Incidents Of Army Life

Notwithstandiug the fact that tho ofliv-s of tlid American arniy are the very piuk of uourtesy, thcy sometimes in post and garrison life have vfpy unpleasant social experienoes. Au officer in a garrison ia assignod quartera not according to the neoeesities of his family, but in aooordance with his rank. It therefore unes out quito frequeutly when a u!W officer is sent to a post that thore are ruany changes of quarters, soas to make room forhiiu. When a new major arrivés, for iustance, he selects the quarters that snit him best, it matters not who occupies them, providecl the occupant is bolow him in rank. He can turn out a major lovver on the list or auy captain or lieuteuant, and each of these when diapossessed can choose for himself what quarters suit him best if occupied by an inferior in rank. One move, therefore, may make a dozen others. The women of the army, it is said, are greater sticklers for their rights than the men. But the men themselves, while preserving all the forras of highest courtesy, sometimes push their authority to thefullest limit. For instance, at a two company post in the west some years ago a captain of infantry was in command, as his commission was of older date than that of the captain of cavalry also there. The two captains were mutually antipathie. In their official intercourseall the forras were observed, but still it was plain to all that they cordially disliked each other. One day the senior captain ordered the junior to take a lile of men to the forest and cut the flrewood needed for the winter. This duty ordinarily yould have been given to a sergeant or corporal. The cavalry captain had no recourse and was obliged to obey. Just as he got outside the post the mail, which came ouly uow and thiui at intervals of a week or so, arrived, and the oavalryman stopped for letters. One of these brought him bis couimission as major. He at once issued an order taking command of the post and then another order assigning the wood ehopüinir dutv to the late commandant. -