bunks, as the Scotchman says, "the better for a wee droppie," and, from force of habit, respond to reveille the next morning bright and fresh.

There are old cronies in this troop who have grown gray in the service, and gone through many Indian campaigns and come out unscathed, alike from Indian bullets and the demoralizing influences, such as they may be, of garrison life. While they are in the service they know that Uncle Sam will take care of them, and their thought is not for the morrow, so that on canteen days they throw open the throttles of their hearts and give their generous impulses full swing. They will probably die in the army, or only leave it when mustered out by old

age.

One often hears strange tales when lying awake in one's bunk at night. There are two Englishmen, for instance, who are "bunkies,”i.e., their bunks adjoin. These men have served their time in the English army, and have been stationed at many different posts throughout the British possessions, and a conversation overheard between Sergeant Jones and Lance-Corporal Elmer might make a story of itself.

Another interesting character is Sergeant Fritz Beal, who is a sort of Father in Israel to the new recruits. As this is being written he is in close "confab" with a young "rookie," who, in some mysterious manner, has come here from New York,-possibly from the Elmira Reformatory, to judge from his looks. But the sergeant is also from New York, the city of New York,-and the "rookie" has much to say of the changes that have taken place in that great city since the sergeant left it.

There are certain points of etiquette among enlisted men which are observed under penalties of social ostracism, and it is regarded as exceedingly bad form to make too deep scrutiny into the antecedents of a comrade, and, unless information is voluntarily offered, many members of a troop will live together for years in the closest intimacy with no knowledge of each other's history, or even the names given them in baptism. There are many whose past lives would furnish interesting material for the lover of romance or the novelist. Some could tell a tale of disappointed ambition, of reckless living, or of blighted affections; and broken-hearted mothers or wives are somewhere in the world pining for information of a husband or son whose identity he has sought to conceal by enlistment under an assumed name. It is claimed to be a characteristic of the soldier as well as the sailor that both are improvident to a degree, and certain it is that our men are not prone to take thought for the morrow how they shall be clothed, at least in citizen's garments. Not more than twenty-five per cent. of the troop succeed in saving enough from their thirteen dollars per month to provide themselves with fitting raiment in which to meet

their girls in town. Amusing incidents sometimes occur in the attempts of the improvident ones to change their uniforms for citizen's clothing. Many of the men object to lending their clothing to be worn by others, but the majority, perhaps, do not, fearing that sometimes they might be themselves in the position of a borrower. Of course, the men are not uniform in size, and the short man who succeeds in negotiating a coat from a tall one, a pair of trousers from a stout one, and a collar a few sizes too small, is apt to furnish glee to his comrades, as he probably does to his best girl when he appears before her. The principle of borrowing is not confined to wearing apparel, and on pay-day, when the general liquidation of accounts takes place, debtors and creditors are very much in evidence in the squaring up of differences, which range from "two bits" to "two dollars."

As a rule, the men are very punctilious in these matters, and a man is very quick to lose his credit when he defaults. As has been hinted, great differences in kind and quality of men are to be noticed. One fellow, Hazard, for instance, now quietly lying in his bunk, chewing his tobacco, and whose dull eyes and expressionless countenance show that his animal nature takes precedence over his intellectual, is a giant in strength, and, though his looks belie it, in agility also. He has just surprised two local celebrities in the fistic art who encountered him in the town and attempted to alienate the affections of his lady-love, by leaving them both in a comatose condition. His comrades naturally treat him with consideration, though it must be said to his credit that he is without the disposition of a bully. The idea suggested by an inventive genius to organize a dancing school has been readily taken up. The music is furnished by a harmonica, a flute, and a guitar, in the hands of members of the troop, and the mess-room is frequently converted into a dancing hall. If the dancers lack anything in grace they make it up in energy, and still with a large degree of decorum. The absence of the fair sex, though a great drawback, is partially compensated for by the device of tying handkerchiefs to the arms of tho-e who are to supply their places, and all goes "merry as a marriage bell.” The first sergeant, who is an ex-member of the Tenth English Hussars, and so erect that he would break if bent, condescends to dance with the last "rookie." The little lance corporal takes for his partner a chap with whom he has just had a serious disagreement, and their savage hearts are soothed by the strains of the music. Eight other couples are gliding through the mazes of the waltz to the admiration of the usual complement of wall-flowers. Among the last is old Jack Findley, who, for fear that the performers may become too vain of their accomplishments, gives vent occasionally to criticisms calculated to subdue their rising pride.

