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Horace Kephart to the President and Board of Direction of the St. Louis Mecantile Library, May 18, 1898

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  • In this letter of May 18, 1898, Horace Kephart writes the President and Board of Direction of the St. Louis Mercantile Library to let them know that he has agreed to enlist in the United States service if a second call for volunteers is needed during the Spanish-American War. Kephart is petitioning the Board for a “reasonable leave of absence” if necessary.
  • HORACE KEPHART, W. H. H. ANDERSON, ACTUARY. LIBRARIAN. mercantile Library, $t. Louis, mo., May 18» 189 8 To the President and Board, of Direction of the St.Louis Mercantile Library Gentlemen: I am a member of a company of sharpshooters which has agreed to enlist in the United States service in case the President should issue a second call for volunteers. Most of our company are married, men, and we have not taken this step hastily. We consider that no second call will he issued unless the war becomes serious. In that case, with our regulars and guardsmen already in the field, the new levies must be drawn from ordinary citizens, few of whom have had practical experience in military affairs or in handling the rifle. It will take months to make soldiers out of such material, and those months will be precious. So we consider it the duty of those who have made rifle shooting a pastime to turn out promptly and put their skill to good account. Noblesse oblige. If a second call should be sent out, I would respectfully petition the Board of Direction for a reasonable leave of absence. The affairs of the Library are now in such shape that Mr. Anderson, Mr. Johnston, and the two ladies, can manage the routine work without difficulty for several months. Very respectfully, Horace Kephart