensen rifle, now in use, is an affair which needs an inteiligent man to handle, while the degree of men- tal eqnipment required of the man in the artillery service demands a high grade ot type of the zenus homo to provide 1it. The technical instruction of the heavy artilleryman includes exercises with the azimuth instruments, the transit theodo- lite and studies of their parts and plates, together with the perusal of such works as Rodgers’ tables, Whistler's Graphic ta- bles and other authorities, besides courses in cordage, in which they are taught all about tackle and the making of all known knots. The opening of a way from the ranks to a commissioned officer—a recent change in the law—has also drawn into the army many high-grade aspiring men, who, hay- ing been unable to secure the influence of a Congressman and appointment to West which into officerhood, they may do through study. The morale of the army is strictly guarded, and if any man should | so demean himself as to dis race his com- 'pnny he would be promptly reported to the captain and either court-martialed or ignominiously dismissed. Most of the harsh punishments have also been abolished from the army, it be- ing recognized that there is no longer need of them; for the worst punishment of them all has come to be a dishonorable | disebarge from the service. And this may | be made upon the peremptory order of a | company captain. The reward for the re- | covery of adeserter has been reduced from | $60 to $10, and it is a standing maxim of | the army that “‘that there was never yet a | deserter worth §10. 1f a man deserts he | need not be alarmed that any blosdhound | hunt will be made for him. But there is | no need of any one deserting. If he wishes |to leave the service he may, at |the end af two years, buy his | way out with $120, a sum which is re- duced $5 every succeeding month he re- mains with the army. When he is dis- charged he1s given one day’s pay and 30 cents for rations for every twenty miles of travel to his home, about twice as much as his expenses in getting to his destina- tion. In short, the scheme of the War Department at present is to take citizens | from ciyil life and educate them to be sol- | diers, so that when they return to civil life, as most of them do, there may be among the body of the community trained soldiers capable when called upon of de- | fending their country and this without the necessity of maintaining an immense standing army. It is, therefore, for deal- | ing with citizens, not abnormalities or | refugees, that the plane of soldierhood in the army is to-day adjnsted; and this | bas naa its measure of influence in form- |ing the type of soldier of the United i States who exists in the year 1897. The biggest university in the world is at | Cairo, Egypt—a country which is not | usually mentioned in educational statis- stand sentry duty during the twenty-four | Point, take this means to work their way | tics—and 1t has 11,000 students. school had | their custo- | exercises, putting !mag ented by the differ- habet, whose sound o houses pictured had concentrated wiledge of the various pitches of to the to sol fa sys- | nitedly and musically “0id teacher, wishing to | ty of an interested vis- | All the children who stand up.” | vs a dozen out of the | enrotled arose to their feet, | to study type, char- in each little face. | whose mother | the most per- | uty. Another | attention was the daughter of a | e, clear-cut face, sur- | ¢ hair combed | ned o natural pompa- | sted & portrait of the | with through the ilie Ferre Miceau, ded by & mass with what speak Itolian may rise. There was a rustle, a clatter of slates upon desks, a quick movement of little feet, and the number standing was largely in-| ed. The most interesting of these | alians looked the visitor solemnly ith exvpressive dark eyes, and | ame was Vingenzie Cz'zgni. Led her age she replied, “I'm 6 @3 over.” Another child of the same and who is Acknowledged to | test in the department, ven- nformation that her father was | man and also, eith ne faces of those who responded to the the children of Spanish parents | both slexican and Castilian bildren are dreamy little e majority show less in- than those of other , however, was one : emed alert with energy. exceedingl k face, so small that uld be e: hidden by a man’s palm, owed her to be of Mexican parentage. tehing her the thought occurred to e visitor that to adherents of theosophy | be weird, smafl face of little Martha might prove an interesting point betief; for, in spite of her babyish her expression at times sug- e idea that here might be the re- ation of some ancient Aztec, who | rienced all the emotions which | rred the human heart. ext call was for the Swedish chil- | 1 the number that rose to theii | eot showed Sweden to be well rep- | t particular grade. | TS, | | rose. | th yeliow bair, great blue | ion in which the satiny e coloring of a rose leaf own, claimed to be Danish. Little | Heldt said that her father wasa | end ked: “We are all going | Buck to the old country in the spring.” Another child with flaxen hair, large eyes set wide apast, a wide, full forehead and fuce, whose general outlines su.gested squareness, looked eageriy at those stand- ing as though desirous of joining them. *“What are you, Minnie?” she was asked, but she did not seem to comprehend, found lots of things”; | that “ne didn't give them back, | San Francisco Has a Grammar Grade That Is Unique in the Variety of Race-Types Among lts Pupils. Only One Ghild of American Parentage in Attendance. “What is Minnie Sundburg?”’ tioned the teacher of another child. “Rus<ian Finn,” was the reply. Then the Gorman children arose, broad- ques- ‘ her perfect, classical features proved to be | one with a right to such heritage, for Katelena Katrina is of Greek parentage— a mother who goes out washing and a faced, zood-natured and some of them ex- | father who is doubtless a fisherman; yet ceedingly apt. Several Slavonian children were in the room, but none among the number dis- played unusual charactenstics. A cbild who had attracted attention by should she reach womanhood she will possess one coveted gift, that of a perfect face, according to accepted rulesof beauty. She replied to a question: “Iam Greek and & little American,” thinking, doubtless, that a proper value would be placed upon the latter declara- tion. Looking at the beauty of the child- face (a fillet of faded ribbon bound about ber head made the resemblance to models of ancieni Grecian beauties more striking) we thought of Sappbo, of Aspasia, both famed for mental attainments as well as beauty, and wondered if this child with her Grecian face and American environ- ]me\i!s and opportunities might not in spite of her humbie parsntage attain to celebrity by face or giftsin this land of the West. After the more numerous representa- tives of foreign nations had risen to their foet three”little girls femained sitting. One of these, very tidy in appearance, had a broad, amiable face, plentifully sprinkled with freckles. She was born in Ireland 1 and had lived in this country just one year. Another was little Dora Mayne, the ouly cbild of purely American parentage among the number enrolled in the grade. The third chili—mistaken for Mexican because of her dusky face and hair—proved to be’ descended from California’s primi- tive and earliest inhabitants. She is called Mary Saunders and is a little wai who was tossed from one charitable insti- tution to another until finally an age Mexican woman offered to care for her, although this benefactor is dependent upon her labor, which consists of sweep- ing and cleaning a restaurant, for a living. Mary says ‘“‘the sisters” clothe her, and she is always cheerful and happy, a child of good intellect and possessing great Zood nature and patience. The unselfish thoughtfulness of this little Indian wait might also serve as an example for many of her companions more carefully trained. As the children slowly resumed their seats the thought suggested itself to the visitor that here was an abundance of material upon which the artist’s pencil might build a reputation. Cherub faces and charming coloring; expressions foreign to baby lineaments; hints of sorrows or tragedies that have | descended as a Leritage to inrocence; eyes foretelling the witchery and charm of coming years; shrewd eyes, given to draw conclusions in spite of declarations; large, peaceful Madouna eyes, that would look calmly uvon every phase of life. | Tiiere is abundant promise of talent as well as beauty among tnese North Beach school children; talent in music and skill in drawing. Some of the tots mentioned have sisters, it is said, who possess voices of wonderful sweetness, and the “‘big sister” of a little Italian girt displays her artistic talent, as did Watteau, by sketching groups upon the street with marvelous . exactness, Many of the children when first entering the school can speak but little English; dnder the excellent system' prevailing, however, they are not long in acquiring a knowledge of the language. They are quick to understand the advantage of | personal neatness insisted upon’ by the teacher, and, young as they are, compel attention to the condition of their cloth- ing when mothers are indolent or untidy. In time these children of foreigners will be classed as American girls, and who can tell but through natural ability, inheritea in some cases from ‘an’ ancestry whose dé- generacy was of later years, and the ad- vantages of training so lavishly bestowed upon the youth of our public schools, also spurred on by poverty in their home sur- roundings, as well as the contagious am- bition of American associates, there may be many amoug these little women of for- eign nations that our land will be justly proud to claim. CrarA Iza Price. The Death-Dream of Armenia. A cry from pagan dungeons deep To Albion 0ld and brave; A wail that starties from hersleep Tne mistress of the wave. We feel the thrill through England’s soul Of noblest passions’ birth: We hear her drum-alarum roll The circle of the earth. When mothers kiss with pailid lips The wounds of murdered sons, We see the sailors on her ships Lespito their shotted guns. We hear her martial trumpets blow, The challenge of the free; 3 | Her lean steel war-wolves howlitg go Through gateways of the sea. The talons of her eagles tear The vulture from his feast; The lion mangies in nis lair The tiger of the East. An, what a cheer from Asia breaks And roars aloog the dawn, As rescue's battle-thunder shakes The walls of Babylon! —Will H. Thowpson in Century.