Another feature of the post to beguile the leisure hours of the men is a library, but each troop has a library of its own, and that belonging

to this particular troop has moved with it from place to place for the past fifteen years. Membership is, of course, not compulsory, though all the men have taken advantage of it by paying an initiation fee of one dollar and monthly dues of twenty-five cents. The selection of books is a good one, comprising nearly all the standard English works of prose and poetry, the "Encyclopædia Britannica," and books of travel and general reference, besides the principal magazines and periodicals published in this country.

In the centre of the library, around the walls of which the books are arranged, is an excellent billiard-table, the property of the men, and scattered about are tables at which the men play whist or pedro. The latter game is now very popular among them. If such allurements are not sufficient to keep the soldier home at night, he may go to the town, where he is allowed to remain until 10.30 P.M., but is required to be in quarters at eleven. Everything is in darkness upstairs after nine o'clock, and the stragglers returning after that hour observe the unwritten law of silence when retiring.

Perfect quiet reigns throughout the barracks, and nothing is allowed to disturb the soldier's repose.

W. W. PRICE.

SERVICE SALAD.

Don't Take Medicine Unless You Are Sick.

SPRING MEDICINE FALLACY.

There has grown up in the minds of many the idea that they must begin dosing every Spring. War is declared. The blood, liver, kidneys, and stomach are attacked with big doses of cathartic pills, all sorts of bitters (the more bitter the better), sulphur and molasses, and nauseating herb teas, not forgetting salts and senna. As a result the body, no matter how strong, usually comes out of this Spring battle exhausted and badly used up. It is safe to say that the cause of more than one-half of weak and troublesone stomachs can be traced to this barbarous practice. What seems most strange to the writer is that intelligent people, who are cautious and careful on most other subjects, are so reckless in the matter of drug-taking. Their stomachs are made the receptacle for every new remedy that is advertised, and I doubt if they would take the same chances with a valuable horse. Better take no medicine at all than the wrong medicine; better depend on Nature to correct itself than to depend upon “cure-all” remedies. When I say “cure-all” medicines I mean the remedy that claims to cure catarrh, consumption, rheumatism, kidney trouble, and every other conceivable complaint. Is it fair to the stomach, is it fair to the kidneys, is it fair to any part of the body to misuse it in this manner? Is it any wonder that there are so many physical wrecks? Is it not a pretty good remedy that will cure some one disease? Does it not occur to you that a remedy that is advertised to cure all manner of ailments is likely to do more harm than good? It seems to me the sensible thing to do if you have a cold is to take a medicine that will cure the cold, not a kidney cure or a stomach remedy. You have but one stomach, better not misuse it. The kidneys are faithful servants, but they will break down from continuous abuse, and so with every organ of the body. If you could hear the pitiful stories that are told our physicians by patients who would give all their wealth for a healthy body, you would not be such a hard taskmaster by overworking your best friends. Medicines are necessary, but it is your place to take the right kind. J. M. MUNYON.

A SEPARATE CURE FOR EACH DISEASE.

This is the grand and true principle on which the Munyon system of treatment has gained its marvellous success.

The debilitated condition which affects many people in the Spring season is Nature's warning that some organ is weak and often precedes serious disease. It is a condition which needs careful investigation, and which calls for treatment, not with Spring Medicines, but with the remedy that will remove the cause.

With Munyon's " Guide to Health," which describes all forms of diseases and tells you how to treat all ailments at home, you can select the proper remedy and cure yourself. With this book and a case of Munyon's Remedies every mother can become the family doctor.

Each Munyon Remedy is plainly labelled, so there can be no mistake. There is no guesswork, no nauseous doses. The cure is quick, sure, and permanent.

MUNYON'S REMEDIES AT ALL DRUGGISTS.

MOSTLY 25 CENTS A VIAL.

Your druggist will present you free with a copy of the "Guide to Health," a valuable little medical publication that should be in every home.

Personal letters to Prof. Munyon, 1505 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pa., answered with free medical advice for any disease.

MUNYON'S HOMEOPATHIC HOME REMEDY

Main Office: 1505 Arch Street, Philadelphia.

Branch Offices in all Principal Cities.

CO.,